When the 11th-generation Civic arrived with refreshed looks and features, the return of the Civic Si was inevitable. So, here it is - the new 2022 Honda Civic Si, which is mechanically the same Civic Si from the year 2020, with some minor differences. The beating heart remains the same 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four from yesteryear, but now produces five horsepower less. The torque remains the same at 192 pound-feet, and so do the front-wheel-drive system, and the six-speed manual transmission. The exterior and interior, both, got a revamp with more modern touches. We know, a lot of you guys did not like the exterior styling of the new-generation Civic, but the Si, with its 18-inch matte black wheels and bigger brakes, makes the overall look a lot sportier than it really is. As a performance-oriented compact sedan, it comes with a limited-slip differential, a rev-matching system, sports suspension, bucket seats with additional bolstering, and optional summer tires. It also benefits from all the advanced driver aids available across the whole Civic range, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and blindspot monitoring. While it is not the best in class, is it better than the last generation? We are here to find it out for you, even compare it with the likes of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and the Hyundai Elantra N-Line.

What’s New for the 2022 Honda Civic Si?

The Civic Si, like the entire Civic range, enters the new 11th-generation, with new looks and features. While the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-pot remains the same, it puts out 200 horsepower, which is down by five horses. New sports seats, a big nine-inch touchscreen display, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio unit, and a rev-matching system have been added to the list. That said, Honda claims to have worked thoroughly on the chassis, which increases the stiffness of the torsion bar by 60-percent, along with a 54-percent stiffer rear suspension. The new Civic Si is about two inches longer and has a slightly longer wheelbase by about an inch.

2022 Honda Civic Si Trims

2022 Honda Civic Si Trims

Civic Si Exterior

When looking at the current 11th-generation Civics, it appears that Honda has eschewed many aggressive design aspects in favor of less exciting styling elements. Just compare the outgoing model year to the 2022 Civic, and you will have the answer. However, the Civic Si, with its sportier aesthetics, makes it stand out from the whole range. At the front, you will witness the LED headlights, along with a honeycomb-mesh upper grille design. The lower intake grille is wider than the standard Civic, and so is the aggressive front bumper design. The sides have glossy back mirrors, 18-inch matte black alloy wheels, with long creases, and aggressive side skirts. The rear exposes a boot spoiler, LED taillights, and twin chrome-coated exhausts on either side of the lower bumper. The standard tires are all-weather high-performance sets, but stickier tires are available as an option. We like the overall design of the Civic Si, as it has many sportier elements to make itself distinguishable from the entire Civic lineup, except for the upcoming Civic Type R.

Dimensions

The 2022 Civic Si weighs 2,906 pounds and is lighter than the Jetta GLI. The length and the wheelbase have been increased in comparison to the outgoing model year by about an inch. So, the 2022 Civic Si measures 184 inches in length and 107.7 inches long wheelbase. Compared to the Jetta GLI, the Civic Si has a shorter length but has a 2.1-inch longer wheelbase. It is also 70.9 inches wide and 55.5 inches tall. The ground clearance is not yet disclosed by Honda, but given that it is a compact sedan, it should have around 5.5 inches.

2022 Honda Civic Si Exterior Dimensions

Exterior Colors

You can choose from six color options for the 2022 Civic Si:

- Crystal Black Pearl

- Platinum White Pearl

- Sonic Gray Pearl

- Rallye Red

- Blazing Orange Pearl

- Aegean Blue Metallic

Among them, the Sonic Gray Pearl, the Platinum White Pearl, and the Blazing Orange Pearl will cost you $395 extra. However, the two new colors- Meteorite Gray and Morning Mist Blue, are exclusively available to the other Civics and not the Civic Si.

2022 Honda Civic Si Exterior Colors

Civic Si Performance

The new-generation Civic Si is being powered by the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-pot from the outgoing model year, but Honda claims to have “tweaked” the engine. This led to a loss of five horsepower, which isn’t much, but the torque kicks in about 300 revs earlier than it used to before. The manual transmission has been retained, and so is the front-wheel-drive system. A limited-slip differential comes fitted as standard, and Honda was very kind to add the rev-matching system, which is a known feature to the Type R. If you have not perfected the heel-and-toe shifting technique, you will love to take the advantage of the rev-matching system, also it can be switched off. How do all of these translate to the overall performance? According to Car and Driver, the 2022 Civic Si can do naught to 60 in 6.8 seconds, and a standing quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds. Compared to the previous generation Civic Si, which clocked 60 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds and a quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds, there are no substantial differences. In the competition, however, the Jetta GLI comes highly recommended, if you crave faster accelerations and more power.

Engine and Transmission

The heart of the 2022 Civic Si remains the same 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, which now puts out 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. While the horsepower has been down by five, the torque remains the same and is now available from 1,800 revs. A six-speed manual transmission comes onboard and there is a rev-matching system at your disposal while driving the front wheels. The power figures are great if you are planning to daily drive the Civic Si, or even take it out for long drives. The Elantra N-line’s power figures are quite similar to what the Civic Si’s 1.5-liter four-pot produces, but there is a more powerful option if you want the best performance in the segment. Yes, it is the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Its 2.0-liter four-pot produces 228 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque, but will cost you three-grand more than the Civic Si’s MSRP.

