And the Honda faithful rejoiced
By Bengt Halvorson
|
February 22, 2007
Introduction
Honda Civic Si Sedan– Review: This is the best Civic Si that Honda has ever built. It's quick, it handles beautifully, it's exciting to drive, and at times it'll have its pilot giggling like a five-year-old in a roomful of puppies. Its 197 horsepower engine revs to 8000 rpm, with an accompanying punk-rock soundtrack that'll have you muting the stereo. The shifter is perfect, the driving position beyond reproach, and the four-door body a bonus to anybody who has to tote more than one passenger. Compared to previous versions of the Si, it's the best. But compare it to its current competition and its lack of low-rev grunt becomes an Achilles' heel that simply can't be overlooked by any but the most ardent Honda faithful.
What We Drove
Our Galaxy Gray Metallic Civic Si Sedan had only one option box checked, yet it still came very well equipped at $22,085, including Honda's $595 destination charge. That non-princely sum gets you a premium audio system that is XM ready with MP3 and WMA capability, an effective climate control system, special Si sport front seats with the Si logo embroidered in, power windows and door locks and stability control. Lessee…yup, that's it. Oh, except for the 2.0-liter 197-horsepower engine and six-speed manual transmission that made you pick this car in the first place. That sole option, by the way, was a high-performance summer tire package that put 215/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Exalo tires on our car's multi-spoke alloy wheels.
Performance
Civic Sis promise performance and for the most part this one delivers. The engine makes 197 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 139 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,100 rpm. It sings sweetly to its 8,000-rpm redline, and the six-speed manual transmission is one of the smoothest shifting we've found, with short throws and an easy, progressive clutch. But – and here's the part Honda fanboys hate – it needs more torque. The VTEC power surge comes on at about 6,000 rpm. In second gear at that engine speed you're already going 40 mph, and you hit redline soon after. Honda's Acura division has embraced turbocharging for this engine in the RDX, with great success. We hope Honda does, as well.
Handling
Few cars at this price can keep up with the Civic Si on a twisty road. It attacks the tarmac and has easily controllable limits that are high enough to explore only on a closed track. We did miss communicative steering though; the Si's electric assist box is quick, but too light and less communicative than a disaffected teenager. The downside of this handling is ride quality. On the grooved and rippled freeways and potholed streets of Los Angeles, our test car bounced, jiggled, slammed over railroad tracks, followed rain grooves and committed pretty much every ride sin there is at some point. We love the handling, but a little more compliance would make the daily slog much more enjoyable.
Visibility
The glass area of a car is often called a “greenhouse,” and few cars live up to that analogy better than this Civic. The windows are big, the pillars small, and there are no major blind spots. Love it or hate it, the odd dashboard design makes the cowl nice and low and gives you a feeling of spaciousness. The outside mirrors are big enough that your head hardly swivels during lane changes. About the only drawback is that the big expanse of plastic below the windshield inevitably reflects up onto it, but at least it's a reflection of low-gloss plastic.
Fun to Drive
This car was made for fun, and it oozes from every nook and cranny. There's the thrilling buzz of the engine singing to redline, the perfect action of the shifter, and the excellent pedal placement. Even the constant drumming of the suspension can be fun if you're of the right mindset; it's like the car is tugging at your sleeve, begging you to go out and play. The red stitching on the door panels, the excellent sport seats and the red “Si” logo glaring at you from the center-mounted tachometer all reinforce that this car was built for one main purpose: to be a blast to drive. It succeeds.
Front Comfort
One of our editors spent a weekend trying to figure out how to steal the seats in this car. It all fell apart when he realized that a seatless Civic would be hard to explain to Honda. But they're that good; perfectly bolstered without being confining, comfortable for long stretches, and all with a minimum of adjustments. The rest of the front seat area is just as good. The dash layout is weird, but it works once you're used to it. There's plenty of head and leg room even for tall drivers, and a tilt-telescope wheel aids in finding the perfect driving position. The only flaw is an annoyingly placed parking brake handle positioned where a tall driver's knee goes.
Rear Comfort
This is the Civic Si Sedan's ace in the hole. Love to drive but have kids? Here you go. Plenty of room, LATCH points all over the place for child seats, and even room for full-sized adults. Try that in the coupe. The seat cushions are a little on the short-and-low side, and taller passengers will wish for about a half-inch more vertical space to prevent a headliner hairdo, but beyond that it's a pretty good place to be. The kids will love it, especially if dad (or mom) indulges in the roller-coaster handling of the Si once in a while. In the safest way possible, of course.
