2022 Honda Civic Sedan Interior and Cargo

There's a lot to like about the latest Civic as a family car, but the highlight of the package is undoubtedly the new Honda Civic interior. Honda used to create some of the best, smartest interiors in the automotive business, but the same can't be said for products released over the last decade. While Honda retained its reputation for nailing cars together properly, creativity certainly took a dip. The previous Civic Sedan is a prime example. It had all the toys, but the design was bland and forgettable.

Honda says the new Civic's interior was designed to be clean, easy to use, and stimulating, but it's evident where the inspiration came from. Elsewhere in the world, Honda sells a small electric car called the 'e', and it has a sublime minimalist interior design. While the Civic's interior isn't as advanced, it does follow the same elegant approach. The new Civic's interior is proof that an interior can be both ergonomic and exciting. Honda managed to incorporate a touchscreen interface and separate controls for the audio and climate control. A metal honeycomb panel separates the latter functions. It looks sensational and unlike anything done in this segment before.

Inside the Civic, Honda even went as far as redesigning the front seats for greater long-distance comfort. The Touring trim also gets a fully digital instrument cluster, which integrates beautifully with the touchscreen interface.

This is where the new Civic sedan comes into its own, and where most of the improvements are seen. The Touring trim has full digital instruments, while the rest of the trims are partially digitized. The LED cluster is easy to read and understand and the simple steering wheel has logical controls. The central part of the cluster can be customized to whatever information you need at the moment.

Most surfaces have a matte finish, and even the shinier ones are made from fingerprint-phobic materials. They also look cool, especially the center console covering near the shifter. The coolest part is the honeycomb grate accent, which stretches from door to door hiding the air vents. It looks utilitarian, not flashy. Honda talked to owners and found they always liked the simplicity of Honda's cabins. The dual-zone climate control uses hefty, metal knobs for fan speed and temperature, making them easy to use while driving quickly.

The Honda Civic has seating for five passengers inside, and we checked out the back row, which was fine for an average-sized adult. Like most cars in this segment with these interior dimensions, three adults abreast in the back would feel tight, but at least with 37.4 inches of rear legroom and 37.1 inches of headroom, two will never have any problem.

Visibility is great, as with most Civics. The windshield wipers sit low and the a-pillars are pulled back for an expansive view of what's in front of the vehicle. The cowl is the same height as the door trim, and the body lines are horizontal going towards the rear.

Overall it does harken to the Civics of yore. It feels spacious and straightforward, but it also has more tech than any predecessor, hiding it under a layer of simplicity. It's a great combination and the standout reason this car feels so easy to use.

The honeycomb mesh interior trim isn't just there to look attractive. As Honda says, it removes visual clutter as well. Looking at the interior images, you might notice that there are no visible air vents. That's because they're neatly hidden behind the said mesh, operated via knobs inspired by previous models. Other highlights include the metallic finish on the climate control knobs and a platinum-look coating on the interior door handles. The center console is finished in a material resembling piano black, but it's smudge-resistant. What a pleasure. Neat freaks can finally just get out of the car without having to spend 15 minutes removing visible smudge marks from the interior trim. Take note, Volvo.

Interior color options include black, gray, and Sport black. LX and EX models come with fabric upholstery, while the Sport adds synthetic leather to the side bolsters on the seats. Heated seats are available as you move through the trim levels, and the top-spec Touring comes with genuine leather seats.