Honda Civic 1.5 V Turbo CVT: The perfect middle child

When a car manufacturer or brand announces a new model, most attention goes to the most and fully-equipped, most expensive in the lineup, top-of-the-line variant. While there’s surely nothing wrong with that, most buyers actually choose to get lower variants. In the case of the 2022 Honda Civic, which is available in three variants, each has its own unique proposition.

I was one of those invited to test out the new generation model in a media test drive, hosted by Honda Cars Philippines. Me and five other members of the motoring media were set to drive the Civic from Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila, through the South Luzon Expressway and Cavite-Laguna Expressway, narrow and poorly maintained back roads of Silang, Cavite, and along the long and scenic provincial highways of Cavite and Batangas.

Which variant did I get? Assigned to me was the middle child Civic 1.5 V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING, which since the new generation was introduced, is the AutoPH team’s favorite of the trio. It’s the middle child that you’ll love and surely want. 

Design Impressions

Upon first sight of the Civic 1.5 V Turbo waiting for me in the BGC parking lot, I instantly fell in love, especially with the perfect combination of its 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels and Meteoroid Gray Pearl exterior color, and of course, the Civic’s new, sleeker, and more sophisticated appearance, which at the same time still remains very sporty. The interior on the other hand, while more simple, feels a lot more premium than any previous generation Civic. It’s also very logically laid-out making everything within easy reach, something important that some other car manufacturers seem to have difficulty achieving.

Like the top-spec RS Turbo variant, the 1.5 V on the outside gets full LED lighting in front, power-folding side mirrors, and of course, the full suite of Honda SENSING driver-assistance tech and turbocharged engine (which are also both available on the entry-level 1.5 S CVT variant). Meanwhile, it shares most of its interior bits with the entry-level 1.5 S Turbo CVT Honda SENSING variant such as the fabric seats, polyurethane steering wheel, 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, 7-inch infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the addition of rear airconditioning vents. 

Driving Experience

The drive from BGC to Batangas and to Tagaytay and back accounts for around 250 kilometers of driving which is always where the Civic shines. Given the fact that it shares the same 1.5-liter VTEC turbo powertrain with the RS Turbo, they feel pretty much the same. There is a bit less with the lack of selectable driving modes and paddle shifters for manual shifting, but the Civic 1.5 V surely gives you the best that a Civic can. Power delivery is really smooth and delays are minimal. 

Then there’s the handling which makes the Civic a very comfy car to drive inside the city, but at the same time extremely fun out in the open. Steering feel is light inside the city making it easier to maneuver, while it gets a bit heavier as you get up to speed, as it should be. It’s also very sharp and responsive, giving you all the confidence you’ll need when tackling corners. Comfort is also excellent with a nice amount of support from the seats, paired with a really good ride quality where it soaks up even the largest potholes without putting stress into its occupants.

By the way, for those who might be curious, according to the vehicle’s trip computer, the entire drive returned to me an average of 11.7 km/l which sounds pretty good considering the road conditions and hard acceleration moments during the duration of the drive.

Honda SENSING

Of course, HCPI also took this opportunity to demonstrate the functions of its SENSING safety suite of driver-assist features. As I mentioned earlier, it’s standard on all three variants of the 2022 Civic. This means they all get Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN). 

As usual, the ACC system proved to be very convenient while driving on the expressway, eliminating the need to do the braking and accelerating yourself. Honda even improved the system allowing it to work better in our road conditions. The RDM on the other hand will definitely be helpful in the event that you fall asleep or get distracted as it can steer the vehicle and keep it in the center of the lane, while at the same time giving you a continuous warning if it detects that you are unresponsive or distracted. This isn’t a self-driving system though that’s why you still have to keep your attention on the road, as well as your hands on the steering wheel.

Finally, the CMBS, despite us of course not wanting to have the need to use it, also proved very helpful, sometimes too sensitive. It was definitely helpful and useful when the lead car which was in front of me came into sudden hard stops. I was also very thankful for it when an aggressive driving luxury minivan suddenly cut into my lane. I did find it sensitive at times like when avoiding some potholes as it detects the vehicles on the opposite lane despite being far from them. Still, it’s still a feature that is thankfully standard. I mean, I never even thought that these assist features would ever be more accessible, even to vehicles at lower price points.

Conclusion

The 2022 Honda Civic 1.5 V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING is the bang for the buck choice in the lineup. It offers the perfect balance of everything from styling, performance from its turbocharged engine, comfort, class-leading safety, and practicality. Yes, the Civic has matured, but its much more simple and sophisticated styling will allow it to age better, keeping it fresh until the next generation comes, while at the same time still looking stylish for everyday use and offering zing for those times we just want to enjoy.

And of course, the inclusion of Honda SENSING as standard on every variant not only gives owners and Honda themselves bragging rights as to the vehicle’s equipment list, but also improves safety not only for the vehicle’s occupants, but also for everyone who shares the road.

Vehicle Summary