Interior Noise
This is a Civic, not a luxury sedan. Even though it has more sound deadening in the dash than the Civic EX, it's not a place for quiet contemplation. You hear the engine loud and clear, and plenty of road rumble gets through as well. This is due in large part to the meaty low-profile summer tire package. However, the slippery shape avoids most wind noise. The noise levels are part of the trade off between the Si – especially with summer tires – and the Civic EX.
Loading Cargo
The Civic Si Sedan's trunk is big and fully lined, including the trunk lid itself. It's not unusual for cars with short rear decks like the Civic to have ridiculously small trunk openings – the Chevy Cobalt is particularly egregious – but the Civic somehow manages to be big enough that even a large suitcase will slide in without difficulty. Longer loads can be accommodated with the 60/40 split rear seat, which has release handles located conveniently at the inside edge of the top of the trunk opening. We were surprised by the old-school cargo-crunching hinges, though.
Build Quality
The Civic, like most every modern Honda, is very well built. From the outside, about the only things we could find were a hood and trunk lid that were ever so slightly off center, but we're really picking nits here. The interior is much the same. Panel gaps are so tight a playing card won't fit in most of them, there was nothing misaligned that we could find, and even the decorative red stitching on the armrests and seats was perfectly parallel. The only chink in the build quality armor was a small strip of protective plastic left over after production wedged between the window switches and driver's door panel.
Materials Quality
Interior materials are excellent for this class of car. Soft plastic tops the door panels, which are low enough to rest your arm on. The door panel and center armrests were covered in suede-like Alcantara cloth with red stitching, and virtually anything you'd touch on a daily basis was pleasant. The dash top is hard plastic, but high quality, a good thing because there's a heck of a lot of it. The Si also gets metal pedals, a leather steering wheel and a leather and aluminum shift knob. The sun visors are a stylish combination of cloth and plastic, but they don't extend to block sunlight from the side, a glaring oversight considering that the side windows are so long.
Styling
The Civic Si Sedan looks just like any other Civic sedan, with just a few minor touches to set it apart. Chief among them are the trunk mounted spoiler, the lower body kit and the special 17-inch alloy wheels. There are also the red Si badges mounted on the trunk lid and on the left side of the grille, and the loony VTEC decal at the base of each rear door; they'd have a date with a heat gun and a plastic scraper if this were our car. Otherwise it's standard issue Civic, which is fine if you like the whole “The Future Is Now!” styling of the current generation.
Storage
The Civic Si Sedan benefits from all the interior packaging cleverness of any other Civic. There are bins aplenty: in the center console, under the center armrest, the glovebox, and the center console cup holders, which boast nice rolltop cover. The door pockets are a little on the small side though, and only the passenger's seatback has a pocket. Rear seat passengers have cupholders in the fold-down center armrest, and there are also good-sized pockets in the rear doors. If you can't find enough places to store all your stuff in this (or any) Civic, you need to lighten your load.
Infotainment Controls
The Civic's entertainment controls look complicated at first, probably due to the wacky styling of the interior. The reality is that they're as straightforward and simple to use as any other Honda system. Big knobs for volume and tuning flank the multifunction preset buttons, and the knurled surfaces feel good to the touch. There are also convenient backlit controls for volume and mode on the steering wheel. Everything else works the way a car stereo should. Sound quality in our test car's premium package was excellent, due in no small part to the big honkin' subwoofer nestled in the middle of the rear shelf.
Climate Controls
Immediately below the stereo controls, the climate controls mimic them in form and function. A big knob for fan speed is complemented by a big knob for temperature. Considering the big greenhouse of the Civic, it's important for the air conditioning to be efficient, and luckily this one delivers plenty of cool air through its big vents.
Secondary Controls
Honda has stuck to its standard formula of control placement here, which is always a good thing. Window switches on the door; headlight switch on the left column stalk; windshield wiper controls on the right column stalk. The Civic Si comes standard with a stability assist program, which features a big, conveniently placed off button to the left of the steering wheel. Everything works with precision. We should note that the center-out windshield wiper pattern worked very well at clearing the big glass of rain during a storm, and we wonder why this pattern isn't the norm, as opposed to the right-to-left style of most cars.
