The tenth-generation Honda Civic was launched in 2016, only five years after the previous generation was introduced. Alongside the standard model, Honda also redesigned the iconic Si version, until now the range-topping trim for the U.S. market. But while the hatchback has been relegated due to Honda having finally brought the Type R to North America, the Si sedan continues to sit at the top of the Civic range and act as Honda's sole competitor for the likes of the Subaru WRX.

Much like its predecessor, the new Civic Si sedan is a slightly beefed-up version of the standard four-door. There are sportier features on the outside, a few exclusive items and extra standard equipment on the inside, and a more powerful engine under the hood. The latter is brand-new and not a massive improvement over the outgoing unit, but it now motivates a lighter, more rigid car. Find out how it stacks against the competition in my review below.

Updated 05/12/2017: Honda announced prices for the 2018 Civic Si sedan which will be put on sale at dealers nationwide on May 13, 2017.

Continue reading to learn more about the Honda Civic Si sedan.

2018 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Honda Civic Si Sedan
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 203 @ 1300
  • Torque: 192 @ 2300
  • Transmission: six-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Much like the Civic Si Coupe, the sedan is a sportier version of the standard model. This is most evident up front, where the chrome wing element between the headlamps was replaced by a gloss black piece with red "Si" badging. Below, the bumper had larger side intakes and a redesigned center vents, all featuring honeycomb-like grilles, also finished in black.

Honda left the car's profile unaltered, which isn't bad news given that the standard Civic is quite sporty and muscular, but the 18-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels with the exclusive two-tone finish set the Si apart. More changes can be found around back, where the decklid spoiler with LED brake light is the first new feature that catches the eye. The aerodynamic element is backed by a more aggressive bumper with larger side vents (with fake grilles, unfortunately) and a center-mounted, chrome exhaust pipe.


Overall, the Si isn't exactly menacing to look at, but it bridges the gap between the standard model and the Type R quite nicely. Given that the sedan doesn't have a Type R version just yet, the four-door Si is actually a cool addition to the new Civic lineup.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (Inches)

106.3

Length (Inches)

182.8

Height (Inches)

55.5

Width (Inches)

70.8

Track front/rear (Inches)

60.5/61.2

Weight Distribution (front/rear)

60.3%/39.7%


Interior

The sporty theme continues inside the cabin, where the standard front seats have been replaced by Si-exclusive, bolstered units with red stitching. The latter trickles into the door panels, steering wheel, and leather shift boot to add a dash of colour to the otherwise dark interior. There's also red driver's TFT meter and audio system illumination, and a Dry Metal Carbon dashboard trim. The unique look is rounded off by aluminum sport pedals.

When it comes to convenience features, the Si built around the EX-T trim, which includes electronic parking brake, walk-away door locking, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rain-sensing wipers. The driver has access to the audio and HVAC system via the seven-inch touchscreen on the center stack, which also includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice-controlled search capabilities. The 450-watt, 10-speaker sound system with SiriusXM Radio, HD Radio, and Pandora is also standard.

Much like the exterior, the interior has just enough features to make the Si stand out, but I must admit that the bolstered, sports seats are a great addition to a sedan that's not available with the Type R package.

Interior Dimensions

Headroom front/rear (Inches)

37.5/36.8

Legroom front/rear (Inches)

42.3/37.4

Shoulder Room front/rear (Inches)

56.9/55.0

Hiproom front/rear (Inches)

53.7/47.3

Cargo Volume (cu ft)

14.7

Passenger Volume (cu ft)

95.0


Drivetrain

Note: Standard model engine pictured here.

The Civic Si gets its juice from one of the engines offered in the standard model, but much like its predecessor, the new sedan gets more oomph. Specifically, while the base Civic uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet and the more expensive versions come with the new, turbocharged, 1.5-liter four-pot with 174 horses and 162 pound-feet, the Si comes with a more powerful version of the latter. Tuned to deliver 205 horses and 192 pound-feet, it adds 31 horses and 30 pound-feet to the EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims. That's a hefty upgrade and more than enough to make it an appealing choice.

On the other hand, the new-generation Si isn't significantly more powerful than its predecessor, bringing only four extra horsepower and 22 additional pound-foot of twist to the table. There is some good news though, as the new Civic platform is lighter and stiffer, which translates into better performance. The 1.5-liter four-banger also delivers peak horsepower 1,300 rpm lower in the rev range, while peak torque comes 2,300 rpm earlier.

