Honda calls it the most ambitious remake of the Civic in its 44-year history.
Under the hood the Si boasts a high-performance, high-torque turbocharged DOHC in-line four-cyinder engine. Honda says the engine's peak 205 horsepower is achieved at 1300 rpm lower in the rev range. A six-speed manual transmission is the only power train option.
Both models are lighter than previous generations, helping to boost fuel efficiency. Both come with a default “normal” driving mode and an optional “sport mode.” Normal gives you a smoother ride while sport offers quicker response and a tauter driving experience.
Technology upgrades
The Civic Si also comes with a lot of technology upgrades. There's a standard seven-inch display screen in the dash that delivers a lot of performance data – things like lap times and turbo boost. The infotainment system offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound is delivered through a 10-speaker system.
On the exterior, both models will likely turn a few heads. The front end features a gloss black Honda “wing” and sizable lower air intakes. Eighteen inch split five-spoke alloy wheels come with a machined finish, low-profile tires and a chrome center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher.
The rear of the Si coupe has the Civic coupe's signature full-width light bar, then accents it with a raised wing spoiler.
What might be just as attractive to car buyers is the price. Both the Si coupe and sedan start at just under $24,000.
Both models achieve between 28 and 38 miles per gallon, with a combined EPA rating of 32 mpg.