2022 Honda Civic RS Review

The Honda Civic was launched in the country back in November of 2021 with an all-turbocharged lineup. This was a game changer for Honda Philippines as its previous lineup came with two engine options, a naturally aspirated 1.8 and a turbocharged 1.5. With the turbocharged 1.5-liter now being standard for all variants, this switched things up as even the entry-level now got access to more power. Aside from the singular engine option, Honda Philippines also doubled down on safety for the sedan by giving the entire model range access to its Honda SENSING safety suite.

Enter the new Honda Civic RS, it's still the top-of-the-line model in the country with a lot to offer. As this is the new top dog it does come with a higher price tag. The question now is, is the RS variant o the Honda Civic worth paying top dollar for, or are the lower variants a better bargain?

We start with the exterior of the Civic RS. Just like the rest of the model lineup, it comes with a sleeker and more minimalist design compared to that of its predecessor. It comes with long LED headlights a sporty grille and a front bumper design and even sports some accessories. To distinguish the RS from the rest of the model lineup it also comes with its unique set of 18-inch wheels which are in a special RS matte black color. Aside from this, the sedan also gets high gloss black door sash garnishing along with black side mirrors. At the rear, it has a high gloss black trunk spoiler to complete the RS look.

Compared to the rest of the Civic lineup the RS variant stands out as the sportier of the models. The 18-inch wheels give it a nice clean stance thanks to them being able to fill out the wheel wells a lot better. One thing we have to note is that the Civic in general has a lower ground clearance than its previous generation. This makes going over certain objects a bit of a clincher and something you have to watch out for especially if there are a lot of humps in your area.

Next, we move to the interior of the Honda Civic which carries a minimalist design. It's simple, but simple works best, thanks to the use of premium materials throughout the cabin. Soft-touch materials are present and make everything feel great no matter where you sit. One thing we do have to note is that there is a shiny black plastic accent that stretches the length of the dashboard which can get easily scratched up and is a fingerprint magnet.

Aside from this, the cabin is great with the dual-zone automatic climate controls easily within reach and also easy to use. The gear shifter is in the right place and moves crisply into gear. Another thing we have to note is the drive mode selector. Instead of it being switches or a gear knob, Honda has opted for it to be a switch instead. While it functions well, it's often hard to remember what mode you are in. luckily there is a sound to tell you if you have switched modes and a display on the digital instrument cluster to tell you what mode you are in. It also helps that there are rear air vents available to better cool the cabin. Mood lighting is also available in the Civic, however, it is only in red, good if you like red, but not so good if you like other options.

In terms of comfort, the Honda Civic RS is great, with noise, vibrations, and harshness insulation, and all intrusions are kept to a minimum with only a bit of road noise entering the cabin at speeds above 90km/h. This can be partly attributed to the great tire choice that Honda Philippines went with as the sedan comes with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. The suspension of the Civic is also great as its dampers are tuned well to be both comfortable and absorb road imperfections. 

As for its seats, they are great and supportive but the bolstering can be a bit stiff for some people. Regardless, it's an overall comfortable cabin with the leather having enough play in it to gently cradle you and the foam being there to give you better support.

In terms of technology, the Honda Civic RS is well equipped as it comes with the latest technology available from the Japanese automaker. It comes with a 9-inch infotainment system that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. It comes with a wireless charger and a 12-speaker BOSE sound system. Aside from this, it also has built-in navigation in case there is no internet connection available on your phone. The technology doesn’t stop there as the Civic also has a 10.2-inch digital display that is customizable and changes its theme when in different drive modes. 

Honda has been pushing out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on its cars for quite some time, and this rendition is the best yet. Refined and responsive enough for your day-to-day tasks, it’s a good system with the only nitpick being it's small (compared to other cars nowadays) screen. However, it’s plenty enough for most uses, and it won’t overwhelm you. The base user interface is pretty easy to navigate and the menus are more responsive compared to the previous-generation RS Turbo. 

Honda Philippines has made this latest generation of the Honda Civic safer than ever before as it now comes with the brand’s Honda Sensing technology. This means that it has a lane watch camera, adaptive cruise control, low-speed following, collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and a lead car departure notification. Note that all of these features are standard for the entire Civic lineup. Aside from this, it also comes with a walk-away auto door look, a multi-view reverse camera, front airbags, side airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. Even with the premium price tag, these features are definitely worth the money. 

The Honda Civic RS now drives and handles like a grand tourer. This means that it's more of a car that is designed for high-speed and long-distance driving. It's the type of vehicle you can take to Baguio and back without any issues. If you take it onto a mountain road expect to wrestle with its weight and its traction control system. While it is meant for it to make the car safer, it does take away a bit of the fun as the vehicle tends to understeer more than rotate. Most drivers will prefer a car that tracks twists and turns safely. It’s quite stable, but it’s not the same car that we came to love back in the 90s with the EG and the EK generations. 

However, if you drive it like a normal person, the Honda Civic RS will give you a smooth and pliant ride. It will give you no issues despite its longer dimensions in traffic or when maneuvering around the city. The blind spot camera also is a great addition to the vehicle, however, it can become annoying as it blocks out the infotainment system. This means that if you are signaling right you won’t be able to see the navigation screen on Waze or Google maps. It's a minor quirk that really shouldn’t be a deal breaker for you. Overall the Honda Civic RS is a great car to drive especially on the highway thanks to the additions of Honda Sensing technology. 

As we mentioned before, the entire Honda Civic lineup is now powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It pushes out 175 hp and 240 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT. Given the Civic’s slightly bigger size than before, we can expect to see a bit of difference in terms of fuel economy. With our testing, we were able to get 7.5 km/L at an average speed of 15 km/h in the city and we were able to get 16.7 km/L at an average speed of 90 km/h on the highway.

The Honda Civic RS is priced at just below the P1.8 million mark which means that it encroaches into crossover and SUV territory. This can be a hard ask especially as the sedan comes with a low ground clearance which means you need to watch where you drive to avoid it scraping on humps or other inclines. 

What it does bring to the table is comfort and convenience sans a commanding view of the road. This comes in the form of its great suspension tuning along with its Honda Sensing technology. The sedan is now safer than ever and can almost even drive itself, this makes it very easy to use on the highway. However, given the other options on the market, you will have to want this premium sedan to justify its price point. Don’t get us wrong, it offers you a lot for what you pay for, but if you are looking for something that more versatile there are other options available within the same price point. However, if you’re dead set on the looks, power, and overall package that Honda’s 11th-generation Civic brings, then by all means. If the RS is too expensive for you, then you won’t have to worry about getting a weaker engine since the 1.5-liter turbo motor is standard throughout the lineup. 

Overall, the Honda Civic RS is great if you are a fan of the nameplate and if you are looking for your next daily. It has the most up-to-date technology, a great sound system, and Honda Sensing to back you up on long drives. It has evolved to be a great grand tourer that will keep you comfortable and safe on long-haul trips. It's now the Honda Civic that aspires to be much like its bigger brother, the Honda Accord.