by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nissan Vice President Asako Hoshino has made it clear that the company will stand behind the legendary Skyline just hours after the news was leaked that the brand will no longer sell sedans on its domestic market. The news begs a lot of questions about the future of this beloved model. What’s in store for the next generation of Skyline?

Nissan ends domestic sedan sales

Nissan has followed the example of Ford and dropped sales of sedans on its domestic market. Ford sold its last sedan on the U.S. market in 2020. President of Ford North America Kumar Galhotra told Ford Authority: “The question then became, in that environment, of a finite amount of capital, where do we want to invest that capital? Do we want to invest it in a declining segment, or do we want to invest it in a growing segment?”

Nissan executives saw the same market shift. Suppliers leaked to Nikkei Asia that they were told of the automaker’s plans to stop all production of Sedans for the Japanese market. There are currently four Nissan sedans sold in the country. However, sales of these vehicles have been on a rapid decline. Nissan sold 5800 sedans on the Japanese market in 2020, representing 1% of sales.

Nissan is looking ahead and plans to divert all domestic sedan resources to SUVs, crossovers, and EV development. In addition, the company has been in partnership with Mitsubishi and Renault to further its EV offerings. As a result, new electric models will likely fill the remaining demand for sedans on the Japanese market.

Nissan says it will never turn its back on the Skyline

The Nissan Skyline is a legendary car. It was first sold in 1957 under the brand name Prince Motor Company. Prince merged with Nissan 10 years later in 1967. Shinichiro Sakurai headed up the design and engineering of the skyline from its inception until his death in 2011.

Nissan Executive Vice President Asako Hoshino said the brand would “Never give up on the Skyline.” What Hoshino did not specify is what body style or powertrain the next Skyline may have moving forward. However, with sedan sales ending, a redesign may be likely.

It’s unclear what’s on the horizon for the Skyline

Over the more than six decades of the Nissan Skyline, the car has been built as a coupe, a sedan, and a crossover. However, Nissan executives have laid out the company’s intention to focus development on crossovers and EVs, which already hints at two possible exciting redesigns for the next Nissan Skyline.

A new Skyline crossover would make sense based on current market trends and Nissan company objectives. Even in markets where smaller cars have always dominated sales, crossovers have skyrocketed in popularity. A new turbo Skyline hatchback or coupe would thrill fans across several major markets.

One of the most exciting possibilities is a Skyline EV. In 2019 Gumbal featured a Tesla swapped Skyline R32 driven on a closed track by professional stunt driver Terry Grant. The Skyline proved its drifting chops and could have a future in electric rally racing.

The Skyline badge has served Nissan well. It’s no surprise the automaker would keep the name alive. After more than 60 years in production, it’s safe to say the Skyline has earned the right to evolve into a new era.

RELATED: The ‘Kenmeri’ Is the Oft-Forgotten Nissan Skyline GT-R

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

The wait is over: the 2022 Honda Civic is finally here. At least the 2022 Civic Sedan is; the Hatchback, Si, and Type R models aren’t quite here yet. But that’s still enough to give reviewers a taste of what the Honda compact car offers. And those initial tastes reveal that the 2022 Civic improves an already well-reviewed car.

The 2022 Honda Civic Sedan packages familiar engines in new interior and exterior packaging

One place where the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan didn’t receive significant updates was in the engine department. LX and Sport models get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while EX and Touring models have a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. On the plus side, the latter is slightly more powerful and makes 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter engine, though, still makes 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque.

But while the engines are the same, the transmission options aren’t. For 2022, the Honda Civic Sedan drops the manual transmission and goes CVT-only. The 2022 Civic Hatchback will offer a manual, though, as will the Si and Type R.

However, while the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan has ‘carryover’ engines, its interior and exterior design are new. Inspired by the current-gen Accord, the 2022 Civic Sedan is slightly longer overall and has a longer wheelbase, MotorTrend notes. The rear track is also wider, and both the steering and suspension were retuned. And while the new car is 130 pounds heavier, it’s also more rigid, Car and Driver says.

Inside, the 2022 Civic has more rear legroom, wider front seats, and a more minimalist dashboard. A 7” center touchscreen is standard, as are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. And even the base LX gets a driver-assistance suite with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and front-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, Autoweek reports. The EX adds blind-spot detection, heated front seats, and a moonroof.

The range-topping 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring, though, gets even more. Instead of a 7” touchscreen, it has a 9” one. And it comes with a Bose audio system, a digital gauge cluster, a wireless charging pad, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

“Finding a major fault with the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan…is challenging,” MotorTrend says

The 2021 Honda Civic consistently earned high marks in reviews, with Car and Driver saying it “had everything an entry-level shopper could want.” And the 2022 car builds on that solid foundation.

Although it’s not a Type R, the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan handles even better than the equivalent 2021 car, MT says. The suspension delivers a comfortable ride without sacrificing agility, and MT describes the brake and throttle calibration as “Porsche-like.” And while the steering is a bit light, it builds weight well and offers more feedback than before, Roadshow notes.

The 2022 Honda Civic Sedan’s new interior features a similar level of material quality as before. That means solid switches, soft-touch materials, and “robust” hard plastics, Roadshow describes.  But using more textured surfaces instead of piano-black trim means not having to deal with lingering fingerprints. And the interior itself is roomier overall.

These upgrades also come without a significant price increase over the 2021 model. The base 2022 LX trim starts $21,700; the Touring starts at $28,300. As for the EX, it sits right above the $23,100 Sport at $24,700.

Are there any downsides?

Although the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan earns high marks, it’s not perfect.

Arguably the biggest issue stems from the engine selection. While both the 2.0-liter and 1.5-liter have slightly higher EPA estimates for 2021, they don’t exactly deliver significant speed. The turbocharged engine has better real-world acceleration, MT says, but it’s still just “a notch above fine.” And Car and Driver found the 2022 Touring’s 0-60 mph time 0.7 seconds slower than the 2021 car’s time. Though Car and Driver admits those numbers were generated by a low-mileage vehicle.

Apart from that, the biggest drawback to the 2022 car is that some of its features are exclusive to higher trim levels. The EX, for example, can’t get the Touring’s 9” touchscreen even as an option. However, Roadshow notes that the former trim gets most of the latter’s features at a lower price.

But, while the 2022 Civic Sedan isn’t perfect, “as a piece of egalitarian transportation, it’s spectacular,” MT says.

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RELATED: The 2021 Honda Civic Didn’t Have to Be the Best to Still Get a Consumer Reports Recommendation

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