2022 Honda Civic Si Performance Stats

Handling and Driving Impressions

It is nothing like a breakthrough in the driving dynamics, especially if compared to its previous iterations, but driving the Civic Si will give you the confidence, that the other Civics do not offer. Honda claims to have worked on the chassis to make it stiffer and more engaging to drive, which is true. The longer wheelbase, the stiffening of the rear suspension, and the torsion bar resulted in much sportier dynamics on the road, more likely on the twisties. Thanks to the sports suspension and the limited-slip differential, you can take the new Civic Si to the nearest mountain roads and have fun. We would like to appreciate that despite the sportier dynamics it offers, the ride quality is not as bad as you would think. Of course, it is a Honda, so you don’t have to worry about your family's comfort while you are taking full advantage of the car. The manual transmission has been re-worked, and now it can shift with 10-percent shorter throws. The braking performance is excellent when you compare it to the standard Civic. The pedal feedback is just the way it should be. Overall, the driving impressions of the 2022 Civic Si are satisfying, and things like the limited-slip differential make it special for its $27,300 starting price.

2022 Honda Civic Si Mileage

The 2022 Civic Si is slightly better than the model it replaces when it comes to fuel economy, but nothing substantial. The EPA granted a decent 27 miles per gallon in the city, 37 miles per gallon on the highways, and 31 miles per gallon combined. A generously sized 12.4-gallon gas tank comes fitted to the Civic Si, and it can return about 380 miles combined. Both, the Elantra N-Line and the Jetta GLI produce similar numbers with a mile per gallon give or take. So, for the performance you are getting, we think that the Jetta GLI’s 2.0-liter engine is much more refined to offer 26/37/30 for city/highway/combined.

2022 Honda Civic Si Fuel Economy

Civic Si Interior

We are digging the interior design of the 2022 Civic Si, as it seems to be more refined, pleasant-looking, and built to last. Let’s start with the dashboard design first, because that is where the major changes are made. The whole design is new, including the steering wheel, the gauge cluster, the infotainment display, and even the center console. The gauge cluster is a seven-inch display, with an analog speedometer. The nine-inch touchscreen display sits atop the dashboard, along with a side-knob and a couple of buttons above it. The air vents are hidden behind the sleek honeycomb panel. Thanks to Honda, there are three HVAC control knobs, instead of touch-sensitive buttons, but we were disappointed to learn that the Civic Si comes with single-zone climate control. The dashboard top has softer touches, but the door panels have bits of hard plastics, which are not alien to the segment. The center console has the new shifter, the drive-mode selector, an electronic parking brake button, and two decent size cupholders. The quality of the cabin is good, and so is the design, however, the inclusion of dual-zone automatic climate control, a fully digital instrument console, and power-adjustable front seats could have made the Civic Si the best value-for-money performance sedan.

Seating and Interior Space

One of the biggest changes to the Civic’s interior includes the new sports seats at the front, which are cloth-covered but have good bolstering and have red-colored contrasting stitches. There is no power adjustability available, and even heated seats are not included with the eleventh-gen Civic Si. Apart from these caveats, we found the cabin to be very comfortable, even while traveling long distances. In other words, if you are on a hunt for an affordable family sedan, the Civic Si is the perfect fit. The front row measures 37.6 inches of headroom, 57 inches of shoulder room, and 42.3 inches of legroom. The second row is quite spacious for a sedan of its size. There are 37.1 inches of headroom, 56 inches of shoulder room, and 37.4 inches of legroom, pretty spacious, right? Both the Jetta GLI and Elantra N-Line are quite similar to the Civic Si in terms of cabin space, so there is no definite winner.

2022 Honda Civic Si Interior Dimensions

Interior Colors and Materials

The Civic Si’s interior color is discrete from the other Civics, so there are just the red and black contrasting seats and dashboard. The new Civic Si comes with cloth upholstery as standard, along with a leather-wrapped black-colored steering wheel. There is a mixture of soft and hard plastics around the cabin, which is expected from a budget-performance sedan. The shifter is made of aluminum, and the honeycomb dashboard part has a metal touch. The build quality is up to the mark, but Honda should have provided at least two color choices.

Honda Civic Si Trunk and Cargo Space

As a typical Honda, practicality is not something you should be worried about with the Civic Si. There is a usable 14.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the rear seats. You may either carry your week's worth of shopping or travel with decent luggage. If you require extra space, the 60/40 split rear seats can expand the storage area. The cabin has a decent size glovebox, door bins, seatback pockets, and a bin under the front row armrest for added storage. Planning for a family trip, don’t forget to take the new Civic Si!

