The new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback has been unveiled at long last. It comes with an entirely new and more refined design language and plenty of new features. The last iteration of the Japanese brand’s star child was often criticized for its over-styled looks. Now, it would seem that Honda has truly taken that to heart with the new models, and the hatchback is no exception.

A tried and true look

Speaking of the looks, the Tokyo-based automaker really has stepped up the game. The last iteration sought to bring back some of the boy-racer looks of modified Hondas, and this time around things are taking a more Mazda-esque approach. The brand has gone to great lengths to make the Civic appear more mature and grown-up.

No more large wings, shouty bumpers, or HDMI-shaped tailpipes. The new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback is more refined than ever. The smooth lines certainly help to highlight Honda’s new, more upscale look. Hopefully, this will make for a great-looking Civic Type R when it is revealed. Talking of more enthusiast-leaning models, all new Civics will be able to be optioned with a six-speed manual transmission.

The 2022 Honda Civic hatchback is more refined

It’s more of the same on the inside, too. There’s a fantastic honeycomb pattern that hides the air vents, a nod from a similar pattern found on the grille of the new hatch. Yet more upmarket-feeling switchgear can be found inside. There’s some metal trim on the climate control knobs that helps with this newer, more refined feel. Note: knobs. The new model does not have touch control climate systems, which is a huge relief.

So, what about the driver accommodations? The new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback has a fully digital gauge as well as Honda’s newer infotainment system, which certainly outshines older units found in both Hondas and Toyotas alike. Finally, the wheel, pictured above, has some nice touches too. A heated wheel will presumably be an option, but it’s great to see yet more physical controls. That muscle memory a driver develops with physical controls means less time with eyes off the road fiddling with a touch screen.

What’s next for the new Civic

There’s some exciting changes here to be sure. Honda says that the hatchback will also be a more “sporty” iteration of the Civic right off the bat. The hatchy models will have a stiffer chassis than the sedan, as well as more aggressive tires available at your discretion. On top of that, you can see the new Civic’s open maw above.

The new interior looks good and appears to be plenty practical to boot. While the seats don’t fold completely flat, the hatch looks absolutely cavernous. There’s also a handy cargo cover that can be seen to the right side of the rear C pillar. All in all, the new 2022 Honda Civic hatchback looks far more promising than the sedan. It promises to be more engaging from a driver’s perspective, and more practical. We can’t wait to see what this means for both the Si and Type R models that are sure to come later.