Honda is gearing up for the release of an all-new eleventh-generation Civic for 2022 and has consequently made minimal changes to the outgoing tenth-gen car for its last hoorah in 2021. The only “updates” for this model year are the discontinuation of the two-door Civic Coupe and the 205-horsepower Si model. The red-hot Civic Type R is still going, but we evaluate it as a separate model. 

The 2021 Honda Civic looks much as it has since it debuted in the spring of 2015. While it may not be new or the look to everyone’s taste, the tenth-generation Civic has been the best-selling small car in America since it debuted.  Honda

This generation of Civic may be on its way out, but it’s made many friends over the years. It’s been the best-selling small car in America since its introduction in 2016, and until Covid-19 interrupted its momentum regularly sold well over 300,000 units a year. Even without its now-departed Coupe variation, it still offers four hatchback and five sedan trims, a trio of engines and an available manual transmission, not counting the Type R. There’s a Civic for every taste.

Engine

Three engines are on tap, depending on the trim level. The LX and Sport trims get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX, EX-L and Sport and Touring trims, as well as the LX and EX hatchback trims, come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 174 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. 

The Civic Hatchback Sport and Sport Touring trims come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine putting down 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. All engines are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive.

 The Civic’s front seats are spacious and comfortable, and its interior is functional though the dashboard is a bit busily styled like the car’s exterior. A 7-inch infotainment screen comes on all but the base model. Honda

Trims

The Civic starts out basic, but even the $22,265 Civic LX packs in a good amount of value. This model lacks even a basic modern infotainment system, instead receiving a five-inch LCD screen that controls the radio and a few very basic functions. There are cloth seats and 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. But what it lacks in frills it makes up for in other areas. 

All Civics, even the LX, get forward collision warnings and automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, automatic high beams, and best of all lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. The systems work well, and in concert with its good crash structure help the Civic earn a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS.

The $24,065 Civic Sport adds 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, smart entry with walk-away lock, center exhaust outlet, sport pedals, push-button start, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These prices are for a sedan model. Hatchbacks, which differ a little in trims, cost $950 to $1,050 more.

 Back seat passengers get plenty of room for what is not that large a car, though there aren’t any USB ports or electronic goodies for them. Honda

The $25,415 Civic EX gets 17-inch alloys, Honda LaneWatch (the automaker’s name for blind spot monitoring), a moonroof, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, SiriusXM Radio and HD Radio. The $26,615 EX-L model brings a HomeLink garage-door opening system and leather upholstery. Stepping up to the $29,315 Touring adds LED headlights, a power passenger’s seat, navigation and a 450-watt premium audio system with ten speakers.

The $29,615 Sport Touring Hatchback model gets a six-speed manual transmission, an underbody spoiler kit, dual-outlet center-mounted exhausts, leather upholstery, navigation and a 540-watt stereo with 12 speakers.

Drivability

The Civic feels lively and willing to play regardless of the engine that powers it. The more powerful turbocharged units offer a more engaging experience with more power and torque, but the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder is plenty powerful for in-town cruising and highway commutes. 

 The Civic is an economical people mover, but its plebeian purpose hides an enthusiast’s personality. Even the base model is fun to hustle around on twisty roads, and the manual transmission turbocharged versions feel more expensive than they are.  Honda

Paired with the six-speed manual transmission (available only on the Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks) the engines truly make the Civic a joy to drive and create an experience that feels far more expensive than the car’s price tag. Even the CVT, which sucks the fun out of many cars, is tolerable here. Honda’s efforts to tune the gearbox for smoothness and responsiveness have paid off with one of the best CVTs on the market.

Though it looks the part of sporty canyon-carver, the Civic is, and has always been, a comfy people mover. The car feels planted and stays relatively flat, even during spirited driving, and the suspension never lets the car feel floppy or unsettled. The ride is quite smooth. The sharp and communicative steering system helps further bolster confidence, and the solid, predictable brake pedal can easily have the driver feeling like Lewis Hamilton before too long behind the wheel. 

Interiors

The Civic’s cabin is spacious and is light years away from the Honda’s 1970s econocar roots. The front seats are deep, wide, and surprisingly supportive, even in lower trims where cloth upholstery can start to feel sticky and suffocating on longer drives. Honda built in plenty of small-item storage, and the Civic’s cleverly designed center console slides open to offer both a comfortable arm support and generous storage.

The Civic hatchback is available in fewer configurations and generally costs a little more, but it offers almost as much cargo space as some small crossovers and a racier look (if you really want it).  Honda

Front-seat passengers enjoy 39.3 inches of head room and 42.3 inches of leg room, while rear-seat passengers see 37.1 inches of head room and 37.4 inches of leg room. For a compact car, that’s a fairly good amount of room. It’s even with the Volkswagen Jetta and well ahead of the Toyota Corolla. The Civic’s big rear doors and back seat will also fit a rear-facing car seat without much hassle. Head room is ample for adults, but the car’s sloping roof and low door openings do present issues with loading children in and out of car seats.

Infotainment

Honda’s infotainment systems are often criticized for being clunky and hard to use, but there have been improvements in recent years. A physical volume knob returned in 2019, along with various other physical controls, which makes using the system while the car is moving much easier. The base LX’s non-touchscreen interface aside, most Civic models offer plenty of functionality with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which can paper over imperfections in Honda’s native setup. No USB ports are offered for rear passengers, however.

Verdict

The base model’s lack of tech aside, the outgoing 2021 Civic still offers a solid value proposition for practical and enjoyable motoring. It’s one of the cheapest vehicles on sale today to offer adaptive cruise and active lane-keeping, which greatly reduce fatigue on long journeys. Our choice would be the $24,315 Civic Sport hatchback with a manual. The Sport comes with the proper infotainment system, the hatchback adds versatility, and the manual provides an even richer driving experience for $800 less than the CVT.