Competition
As good as the Civic Si is, the competition hasn't stood still, and there are some serious challenges out there. Perhaps the strongest contender is the Volkswagen GTI. Yes, we know it's a hatchback, but it's also available with five doors, and even though it costs more it's still competitive price-wise if you don't go nuts with the options sheet. You also get an engine with generous amounts of torque, something that is sorely lacking in the Si. Also in the mix is the Subaru WRX, with standard all-wheel drive and a more powerful and torquey engine offsetting its price premium. The upcoming Sentra SE-R Spec V and the limited-edition Mazdaspeed3 also fall into the same price and performance category.
2nd Opinion -- Chee
Civic Si Sedan – Chee Opinion:
The Civic Si Sedan is like a housewife with a dragon tattoo. Responsible, yes, but once you get that motor running high, responsibility flies out the window. The problem – with the Si – is that it takes too much work, and most of the time it ends up being a spunky Civic with sporting seats and a pain in traffic. Because that's where I spend most of my daily drive time, I own the anti Si: a Honda Civic Hybrid. As such, I'm already in love with the interior and the overall design of the car. Still, I secretly long for the Si, except for one thing: How often will you get to see that tattoo? – Brian Chee
2nd Opinion -- Perry
Civic Si Sedan – Perry Opinion:
“Warning! Drivers with addictive personalities or obsessive-compulsive disorders should refrain from driving this car, as running the Civic Si up to redline can be addictive.” Honda should add this caution to the driver's visor. The change in intake sound when the VTEC engages its high-lift cam is reason enough to run the Si through the revs from every light. Overall the Civic Si met my expectations, but I was unpleasantly surprised by the light steering and the too-firm ride. Hitting the Botts dots changing lanes sent pounding thuds through the cabin that aren't acceptable from a sedan. Yes, it is an Si, but I feel the stiff ride should be reserved for the coupe version. – Ron Perry
2nd Opinion -- Wardlaw
Civic Si Sedan – Wardlaw Opinion:
I would buy this car. The driving position is perfect, the sport seats are comfortable, the control layout is flawless, and the shifter is a model of precision. Materials and construction ooze quality. Ride and handling are terrific, the clutch is easy to modulate, and the engine sounds great -- especially when revved into VTEC territory. Wish I could move the parking brake lever somewhere else because it jabs me in the knee, and a spoiler-delete option would be nice. Also, it feels a little gutless when passing. But these minor quibbles don't detract from greatness. Got kids on the way but love driving? Don't despair: the Honda Civic Si Sedan is here to save your soul. – Christian Wardlaw
Our Galaxy Gray Metallic Civic Si Sedan had only one option box checked, yet it still came very well equipped at $22,085, including Honda's $595 destination charge. That non-princely sum gets you a premium audio system that is XM ready with MP3 and WMA capability, an effective climate control system, special Si sport front seats with the Si logo embroidered in, power windows and door locks and stability control. Lessee…yup, that's it. Oh, except for the 2.0-liter 197-horsepower engine and six-speed manual transmission that made you pick this car in the first place. That sole option, by the way, was a high-performance summer tire package that put 215/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Exalo tires on our car's multi-spoke alloy wheels.
Performance
Civic Sis promise performance and for the most part this one delivers. The engine makes 197 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 139 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,100 rpm. It sings sweetly to its 8,000-rpm redline, and the six-speed manual transmission is one of the smoothest shifting we've found, with short throws and an easy, progressive clutch. But – and here's the part Honda fanboys hate – it needs more torque. The VTEC power surge comes on at about 6,000 rpm. In second gear at that engine speed you're already going 40 mph, and you hit redline soon after. Honda's Acura division has embraced turbocharging for this engine in the RDX, with great success. We hope Honda does, as well.
Handling
Few cars at this price can keep up with the Civic Si on a twisty road. It attacks the tarmac and has easily controllable limits that are high enough to explore only on a closed track. We did miss communicative steering though; the Si's electric assist box is quick, but too light and less communicative than a disaffected teenager. The downside of this handling is ride quality. On the grooved and rippled freeways and potholed streets of Los Angeles, our test car bounced, jiggled, slammed over railroad tracks, followed rain grooves and committed pretty much every ride sin there is at some point. We love the handling, but a little more compliance would make the daily slog much more enjoyable.
