2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe Review
In addition to fuel-efficient economy cars, Honda (along with its luxury division Acura) has occasionally been known for offering exciting models that deliver plenty of performance. With historical nameplates such as the Honda CR-X, Acura Integra, Honda S2000 and Acura NSX now gone, the sole performance model left for Honda is the Honda Civic Si. Having been around since 1984, Honda's recipe for the Civic Si is simple and has remained the same over the years: in equal parts, just mix a small, lightweight car with a powerful, performance-tuned engine and serve over any road course of choice.
Just like the fuel-efficient versions of the Civic, 2010 Honda Civic Si is the only car in its class that is available as both a sedan and a coupe. I had the opportunity to test out the in coupe form which is likely to be cross shopped against other sport compacts such as the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart or the Subaru Impreza WRX. Of all these models, the Civic Si Coupe offers the lowest entry price with a starting MSRP of $22,055 ($200 less than the Civic Si Sedan), but with the optional navigation system and summer tires, this Si Coupe started at $24,255. As is the case with any sports car, I wanted to see just how easy the Honda Civic Si Coupe performed in rudimentary daily driving in addition to its acclaimed abilities in tight, twisty roads, and in the end I was quite impressed with both aspects of the rev-happy coupe.
2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe Exterior
Even in base form, the Honda Civic coupe is a sporty looking car with a wedge-shaped front nose and an angular rear end, but with the added body kit and bright Rallye Red exterior paint, the Civic Si Coupe is downright mean. While there are many design cues to separate the Si from other Civic models, none of the changes are as intense as say the Lancer Evolution and the Impreza WRX STI. This is good for drivers looking for more of a factory sleeper look, but then again, nothing in this shade of red could ever pass for a sleeper in the first place. Just like past versions, the sixth-generation of the Civic Si doesn't feature a body kit that's too flashy as it retains the same rocker panel and rear fascia design as the regular Civic Coupe. Aside from the obvious 'Si' badges and 'i-VTEC DOHC' side stickers, the easiest ways to tell the Si apart from the normal Civic is a tall rear decklid wing and a more aggressive front fascia with oval fog lights (the Si is the only Civic Coupe model to offer fog lights). Changes from the 2009 model year to the 2010 Civic Si are even less obvious with the only change being the silver engine cover now colored black.
2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe Interior
The Civic Si Coupe retains the same basic layout as the Civic Coupe although the equipment, materials and styling are given a unique flair on the sport-tuned model. Like the Si logo, red is a theme carried over into the cabin with contrasting red stitching on the seats and shift lever boot as well as red backlit gauges that includes an exclusive bright red tachometer that proudly displays the 8,000 rpm redline. The front seats are the same design as the Civic Coupe, but they offer stiffer side bolstering and embroidered Si logos in the seatback. Unique touches to the Si include an aluminum shifter knob, aluminum pedals and a sport steering wheel wrapped in soft, perforated leather.
As is the case with the regular Civic Coupe, the only real downfall of the Si Coupe is the lack of headroom for the front passengers and the rear-passenger area that isn't intended for adults. Between the due to the steeply raked roofline and the standard sunroof, front passenger headroom is very tight but still more than available on the Chevrolet Camaro. For those who require the added practicality of interior space over a sleek design, the Honda Civic Si Sedan offers the same interior equipment but with more headroom and legroom than the Coupe. Despite the stubby decklid, the Civic Coupe can hold up to 11.5 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk, and it offers a 60/40 split folding rear seat to accommodate longer or bulkier items.
If the high-revving engine rpms aren't enough to satisfy drivers, the 2010 Civic Si comes standard with a 350-watt, seven-speaker premium audio system that offers MP3 and WMA playback abilities along with an auxiliary jack and a USB port. The model I drove also came with the optional ($2,000) navigation package that adds the easy-to-use touch-screen navigation system and XM Satellite Radio.
2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe Performance & Handling
Replacing the standard 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC mill in the base Civic models, the Civic Si features a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC inline-4 that produces 197 horsepower at an astounding 7,800 rpm just below the 8,000 rpm redline. With those kinds of revs, not much torque is needed to motivate the Civic which is good since it only produces 139 lb-ft of torque. The fun part comes when the i-VTEC system kicks in at 6,000 rpm and completely changes the car's persona. At the lower rpms, the engine acts as a civilized engine helping to return modest EPA fuel economy estimates of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, but once the i-VTEC kicks in, the change in the valvetrain can be heard and felt. Like any performance car, the 2010 Honda Civic Si is required to run on premium unleaded gasoline only.
All Si models come with a close-ration, six-speed manual transmission which helps to squeeze every last rev out of the engine, and for improved handling they use an electric power steering system, larger front disc brakes and thicker diameter front and rear stabilizer bars. Unlike the recent Mazda MAZDASPEED3 I reviewed, the Civic Si's standard limited slip differential practically eliminates all torque steer making hard acceleration smoother and quicker. Acceleration form zero to 60 miles per hour takes less than 6.5 seconds in this 2,895 pound sport coupe which delivers near-perfect handling thanks to its excellent balance between power and weight.
For true autocrossers, the Civic Si is also available with plenty of handling-enhancing dealer-installed Honda Factory Performance (HFP) accessories. With a broad choice of add-ons that include an even sportier suspension, upgraded sport brakes and a sport muffler, the only thing limiting the maximum handling potential of the Civic Si is your budget.
2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe Safety
The Honda Civic received favorable safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA gave all Civic models five-star ratings for frontal-impact protection and side-impact protection for the rear passenger, while side-impact front passenger and rollover avoidance were rated at four stars. All Civic models received a full complement of Good ratings from the IIHS, and the four-door, non-Si Civic models were named 2010 Top Safety Pick, but for some reason the Civic Coupe was not named to this list. Other than the Civic Hybrid, the Civic Si is the highest-priced model, so to offset the steeper pricing, the 2010 Honda Civic Si is equipped with every safety option available on any Civic model. Standard safety features for the 2010 Civic Si Coupe include six airbags, active head restraints, electronic brake-force distribution with brake assist, four-wheel anti-lock brake system, tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle stability assist with traction control and daytime running lights.
Summary
The Honda Civic Si may be at a horsepower disadvantage compared to some of its competition, but the first time that extra VTEC power boost kicks in at 6,000 rpm, the 200 horsepower suddenly feels much bigger than it looks on paper. After spending a week behind the wheel of the sporty Civic Si Coupe, it was easy to see that this car is probably one of the most well-balanced cars in its class with the ability to seamlessly transition from track duty to the hustle and bustle of daily driving.
Honda provided a vehicle for this review.
Select photos by Jeffrey N. Ross