Today, Honda New Zealand released the 2022, 11th generation Civic Hatch to the New Zealand market.
Apparently inspired by the coupe-like profile of European sportbacks, the 2022 Civic Hatch builds upon the 11th Generation’s new clean and simple exterior design direction. Honda says it also promises driving enthusiasts an even more dynamic experience, with ride and handling developed in Europe and an upgraded 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.
The all-new Civic includes technological updates including the most advanced and comprehensive Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies ever offered in New Zealand. Key standard equipment includes a 9” color touchscreen, Bose premium sound system and a 7-inch digital instrument display.
“Civic is a critical part of Honda’s DNA in New Zealand, and that continues with the new 11th generation,” said Matt Woodburn, Marketing & Product Manager. “With its sporty, fun-to-drive driving character, Euro exterior styling and flexible interior packaging, the new Civic Hatch will appeal to those new Honda fans as well as our long term Civic loyalists”
As Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate, globally customers have purchased more than 24 million Civics since 1972, making it one of the top six best-selling passenger cars globally, ever. New Zealand was the first country outside Japan to assemble the Civic, and they were assembled on our shores up until the 6th Generation.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – What’s New
- All-new simple, clean design with a sporty Euro-inspired exterior styling and a coupe-like profile
- Simple, clean interior design with improved outward visibility
- New lightweight composite hatch structure reduces hinge size for a clean roofline
- Enhanced structure with a 19-percent increase in torsional rigidity
- Cargo opening widened by 40mm
- More powerful and fuel-efficient 1.5-litre turbocharged engine making 131kW and 240 Nm of torque on regular 91 octane petrol.
- The most advanced ever Honda Sensing® system with new front wide-view camera and Traffic Jam Assist.
- New to Civic colour – Premium Crystal Red. Civic exclusive Sonic Grey Pearl is carried over.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Key Features (Standard)
- Advanced Display Audio 9” color touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & wired Android Auto™
- Civic-first Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers
- Qi-compatible wireless charging
- Updated suspension and steering tuning for improved handling and ride comfort.
- Updated single-camera Honda Sensing® system with new Traffic Jam Assist
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Exterior Design
Civic Hatch incorporates unique styling cues to give it an even sportier attitude, including a distinctive grille mesh with a slightly concave shape, says Honda.
The Hatch’s smoother, sleeker roofline is made possible by a new lightweight composite hatch and by moving the hinge mechanism outward, allowing a roof height reduction of 50 mm in the hinge area. A unique taillight design, and center high-mounted high stoplight that spans nearly the entire width of its hatch, further emphasize Hatch’s wider rear track. LED lighting is used extensively for the exterior, including wide-set headlights, daytime running lights, parking lights, and fog lights.
Four colors are available on the 2022 Civic Hatch, including the new to Civic Premium Crystal Red, Civic exclusive Sonic Grey Pearl is carried over along with customer favorites Premium White Pearl and Crystal Black Pearl.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Interior Design
Honda says the pulled-back A-pillars, low hood, flat dashboard and hidden windshield wipers enable a windshield with clearly defined corners for a panoramic view. The instrument panel is designed with a minimum of cutlines to reduce windshield reflections and visual distractions, and the new metal honeycomb instrument panel accent isn’t just visually striking, it hides the air vents. Class-above materials are also used, especially on touchpoints, and careful attention has been paid to the premium action of all switchgear and controls.
Civic Hatch rear legroom has been improved by nearly 3.5 cm and rear headroom has been preserved, thanks to the new hinge design for the new composite hatch.
Interior versatility is key to Civic Hatch’s unique character, with generous cargo space more easily accessible thanks to a 4cm wider lower hatch opening and low lift-over height. The standard 60/40 split seatback can be quickly folded for expanded capacity and the side-pull cargo cover makes it easy to quickly open or conceal the rear cargo area.
Standard on the Civic Hatch is Honda’s new Anti-fatigue Seat (Debuted in New Zealand earlier this year in the Next Generation Jazz) enhances comfort on long drives. Trim is taken to the next level with combination perforated leather and Ultra Suede® seats with added shoulder support. Both Driver’s and Passenger’s seats are power adjusted 8 and 4 way respectively.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Structure
Civic Hatch’s new body structure shows significant gains in rigidity, with a 19 percent improvement in torsional rigidity versus the previous generation. The stiffer structure supports improvements in ride, handling and refinement. Reductions in noise, vibration and harshness are further augmented with the extensive use of structural adhesives, spray-in foam in the pillars, and additional sound deadening in the firewall and under the floor.
To meet present and anticipated future collision standards while minimizing additional weight, Civic Hatch uses the next generation of Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. This is realised through careful design coupled with the use of lightweight materials, such as aluminum and various grades of high-strength steel, as well as the additional structural adhesives.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Powertrains
For the 11th-generation the Civic is standard with a turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder producing 131 kilowatt at 6,000 rpm and 240 newton meters of torque at 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. Multiple measures contribute to improved fuel economy ratings, including new more efficient turbo plumbing and the addition of Variable Timing and lift Electronic Control (VTEC®) to the exhaust valves.