Routing all that power to the front wheels is a six-speed manual transmission, which is excellent news for old-school drivers that like to row their own gears.

Drivetrain upgrades over the regular Civic also include a dual-pinion adaptive electric power steering system with variable ratios, sport-tuned suspension, an adaptive damper system, a helical limited-slip differential, larger 12.3-inch front brake rotors and wider tires with a performance tire option. In addition to adaptive dampers, suspension upgrades include stiffer spring rates, more rigid stabilizer bars, solid front and rear compliance bushings, and ultra-rigid front upper control arms. The latter are shared with the Civic Type R.

The new Civic Si also features two driving modes: Normal and Sport. Normal is obviously the more comfort-oriented mode, while the Sport adjusts the suspension damping characteristics, steering, and throttle response for a more spirited driving experience.

Engine

1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder

Horsepower

205 @ 5,700 RPM

Torque

192 LB-FT @ 2,100-5,000 RPM

Transmission

6-speed manual

Fuel economy city/highway/combined

28/38/32

Curb weight

2,906 Lbs


Prices

Pricing for the Civic Si Sedan starts from $23,900, which makes it a bit more affordable than expected. This sticker adds only a minor $2,400 premium to the EX-T trim the Si is based on. Cool stuff! Order the car with summer tires and the price goes up by $200 to $24,100.

Trim

MSRP1

EPA MPG Rating4 (city/highway/combined)

Civic Si Sedan (6MT)

$23,900

28/38/32

Civic Si Sedan (6MT) w/ summer tires

$24,100

28/38/32


Competition

Subaru WRX

Although it was launched way before Subaru introduced the Impreza, the Civic Si has developed into a competitor for the WRX, despite not having the same World Rally Championship background. Much like the Si, the WRX bridges the gap between the standard Impreza and the race-ready STi. Styling-wise, they are pretty similar. Certain sporty features set the WRX apart from its milder sibling, but the overall package isn't very aggressive, making it suitable as a family car. On the other hand, there are major differences in the drivetrain department. For starters, the 2.0-liter flat-four engine is rated at 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, significantly more than the Si. Then there's the all-wheel-drive system, which further increases performance compared to the FWD-only Civic. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a CVT. Pricing is decent too, with the base WRX retailing from $26,995, on par with what I expect the new Civic Si to fetch.

Find out more about the Subaru WRX here.

Mitsubishi Lancer

The Lancer may be going away at the end of 2017, but I can't talk about the WRX and not include Mitsubishi's most iconic nameplate. Unfortunately, the Lancer is far from modern, being sold in pretty much the same configuration for a decade now Nowhere near as aggressive as the competition, it also lacks the modern tech you get from Subaru and Honda. It's also underpowered, with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder generating only 148 horsepower and the 2.4-liter unit rated at just 168 horses. Aiming for the higher trim levels will bring all-wheel-drive, the only feature you can't have with the Civic Si. Pricing starts from $17,795 for the base model and a whopping $34,495 for the Evolution version.

Learn more about the Mitsubishi Lancer here.

Nissan Sentra Nismo

The Sentra wasn't developed with sportiness in mind, but the latest generation received a Nismo package that moves it closer to the Civic Si. Essentially an SR trim with Nismo paint job and graphics, this Sentra stands out by means of revised bumpers, darker chrome accents, and exclusive, 18-inch wheels. There are a few motorsport-inspired features inside, including front bucket seats wrapped in Alcantara and unique detailing. The drivetrain is rather disappointing though, with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder generating only 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Granted, it's more than what you get with the Mitsubishi Lancer but inferior to the Civic Si. Pricing starts from $25,000, which makes it a bit more affordable than the competition.

Read more about the Nissan Sentra Nismo here.

Conclusion

While I've been a big fan of the Civic hatchback design since day one, I've always considered the sedan to be on the more mundane side of the nameplate. However, the new-generation four-door is downright gorgeous, and the Si package makes things that much better. I think Honda should roll out a Type R version of the sedan too, but until that happens, the Si is a solid performance-oriented vehicle. It might not be as aggressive as the WRX, and it may not have AWD, but this also makes it a friendlier family car. It's a bit expensive though, especially given the performance you can get from somewhere else.