Base Camp: 2022 Honda Civic Sedan LX

Every week, wheels.ca selects a new vehicle and takes a good look at its entry-level trim. If we find it worthy of your consideration, we'll let you know. If not, we'll recommend one - or the required options - that earns a passing grade.

Canada's most popular car has been given a major overhaul for 2022, a task approached with care thanks to the fact it's been this country's top-selling car since 1998. With a grown-up styling and a dashboard that's notably not lifted wholesale from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, this iteration is shaping up to be one of the most successful models to date.

Base Camp is, of course, most interested in the least expensive trim. Once again called the LX, it stickers at $24,465 and is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. An automatic transmission is the sole choice, leaving those of us seeking a third pedal empty-handed until the hatchback variant appears later. Its 16-inch tires on steel wheels help keep a lid on costs come replacement time, though the hubcaps are a clear indicator of your penny-pinching ways.



One good thing about the mandatory automatic is it permits the inclusion of active safety equipment like collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. These are great helpers for new drivers or those amongst us who once again find themselves staring down the barrel of a two-hour morning commute.

The entry-level LX is currently the only 2022 Civic available without a moonroof, a headroom-robbing feature your author prefers to do without. Power side mirrors have heated elements for cold mornings at the rink, though their lack of turn signal repeaters is yet another advertisement this is the base model. As is typical for Honda, the only available paint shades are dour like Newfoundland fog. Lunar Silver Metallic is shown here.



No fewer than eight speakers work with the 7-inch colour touchscreen to bang out tunes from your Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connection. You're out of luck for SiriusXM capability, however. Air conditioning is standard in just about everything these days, as are power windows and a tilt/telescope wheel. The inclusion of a remote starter is a nice touch.

What We'd Choose

Stepping up to the EX is a $2,300 proposition, with the Sport trim being a further $1,100 beyond that point. Neither bring anything extra to the table in terms of power, though the Sport does have snazzy 18-inch black aluminum alloy wheels. Safety features and driver assist technology is also identical.

Truthfully, it's tough to make the case for a more expensive 2022 Civic when the net gains are largely restricted to extra USB ports and dual zone climate control plus some other minor trim differences. While the colour palette in the EX and Sport are more appealing, $3,400 can buy a lot of vinyl wrap. Stick to the LX, pocket the difference, and enjoy the extra 43mm (1.65 inches) of headroom.