It’s coupled with a revised CVT that enhances fuel efficiency through the use of a more robust electric hydraulic pump that reduces the load on the mechanical pump, and a ball-bearing secondary shaft to reduce friction. The CVT also has been programmed to provide early downshifts during braking and features revised Step-Shift programming that simulates physical gear changes under hard acceleration for a more familiar and enjoyable driving experience. Fuel efficiency and emissions are also improved due in part to a new standard idle-stop system and a new catalytic converter design.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Chassis
For maximum driver enjoyment, Civic Hatch’s suspension and steering were developed in Europe and fine-tuned for North America. Civic has long been recognized as the benchmark for sporty handling in the compact class, and this is the most fun-to-drive Civic Hatch ever.
The front MacPherson struts feature new low-friction ball joints and front damper mount bearings to improve steering feel and self-centering. The spring and damper alignment has been optimized to minimize operational friction, and a new larger compliance bushing with an improved bushing axis minimizes harshness.
The rear track’s 0.5-inch additional width adds stability and the additional 3.5 centimeters of wheelbase help smooth out its ride quality. New rear lower control arm bushings promote better straight-line stability and turn in, while reducing noise and vibration inside the cabin. The electronic power steering has been re-tuned to provide better feedback and improved straight-line stability.
These suspension and steering upgrades apparently result in a smoother, more linear and more precise feel in turns, with the reduction in yaw delay leading to a more responsive and synchronized feeling behind the wheel. Additionally, the reduced suspension friction and improved bushings help reduce harsh road shock, such as when going over railroad crossings, by 20 percent. The all-new aluminum front subframe, with an efficient truss and rib structure, provides rigidity and stability.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Technology
This is also the most technologically advanced Civic Hatch ever featuring a new 7-inch color LCD drivers display which features an all-digital tachometer and information display on the left side, and a physical speedometer dial on the right.
Civic Hatch Sport features an all-new 9” color touchscreen, which is the largest touchscreen ever offered in Civic, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ (wired) integration, and standard Qi-compatible wireless charging.
In addition to large, easy-to-recognize icons and a simplified navigation structure with fewer embedded menus, the 9” touchscreen features a physical volume knob and hard buttons for Home and Back functions. A 0.8-inch finger rest immediately below the screen on all Civics provides a stable surface to rest your hand, so using the touchscreen is easier and less distracting while driving.
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Body Structure
The 11th generation Civic body structure is the most rigid in Civic history. The Hatch variant includes multiple new active and passive safety systems. This includes a first for Honda in New Zealand in the application of driver and passenger knee airbags.
Civic’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure is enhanced for improved compatibility with larger vehicles.
Standard in the Civic Hatch is a new Honda Sensing® suite of active safety and driver-assistive technologies that uses a new single-camera system providing a longer, wider field of view than the previous radar-and-camera based system. Combined with software advances and a new, more powerful processor, the system is capable of more quickly and accurately hazards, along with road lines and road signs. Honda Sensing® also adds Traffic Jam Assist, and the new camera-based system improves on existing functionality, such as more natural brake application and quicker reactions when using Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). It also has more linear and natural steering action when using the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS).
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Model Line up
| Grade | Pricing |
| 2022 Civic Hatch Sport | $47,000 + $800 ORC |
2022 Honda Civic Hatch – Key Specifications and Features
| ENGINEERING | 2022 Civic Hatch Sport |
| Engine Type | 16-Valve DOHC VTEC® In-Line 4-Cylinder with Turbocharger |
| Displacement | 1,498 cc |
| Power (kW) | 131 @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque (Nm) | 240 @ 1,700-4,500 rpm |
| Redline | 6,600 rpm |
| 3-Mode Drive System (ECON/Normal/Sport/) | • |
| Continuously Variable Transmission | with Paddle Shifters |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension/Multi-Link Rear Suspension | • |
| Wheels | 18-in. alloys with Berlina Black Inserts |
| Tyres | 235/40R18 91W |
| EXTERIOR MEASUREMENTS | Sport |
| Wheelbase | |
| Length | |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Track (front/rear) | 60.5 in. / 61.6 in. |
| KEY FEATURES | Sport |
| Honda Sensing® | • |
| Advanced Compatibility EngineeringTM (ACETM) Body Structure | • |
| 8 Airbags, Including Driver and Passenger Knee bags | • |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | with Cross Traffic Monitor |
| Low-Speed Braking Control | • |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Integration | • (Wireless) |
| 9-Inch HD Color Touchscreen with Volume Knob, Customizable Feature Settings and Smart Shortcuts | • |
| Bose Premium Sound System with 12 Speakers, including Subwoofer | • |
| Driver Information Interface Screen | 7.0 in |
