2018 Honda Civic SI – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Specs

The Honda Civic SI is Going to Places!

While only sporting just a 1.5L V4, the Civic SI flexes plenty of muscles in not just straight line acceleration, but exceptional handling as well. What’s different from the standard Civic models is it’s exclusive use of a high-boost turbo-charged variant of the fiesty 1.5L direct-injection engine. And if you don’t know how to drive standard, start learning. The only-available 6-speed manual transmission equipped on the civic Si is a blast to drive.

There’s a significant departure in styling from the standard Civic models, and it is wild. There’s two massive air intakes siting low on the front fascia and the whole car sits on ultra wide P235 tires giving it an even more aggressive stance. Where things get crazy is the single polygonal shaped exhaust pipe centered below the rear bumper and the wing-shaped spoiler that reminds us of the good old Celica days. Its overall chassis shape does’t exactly follow a performance oriented design-trend either. Still, the design features give the Civic SI a lustful look, and passengers will be sure to appreciate the available headroom in a boxier package.

Interior houses more function over form with a snug and cushioning bucket seats in the front and decent sound insulation from road noise, but that’s during city driving. Road noise begins to leak into the cabin space from the floor panels when highway speeds are reached, and the exhaust tone isn’t exactly a pleasant one when pushed hard either. Other than that, expect minimalism within including cloth seats, mediocre console touchscreen and the absence of a volume knob, which is our biggest pet peeve.

Flexing Muscles with the Honda Civic

Powering the wheels is a 1.5L direct-injected turbo charged V4 producing 205 horsepower and your only option is a 6-speed manual and it doesn’t disappoint with a short throw and snappy shifts between gears. Acceleration is a bliss, and there is quite a noticeable pressure buildup from the turbochargers starting in an early RPM range of about 1500. Perhaps too much for comfort though as the tires will almost star to skid with with just the pedal depressed a quarter range in first and second gear.

Cornering is where fun times are made with the Honda Civic. Steering feels smooth, precise, and consistent across its range, and the suspension damping does a great job in keep the car stable during aggressive cornering. Pushing the Sport button located in the certain console instructs sharper throttling response while stiffening up the electric power steering for enhanced road feel.

Final Thoughts

There’s the choice between opting for a sedan or a coupe package for the Civic SI. Having test driven the coupe, we’re a bit leaned more towards the sedan for a less flashier looks and added rear legroom, comfort and trunk space. The Honda Civic SI comes priced in at $28,590. While a bit much on the cost front, there’s also plenty of standard features equipped including blind spot monitoring, rearview and side-view mirror cameras and even heated front seats as standard options.

There’s still some work to be done in this year’s iteration, mainly the excessive turbo lag, and we’d love to see some improvements to the interior such as full power and leather seating options. Still, the Civic legacy of shear driving excitement worn by a bold visual design statement.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2018 Honda Civic
• Model : Civic SI
• Price as Tested $28,590
• Vehicle Type : Sports Sedan/Coupe
• Seating Capacity : 2+3
• Powertrain Configuration : FWD
• Engine : 1.5L Direct-Injection Turbo-charged V4
• Transmission : 6-speed manual

Pros

• Lavish exterior styling
• Comfortable interior
• Excellent ride handling and stability
• Decent ride comfort in city driving

Cons

• Excessive road noise leaks into cabin area during highway speeds
• Excessive turbo-charged pressure boost is a bit too much for our liking