Why did Honda PH choose just one engine for the 2022 Civic?

Earlier this week, Honda launched the all-new Civic in the Philippines. It packs a totally different design, more tech, and standard turbo power. From now on, all Civics sold in the country use the 1.5-liter i-VTEC Turbo that was previously reserved for the RS model. While that's good news, it's also an interesting change in direction for Honda.

Traditionally, the Civic was always available with two engine choices. Since the 1993 model, there was a base engine and a more powerful option. For the outgoing model, it was between a non-turbocharged 1.8-liter engine and the previously mentioned 1.5-liter turbo. So why doesn't the 2022 Civic have a lower-spec engine option?

But before that, what were the likely candidates for a base engine? In the US, the base Civic uses a 2.0-liter, non-turbocharged engine. That engine is good for 158 PS and 187 Nm of torque. Another potential choice is the de-tuned Singapore-spec 1.5-liter i-VTEC Turbo with 129 PS and 180 Nm of torque. The last one would be the 1.0-liter turbo designed for European markets. It's good for 128 PS and 200 Nm of torque.

So why were none of those chosen? Maiko Viar, Honda Cars Philippines product planning manager, explains:

“We studied the market and its acceptance and, of course, the cost impact. Overall, when it comes to the cost, it would greatly affect the price positioning of the model. In relation to the engine options, you have to consider the engines being developed for the Asia-Oceania region as we are sourcing it from Thailand. So getting an engine from Europe (or an engine from a different region/market) would be a little bit more costly. We consider those kinds of homologation, (and) choose the best balance for cost and customer demand.”

Are you satisfied with the explanation? Given that answer, sticking with one engine option is starting to make more sense. After all, it's the same direction that Honda Thailand did for their Civic. Either way, we're not complaining. With a base price of PHP 1,290,000, the Civic already comes with 178 PS and 240 Nm right out of the showroom. And not only does this make the Civic have the most powerful standard engine in its class, it also has the most power and torque for under PHP 1,500,000.

Of course, there are still those who would like a non-turbocharged engine. The last one would be the entry-level and mid-spec versions of the tenth-generation model. From time to time, these appear at our stocks, so be sure to visit out site once one of them pop up. Or, if you own the outgoing Civic and want to trade up to the all-new model, we can help you out by selling your vehicle through our Sell-My-Car program.