2020 Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic is one of the most iconic cars in the industry. The Civic has also grown to be one of the most successful cars in the world. Civic's success is due to the right balance between power, fuel economy, practicality, and luxury. With its stylish looks and sporty fairing, the Civic is much more than your daily driver. 

It strives perfectly between the base Civic and the performance Civic Type R. It has the best combination of feature content and driving dynamics. One can certainly say that the Civic is easier on the eyes than most of its rivals and also a total fun to drive car in the segment.

Civic SI Sedan has only one trim available, which offers all the bells and whistles that were available in the price range. This year the Civic gets mechanical and aesthetical upgrades which seem to make it better than ever before. The Civic Si Sedan gets some cool features like heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a unique rear spoiler.

The suspensions of the Civic Si Sedan are race-tuned and get adaptive dampers. The limited-slip differential increases performance and stability.

Trims	Civic Si Sedan	W/Summer Tires
MSRP	$25,200	$25,400
Features	Push Button Start	Adds/Upgrades to BASE
	Signature Si Seats	Summer tires
	Heated Front Seats
	Moonroof
	Collision Mitigation Braking System
	Forward Collision Warning
	Adaptive Damper System
	Center Outlet Exhaust
	Rear Seat Heater Ducts
	Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel
	Dual Zone Climate Control System

Which trim to go for?

The Civic SI now has a single trim on offer with various standard features that were previously optional. It is a much more viable buy now considering all the various features on-board.

Replacing the peaky, high-revving i-VTEC motors, the Civic Si is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. It is fine-tuned to deliver precise and exhilarating performance. All the power is sent to the front wheels via a limited-slip transmission. The engine seems to come alive towards the high RPMs. 

The engine powers the front wheels through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. The clutch is light and smooth to operate.  A helical limited-slip differential and adjustable 2-mode adaptive shock absorbers improve performance and make it all the more enjoyable. It is a manual stick shift that, to be honest, is a million times more engaging to drive than any automatic transmission available in the market.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
MSRP	$25,200	$25,550	$25,600	$22,890
Engine	1.5L Turbo I4	2.0L I4	2.5L I4	1.6L Turbo I4
Transmission	6-Speed Manual ( Front Wheel Drive)	CVT ( Front Wheel Drive)	6-Speed Automatic (All Wheel Drive)	6-Speed Manual ( Front Wheel Drive)
Horsepower	205 hp @5700 rpm	169 hp @6600 rpm	186 hp @6000 rpm	201 hp @6000 rpm
Torque	192 lb-ft @2100 rpm	151 lb-ft @4800 rpm	186 lb-ft @4000 rpm	195 lb-ft @1500 rpm

The Civic has the highest power figures while on the contrary housing the smallest engine out of the lot. The Kia Forte GT comes in second with respect to the power output while having a slightly bigger engine than the Civic. Mazda 3 has the biggest engine here but still fails to keep up with its rival. It is also the only car in the competition to come with an all-wheel drive train.

Acceleration

Honda Civic has a very lightweight frame and is high on power output making it faster off the line. Acceleration is linear with a sudden surge of power, while it does seem to have some turbo lag at lower RPMs. The shorter gear ratios make the car drive even quicker than before.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
0-60 MPH	6.5 sec (est.)	8.2 sec	7.1 sec (est.)	8.2 sec (est.)
Quarter mile	15.1 sec (est.)	16.3 sec	15.4 sec (est.)	16.4 sec (Est.)
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Honda has only given the world some estimated figures for the 0-60. They have managed to shave off a tiny margin of time from the previous years. The Civic has all its competition beat by a huge margin. Now that we are considering estimated figures as well, the Mazda 3 ranks second on the list. The Kia Forte and Corolla have a similar time making it a tie between them.

Ride & Handling

The Civic is very maneuverable with good control all throughout. The chassis is well balanced with terrific handling and controlled body lean. The steering is precise and offers plenty of feedback from the road. The experience from behind the wheel is premium and sophisticated. The Honda strikes a rather perfect balance between premium ride quality and sporty driving experience. The SI handling is somewhere between the base Civic and the Type-R.

