![]() Point: Because it sports a 160-horsepower engine, Honda touts its Civic Si as a hot r, but its sharp handling actually makes it more akin to a sport sedan.Ĭounterpoint: Aside from a small backseat, the only downside to the Si is that the engine has to be revved very high to extract its power.The B-series are a family of inline four-cylinder DOHC automotive engines introduced by Honda in 1988. Floor mats and transportation brought the sticker price to $17,949. The base price of the Civic coupe Si test car was $17,445. While Honda touts the Civic Si as a hot car for the young generation, this package is one that will appeal to older drivers who like a responsive car without a towering price tag. Engine and road noise were both well muted. Our test car’s build quality was first rate. The back seat is fairly small, but the 60/40 split-folding back expands cargo capacity nicely. The upholstery pattern is lively enough to be interesting, yet subtle enough that it doesn’t look garish. While this layout is unusual, I found it to be most convenient.įront seats are pretty heavily contoured, and their firm padding feels as good as the end of a drive as it does at the beginning. Three knobs are placed vertically alongside the radio, where they can be reached without moving your hand far from the steeri ng wheel. Like other Civics, the Si has electronic controls for its heating and ventilation system. Really aggressive driving shows up the shortcomings of front-wheel-drive traction, but that is mostly academic in daily driving. In most driving, the Si’s tight ride feels good, and it reacts well to steering input. Special gas shocks provide a firmer feel without degrading the ride quality. Highway cruising is a tad noisier because the lower fifth gear spins the engine more.Īll Civics use a dual wishbone suspension front and rear, but the Si gets stronger front springs and a brace between the front shock absorbers. Third, fourth and fifth gears have closer ratios than other Civics and that helps keep the engine in its powerband. The five-speed manual transmission shifts with a flick of the wrist. As much as I like the way it screams up to 8,000, horsepower that is accessible at lower rpm would be used more often. To me, the disadvantage an engine that revs this high is this: Most drivers aren’t comfortable revving an engine this far and probably won’t most of the time. It really sings from 7,000 to 8,000, where the 160 horsepower is reached. The one in the Si pulls well from 5,000 because of the VTEC variable valve timing. High-rpm engines are Honda’s signature, a fact likely traceable to the company’s long history of building both motorcycle and racing engines. The exhaust system has larger pipes, too.ĭespite its high output, this engine feels smooth and free of vibration. It has dual-overhead-cams (DOHC), four valves per cylinder and a high compression ratio. The transversely mounted, all-aluminum 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels revs to 8,000 rpm. It zips through the gears like a four-wheel motorcycle and darts around corners like it was being chased by demons. While the factory version doesn’t have the radical looks of the SoCal street rods, it is modified to boost both straight-line performance and road holding. With exhausts the size of drain pipes and ultra-low profile tires on trick wheels, Civics are to this generation what the ’57 Chevy was to baby boomers. Troll the freeways of Los Angeles and you can see countless Hondas lowered so far they look like they are riding on coasters. Hopped-up Civics are most prevalent in southern California, where automotive trends often show up first. Also standard are a keyless remote, power mirrors, power windows and cruise control.Īll Si coupes have alloy wheels, two-tone cloth upholstery and black, red or blue paint. The price of $17,445 includes AM/FM/CD, power sunroof and air conditioning. If young drivers are sinking their hard-earned bucks into hopping up Civics, why shouldn’t the factory build one of its own? Enter the 160-horsepower Civic coupe Si. The Si is Honda’s Civic lesson for the year. ![]()
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