2022 Honda Civic Goes Upmarket In Australia, Priced From AU$47,200

The 11th-generation Honda Civic Hatch has launched in Australia with a starting price of AU$47,200 ($33,700).

Aussies have been able to purchase a 10th-gen Civic hatch for as little as AU$31,000 ($22,100) but for this new model, Honda Australia has decided to launch it in a single, well-equipped variant dubbed the VTi-LX. It will launch locally on December 6 and by pricing it considerably higher than the outgoing model, Honda aspires to position it as a more premium product.

Powering the Honda Civic Hatch VTi-LX is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 175 hp (131 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) of torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. This engine is coupled to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. Next year, the range will grow with the arrival of Honda’s e:HEV hybrid powertrain. The range will then be topped out by the new Civic Type R that’s just around the corner.

Read More: 2022 Honda Civic Fully Detailed, Gets Buttoned-Down Design, Promises More Premium Feel

Three driving modes are available for the Civic VTi-LX, namely ECON, Normal, and a new Sport mode. The Sport mode activates an exclusive shift map for the CVT and alters the drive ratios to ensure revs remain above 2,000 rpm, except when stopped or driving at low speeds.

A number of important features come standard with the Civic VTi-LX. These include Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Traffic Jam Assist, Driver attention monitor, 9-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay, Qi wireless phone charger, over-the-air updates, acoustic windshield, heated and auto-retractable wing mirrors, a Plasmacluster ion-based air purification system, four-way electrically adjustable front passenger seat, and ambient door trim and front footwell lighting.

“The 11th-generation Civic represents a step-change for Honda in the small car segment, with the all-new model elevating key aspirational elements of the Honda brand such as craftsmanship, premium quality and intuitive design,” Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said in a statement. “On the eve of its 50th anniversary, Honda’s designers and engineers have taken the Civic to a whole new level, producing a car that is more advanced, more sophisticated and more premium than ever before. For Australia, the all-new Civic has been specified to appeal to a new target customer, one that aligns with the move to a more premium positioning for the Civic nameplate and the Honda brand overall.”