The 2022 Honda Civic is slowly but surely arriving in more markets. Thailand, for one, already received the brand new C-segment sedan earlier this month. If it weren’t for the extended COVID-19 lockdowns in Malaysia, the local debut of the new Civic could’ve happened as early as next month in September 2021.

So with that in mind, why am I still getting the older 10th generation Civic TC-P? Well, for a number of reasons! I’m fully aware that a newer, more mature-looking Civic is just around the corner, but I’m still eagerly waiting to receive the “last-gen” Civic FC – keep on reading to find out why I’m sticking with the older model.

The 10th Gen Civic Looks Sportier

This is really the biggest reason why I’m much more interested in the current 10th gen Civic: it simply looks better, in my opinion. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say that the Civic FC looks more modern than the 11th gen Civic FE with its more mature, understated styling.

The aggressive styling of the Civic FC is certainly not for everyone, but I absolutely love the “ketam” C-shaped taillights; it gives the sedan an almost futuristic look. Up front, I’m really fond of the sharp, full LED headlights too, as well as the blacked out grille to complete the sporty appeal of the Civic.

In contrast, the new 2022 Civic is a much more mature-looking car – so much so that it can easily pass off as a Honda Accord. Of course, I’m sure folks that want a less aggressively styled sedan will find the 11th gen Civic more appealing, but it’s just not what I look for in my car.

Similar Performance From a Familiar 1.5L Turbo Engine

Both the 10th and 11th generation Civics are powered by the same 1.5L turbocharged engine, and although the 2022 model is tuned to deliver more power – up by 5PS and 20Nm of torque – the 10th gen Civic’s output of 173PS and 220Nm of torque are still very respectable.

Sure, there is a bit of power difference between the two models, but I reckon it won’t be all that noticeable in real life use. Both engines are still paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) too, with drive sent to the front wheels.

However, this is only applicable to the 1.5 TC and 1.5 TC-P variants of the current Civic FC, which are powered by the 1.5L turbo engine. It’s a different scenario if we’re comparing the 1.8S model with a more modest 1.8L SOHC i-VTEC engine that offers 141hp and 174Nm of torque.

That being said, it remains to be seen if Honda Malaysia will still offer the 1.8L engine option with the 2022 Civic once it is officially available here. After all, this mill is no longer offered in Thailand; the 1.5L turbo engine is the sole option there for the new Civic. If the Malaysia market follows suit, that brings us to the next point..

It Is (Likely) More Affordable

If Honda Malaysia does remove the 1.8L engine option for the 2022 Civic, the starting price of the sedan will definitely increase accordingly. To put this (somewhat) into context, the 11th gen Civic goes from about RM122,000 to RM151,000 in Thailand.

As for the Malaysian market, the current 10th gen Civic – with sales tax exemption applied until 31 December 2021 – starts at RM109,000 to RM135,000. It’s also worth noting that with all of the upgrades the 2022 Civic brings, it’s even more likely that the price of the new C-segment sedan will be increased across the board.

Plus, it still remains to be seen exactly when the 11th gen Civic FE will be launched here in Malaysia. If it debuts here next year, it won’t be able to take advantage of the current sales tax exemption, which is only valid until 31 December 2021. That is, unless the government extends this tax break yet again. Either way, it’s a gamble.

But the Interior..

Okay, if there’s one area where I think the new 11th gen Civic has an edge over the current Civic FC, it would be interior quality. Really, the interior of the new Civic FE looks much, much more premium. While I’m not sure if I like the honeycomb mesh that stretches across the dashboard, it’s smart that the air vents are hidden there.

Aside from that, the interior itself just looks very…upmarket. The 10.2-inch digital instrument panel looks great, the floating infotainment system gives the interior a more modern touch, and the ample use of soft touch material really elevates the interior of the Civic FE.

Even so, I would still go for the “older” 10th generation Honda Civic FC. Yes, its interior isn’t quite as premium, but I prefer the sportier exterior and (likely) lower price tag of this model. Plus, I won’t have to wait that much longer to receive my Civic, given that the automotive sector is now allowed to operate after more than two months of lockdown.

Still, I’m hoping Honda Malaysia will bring in the 2022 Civic soon – I’m excited to see how it would compare against its predecessor.