Visibility
The glass area of a car is often called a “greenhouse,” and few cars live up to that analogy better than this Civic. The windows are big, the pillars small, and there are no major blind spots. Love it or hate it, the odd dashboard design makes the cowl nice and low and gives you a feeling of spaciousness. The outside mirrors are big enough that your head hardly swivels during lane changes. About the only drawback is that the big expanse of plastic below the windshield inevitably reflects up onto it, but at least it's a reflection of low-gloss plastic.
Fun to Drive
This car was made for fun, and it oozes from every nook and cranny. There's the thrilling buzz of the engine singing to redline, the perfect action of the shifter, and the excellent pedal placement. Even the constant drumming of the suspension can be fun if you're of the right mindset; it's like the car is tugging at your sleeve, begging you to go out and play. The red stitching on the door panels, the excellent sport seats and the red “Si” logo glaring at you from the center-mounted tachometer all reinforce that this car was built for one main purpose: to be a blast to drive. It succeeds.
Front Comfort
One of our editors spent a weekend trying to figure out how to steal the seats in this car. It all fell apart when he realized that a seatless Civic would be hard to explain to Honda. But they're that good; perfectly bolstered without being confining, comfortable for long stretches, and all with a minimum of adjustments. The rest of the front seat area is just as good. The dash layout is weird, but it works once you're used to it. There's plenty of head and leg room even for tall drivers, and a tilt-telescope wheel aids in finding the perfect driving position. The only flaw is an annoyingly placed parking brake handle positioned where a tall driver's knee goes.
Rear Comfort
This is the Civic Si Sedan's ace in the hole. Love to drive but have kids? Here you go. Plenty of room, LATCH points all over the place for child seats, and even room for full-sized adults. Try that in the coupe. The seat cushions are a little on the short-and-low side, and taller passengers will wish for about a half-inch more vertical space to prevent a headliner hairdo, but beyond that it's a pretty good place to be. The kids will love it, especially if dad (or mom) indulges in the roller-coaster handling of the Si once in a while. In the safest way possible, of course.
Interior Noise
This is a Civic, not a luxury sedan. Even though it has more sound deadening in the dash than the Civic EX, it's not a place for quiet contemplation. You hear the engine loud and clear, and plenty of road rumble gets through as well. This is due in large part to the meaty low-profile summer tire package. However, the slippery shape avoids most wind noise. The noise levels are part of the trade off between the Si – especially with summer tires – and the Civic EX.
Loading Cargo
The Civic Si Sedan's trunk is big and fully lined, including the trunk lid itself. It's not unusual for cars with short rear decks like the Civic to have ridiculously small trunk openings – the Chevy Cobalt is particularly egregious – but the Civic somehow manages to be big enough that even a large suitcase will slide in without difficulty. Longer loads can be accommodated with the 60/40 split rear seat, which has release handles located conveniently at the inside edge of the top of the trunk opening. We were surprised by the old-school cargo-crunching hinges, though.
Build Quality
The Civic, like most every modern Honda, is very well built. From the outside, about the only things we could find were a hood and trunk lid that were ever so slightly off center, but we're really picking nits here. The interior is much the same. Panel gaps are so tight a playing card won't fit in most of them, there was nothing misaligned that we could find, and even the decorative red stitching on the armrests and seats was perfectly parallel. The only chink in the build quality armor was a small strip of protective plastic left over after production wedged between the window switches and driver's door panel.
Materials Quality
Interior materials are excellent for this class of car. Soft plastic tops the door panels, which are low enough to rest your arm on. The door panel and center armrests were covered in suede-like Alcantara cloth with red stitching, and virtually anything you'd touch on a daily basis was pleasant. The dash top is hard plastic, but high quality, a good thing because there's a heck of a lot of it. The Si also gets metal pedals, a leather steering wheel and a leather and aluminum shift knob. The sun visors are a stylish combination of cloth and plastic, but they don't extend to block sunlight from the side, a glaring oversight considering that the side windows are so long.
Styling
The Civic Si Sedan looks just like any other Civic sedan, with just a few minor touches to set it apart. Chief among them are the trunk mounted spoiler, the lower body kit and the special 17-inch alloy wheels. There are also the red Si badges mounted on the trunk lid and on the left side of the grille, and the loony VTEC decal at the base of each rear door; they'd have a date with a heat gun and a plastic scraper if this were our car. Otherwise it's standard issue Civic, which is fine if you like the whole “The Future Is Now!” styling of the current generation.