The light bodyweight of the chassis does in no way compromise on the structural integrity of the car. The car rides over harsh road conditions well, you would only feel a few bumps and snags along the roads. The Sport button on the center console firms up the dampers slightly, the computers subtract some power assist from the steering testing the skills of the driver. The throttle response is sharper and feels more capable than the normal mode.

Brakes

Honda Civic Si is equipped with Brembo brake calipers, with an efficient stopping distance. The pedal is very firm but easy to modulate. The responsive braking gives the confidence to halt this mean machine at will. The brake is applied evenly on all wheels due to the help of electronic brake distribution.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
Brake Front (in.)	12.3	10.8	11.6	12.0
Brake Rear (in.)	11.1	10.2	10.4	10.3
60-0 MPH (ft)	N/A	N/A	N/A	118 ft

The lower curb weight and bigger brakes would certainly help the Civic stop quicky. It has the biggest brakes out of the lot. The Kia Forte has marginally bigger brakes than the Mazda 3 while the Corolla has the smallest brakes out of the line up.

The Civic is a fuel-efficient racer that doesn't guzzle on petrol at high speeds and revs. The manual transmission might hurt many people on fuel efficiency terms but remember that it is the best in class. On the highway, the Civic offers the best in segment fuel economy figures. The underpowered engine and the lighter weight attribute to its impressive MPG figures.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
MPG (city)	26	31	25	25
MPG (highway)	36	38	33	32
MPG (combined)	30	34	28	28
Fuel Tank Capacity (Gal.)	12.4	13.2	12.7	14.0
Range (City/Highway)	322/446	409/502	318/419	350/448

The Civic ranks second here trailing behind the lesser powerful and intuitive Corolla. The Kia and Mazda return similar MPGs. Kia offers a better range due to the larger fuel tank capacity.

The first thing that grabs attention is the red accent stitching scattered throughout the seats, steering wheel, door trims, and dashboard. This gives the SI a much sportier feel on the interiors. Other sports-oriented elements include aluminum sports pedals and carbon-fiber type looks on the dash. The material quality is exceptional.  The manual gear shift stick is ergonomically designed and is placed between the two front seats. The climate control vents are thoughtfully placed further enhancing the air circulation in the car.

The Honda seats 5 occupants with ease. The dimensions may seem small on the outside but the interior is roomy and extremely spacious on the inside. The legroom on offer leaves no room for complaint and is adequate enough. The rear seats can accommodate 3 adults comfortably. 

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.5/56.9/42.3	38.0/54.8/42.3	38.0/55.7/42.3	38.8/56.1/42.2
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.8/55.0/37.4	37.1/54.8/41.4	37.3/53.5/35.1	37.5/55.3/35.7

Honda offers the lowest headroom owing to its low stance. It does make tall people riding in the Civic a little uncomfortable. The legroom in the front is almost similar in all the cars. Toyota has the best legroom for the rear occupants with the Civic standing second.

Interior Features

• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
• Cruise Control
• Center Console with Sliding Armrest
• Floor Mats
• 12-Volt Power outlets
• Rear Window Defroster
• Illuminated Steering Wheel Mounted Controls
• Push Button Start
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control System
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Rear Seat Center Armrest
• Rear Seat Heater Ducts

Infotainment

The list of features the 7inch touch screen offers are updated this year. Smartphone users have their connectivity suites with the Apple CarPlay and the Andriod Auto. The volume knob now controls the volume unlike the scroll bar on the touch screen in the previous year. 

Infotainment Features

The 7-inch infotainment system is bright and vibrant which makes it’s usage even in harsh sunlight easy.  What makes the infotainment system noteworthy are the following features:

• 7-inch infotainment system
• 450-Watt Audio System 
• 10 Speakers including Subwoofer
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• HondaLink
• SiriusXM Radio
• Bluetooth handsfree
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming
• 1.0 A USB Audio Interface

Cargo Capacity

Despite being an entry-level compact there is ample cargo space available in the Civic. The rear folding seats provide extra storage space when required. The trunk can store up to 4 medium-sized trolley suitcases together and still have space for a duffle bag.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	14.7	13.0	13.2	15.3

Kia has a smart design style which is why it has the highest cargo capacity out of the lot. The Civic follows just behind with not that much of a difference in trunk capacity. The Mazda and Corolla are very close in terms of storage volume available.

