Think of the Si as the Civic that pounded a Red Bull. It’s the choice for shoppers who crave an engaged driving experience but don’t want to break the budget or sacrifice fuel economy.
Available as a sedan or coupe, the Si is a sporty offshoot of its more mainstream sibling, with a beefed-up powertrain and reinforced suspension.
The Si brings a 205-hp version of the 1.5-liter turbo and sportier handling and is available as a sedan or a coupe, but only comes with a manual transmission. While not quicker than an EX-T, it has sharper handling and more invigorating sound. Unlike the previous Si which thrived on high revs, the current Si is turbocharged and provides a much richer power delivery.
The ride is stiff and edgy but not overly punishing.
Inside, the Civic's interior features higher-grade materials than the class's norm, and the cabin has clever cubbies and nooks. It's easy to stash a 10-inch tablet under the armrest.
On the down side, the car's sleek, low-slung styling means that getting in requires almost falling into the front seat, as well as limbo-dance flexibility getting out.
Front-seat lumbar support adjustment isn't available, period. And we disliked the seats' short bottom cushion. But for a compact sedan, rear-seat room is commendable.
The Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assisted technologies became standard for 2020.