Storage
The Civic Si Sedan benefits from all the interior packaging cleverness of any other Civic. There are bins aplenty: in the center console, under the center armrest, the glovebox, and the center console cup holders, which boast nice rolltop cover. The door pockets are a little on the small side though, and only the passenger's seatback has a pocket. Rear seat passengers have cupholders in the fold-down center armrest, and there are also good-sized pockets in the rear doors. If you can't find enough places to store all your stuff in this (or any) Civic, you need to lighten your load.
Infotainment Controls
The Civic's entertainment controls look complicated at first, probably due to the wacky styling of the interior. The reality is that they're as straightforward and simple to use as any other Honda system. Big knobs for volume and tuning flank the multifunction preset buttons, and the knurled surfaces feel good to the touch. There are also convenient backlit controls for volume and mode on the steering wheel. Everything else works the way a car stereo should. Sound quality in our test car's premium package was excellent, due in no small part to the big honkin' subwoofer nestled in the middle of the rear shelf.
Climate Controls
Immediately below the stereo controls, the climate controls mimic them in form and function. A big knob for fan speed is complemented by a big knob for temperature. Considering the big greenhouse of the Civic, it's important for the air conditioning to be efficient, and luckily this one delivers plenty of cool air through its big vents.
Secondary Controls
Honda has stuck to its standard formula of control placement here, which is always a good thing. Window switches on the door; headlight switch on the left column stalk; windshield wiper controls on the right column stalk. The Civic Si comes standard with a stability assist program, which features a big, conveniently placed off button to the left of the steering wheel. Everything works with precision. We should note that the center-out windshield wiper pattern worked very well at clearing the big glass of rain during a storm, and we wonder why this pattern isn't the norm, as opposed to the right-to-left style of most cars.
Competition
As good as the Civic Si is, the competition hasn't stood still, and there are some serious challenges out there. Perhaps the strongest contender is the Volkswagen GTI. Yes, we know it's a hatchback, but it's also available with five doors, and even though it costs more it's still competitive price-wise if you don't go nuts with the options sheet. You also get an engine with generous amounts of torque, something that is sorely lacking in the Si. Also in the mix is the Subaru WRX, with standard all-wheel drive and a more powerful and torquey engine offsetting its price premium. The upcoming Sentra SE-R Spec V and the limited-edition Mazdaspeed3 also fall into the same price and performance category.
2nd Opinion -- Chee
Civic Si Sedan – Chee Opinion:
The Civic Si Sedan is like a housewife with a dragon tattoo. Responsible, yes, but once you get that motor running high, responsibility flies out the window. The problem – with the Si – is that it takes too much work, and most of the time it ends up being a spunky Civic with sporting seats and a pain in traffic. Because that's where I spend most of my daily drive time, I own the anti Si: a Honda Civic Hybrid. As such, I'm already in love with the interior and the overall design of the car. Still, I secretly long for the Si, except for one thing: How often will you get to see that tattoo? – Brian Chee
2nd Opinion -- Perry
Civic Si Sedan – Perry Opinion:
“Warning! Drivers with addictive personalities or obsessive-compulsive disorders should refrain from driving this car, as running the Civic Si up to redline can be addictive.” Honda should add this caution to the driver's visor. The change in intake sound when the VTEC engages its high-lift cam is reason enough to run the Si through the revs from every light. Overall the Civic Si met my expectations, but I was unpleasantly surprised by the light steering and the too-firm ride. Hitting the Botts dots changing lanes sent pounding thuds through the cabin that aren't acceptable from a sedan. Yes, it is an Si, but I feel the stiff ride should be reserved for the coupe version. – Ron Perry
2nd Opinion -- Wardlaw
Civic Si Sedan – Wardlaw Opinion:
I would buy this car. The driving position is perfect, the sport seats are comfortable, the control layout is flawless, and the shifter is a model of precision. Materials and construction ooze quality. Ride and handling are terrific, the clutch is easy to modulate, and the engine sounds great -- especially when revved into VTEC territory. Wish I could move the parking brake lever somewhere else because it jabs me in the knee, and a spoiler-delete option would be nice. Also, it feels a little gutless when passing. But these minor quibbles don't detract from greatness. Got kids on the way but love driving? Don't despair: the Honda Civic Si Sedan is here to save your soul. – Christian Wardlaw
Photos courtesy of Ron Perry, Volkswagen