With an all-new aggressive sport bumper, a legendary red Si badge framed by menacing gloss black grille and a snarling lip make the Civic Si hard to miss. Low and sleek, this four-door sedan combines practical functionality with aspirational style. It seems like SI has perfectly blended the best designs from the entire Civic line up to transform itself into a masterpiece. 

From the rear bumper to the front grille the Civic Si sedan oozes aerodynamics and sports an appealing silhouette. The sporty look of the Civic Si sedan enhanced by a center-mounted dual-exhaust outlet. The 18-inch wheels on the side have been painted black to give it some more charisma. It gets a strong shoulder line giving it a solid stance and excellent street presence.

Models	Honda Civic Si Sedan	Toyota Corolla XSE Sedan	Mazda 3 Preferred Sedan	Kia Forte GT Sedan
Length (in)	182.8	183.1	183.5	182.7
Width (in)	70.8	69.9	70.7	70.9
Height (in)	55.5	57.3	56.9	56.5
Ground clearance (in)	6.7	6.7	5.5	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	106.3	106.3	107.3	106.3
Track width (in) F/R	60.5/61.2	59.8/59.9	61.7/62.2	60.8/61.4
Curb weight (lbs)	2906	2885	3248	2989

The Mazda is slightly lengthier than the rest of its competition. The length of these cars if placed side to side become hard to judge. The Corolla is the lightest while the Mazda weighs the most.

Exterior Features

The great-looking design of the Civic has a list of features that add to its beauty.

• LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off
• Remote Trunk Release
• Push to release Fuel Filler Door
• Heated Power Side Mirrors
• Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto-lock
• Fin Type roof mounted Antenna
• Center Outlet Exhaust
• Wing Spoiler

The Civic has been one of the most reliable car in decades. Honda has delivered the best every year with an extensive warranty and after-sales maintenance. the NHTSA crash test results grade the SI Coupe 5 stars making it one of the safest cars on the road. These are among the few reasons that have made people prefer Honda and Civic to gain popularity.

Safety Features

The Civic had many features that made it safe and reliable in the past. This year there are a few more features added to the list to make the occupants safer on roads.

• Auto High Beam Headlamps
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Multi-angle rearview camera with Guidelines
• Vehicle Stability Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Front 3-point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
• Lane Keeping Assist System

Honda Civic SI vs Toyota Corolla

The Civic is quick at its feet feels powerful and delivers good fuel efficiency. The Corolla on the other hand... delivers good fuel efficiency. The manual transmission makes the SI much thrilling to drive and the torquey engine does not let up. The Civic due to the stiffer suspension and differentials reduces body roll. It costs about 500 bucks less. So the winner here is a no-brainer.

Honda Civic SI vs Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 feels very laggy and unable to keep up the Civic SI. The performance and design of the Honda seem more appealing than the Mazda. The bigger engine on the Mazda does not do it justice in terms of performance or fuel efficiency. Honda provide a better all round package and is a better buy compared to its Mazda counterpart.

Honda Civic SI vs Kia Forte

Honda Civic is any day more fun and engaging drive compared to the Forte. The Forte does have a more length and headroom but the performance is not as good as the Civic. The Civic looks very attractive compared to Kia. Civic does have better features and a better interior than the Forte as well. Looks like the Civic takes the win against its Korean counterpart as well.

 

If there is one thing people can instantly connect Honda with, it would be reliability. The Civic is an iconic brand that has been into existence for the last 46 years and never lost its relevance. The constant design and performance updates have kept the Civic fresh throughout its life. Looking for a sporty performance daily driver on a budget, the Civic SI sedan is the answer.

 

---