Honda Civic Si Infotainment and Features

Features

For keeping a more approachable price tag for the new Civic Si, Honda had to skip a couple of comfort features such as the heated and power-adjustable front seats, but still, it comes highly equipped. There are some basic features of the standard Civic, such as the single-zone climate control, push-button ignition, manually adjustable front seats, and the seven-inch driver information display. Other Civic Si features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum shifter, and cloth-covered sports seats. Honda Sensing is standard fitment, and it packs:

- Adaptive Cruise Control

- Lane-keeping Assist

- Traffic Sign Recognition

- Automatic High Beam

- Blind-Spot Monitoring with Forward Collision Mitigation

Infotainment

The 2022 Civic Si, like the other high-end Civic models, features a pretty big nine-inch touchscreen display that sits centrally on the dashboard. The touch sensitivity is nice and nippy. Thanks to a very optimized user interface, the overall experience is fast and burdenless. There is wireless connectivity for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Honda has included the 12-speaker Bose premium audio unit from the Touring model, along with satellite radio and an integrated navigation system. But, we recommend using the wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for a more seamless experience. The seven-inch driver information display, although not a fully digital unit, is very capable of displaying multiple information, which you can toggle through the steering-mounted buttons.

2022 Honda Civic Si Problems and Reliability

The 11th-gen Civic Si is practically new in the market, so there is no recall registered by the NHTSA. The 2020 Civic Si was recalled once due to a malfunction in the fuel pump. Honda is one of the most reliable brands in the market right now, and that proves well with the J.D. Power ratings of the 2022 Civic Si. It scored a whopping 84/100 which is excellent for the compact sedan class. If you compare the numbers to the Elantra and the Jetta, the Civic Si is way ahead, securing the 2nd position in the overall ranking. As for the warranty, Honda will provide a basic warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles. The drivetrain and corrosion warranty is offered for up to five years, or 60,000 miles for the drivetrain or unlimited miles for the corrosion. Honda also offers a three-year or 36,000 miles of roadside assistance.

Warranty

2022 Honda Civic Si Warranty Coverage

2022 Honda Civic Si Safety

The whole Civic range performs great in the overall safety tests. The NHTSA has given the Civic Si a perfect five-star rating, while the IIHS has given it the “Top Safety Pick+” designation. To be honest, the new Civic Si has been rated the best among the other two competitors- Elantra N-Line and Jetta GLI. In the NHTSA crash test results, the 2022 Civic Si scores a four-star rating in the front passenger-side category. The IIHS crash test results are as impressive as they can get, scoring either “Good” or “Superior” in all the categories.

Key Safety Features

Honda has indeed skipped a lot of comfort and convenience features inside the cabin, but you will have the entire suite of Honda Sensing, which includes:

- Adaptive cruise control

- Lane-keeping assist

- Lane-departure warning

- Blindspot monitoring

- Rear cross-traffic alert

- Driver attention warning

- Forward collision mitigation

- Traffic sign reader

- Automatic high beams

Other passive safety features are also included, such as ten airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, stability control, emergency braking assist, a rearview camera, and dusk-sensing headlamps.

Verdict: Is the 2022 Honda Civic Si a Good Car?

The 11th-gen Civic Si is a very good compact sedan for the price. We couldn’t help but praise the car for its value for money proposition. For the price, the 2022 Civic Si offers punchy performance, great handling dynamics for a sub-$30,000 sedan, a comfortable cabin, and the best-in-class safety features. If you want the best performance in the segment, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the way to go, but then, VW cars suffer reliability issues, and the Jetta GLI is about $3,000 pricier than the Honda Civic Si. It would sound like we are nitpicking, but the absence of a dual-zone automatic climate control system and the heated front seats are a major miss.

What is the Price of the 2022 Honda Civic Si?

The 2022 Civic Si starts at $27,300, excluding the $1,015 destination charge. The Civic Si is available in a single trim, but if you want to swap the tires for a stickier set, you will have to pay $200 extra. In comparison to the Elantra N-Line and the Jetta GLI, the Civic Si sits in the middle, with the former being the cheapest while the latter is the most expensive. However, do note that the Jetta GLI packs a much more powerful engine, and offers loads of convenience features such as a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and more.

2022 Honda Civic Si Models

Unlike the previous generation Civic Si, which was offered in both Coupe and Sedan variants, the new 11th-gen Civic Si is a solo model. Unlike the other Civics, the Si is more powerful but leaves the best performance for the Type R. There is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four under the hood, which puts out 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque while propelling the front wheels. A tweaked six-speed manual gearbox takes charge of the gear changes.

The Civic Si is packed decently with a mixture of high-end and mediocre features, which we will discuss here. The new Civic Si comes with LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights as standard. It also sits on a set of 18-inch blacked-out wheels, has a rear boot spoiler and twin exhaust tips. Other notable features include a limited-slip differential, sports suspension, and bigger brakes. On the interior, the following features are found:

- Single-zone automatic climate control

- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with manual tilt and telescopic adjustability

- Cloth upholstery

- Sports seats with advanced bolstering with Si badging

- Seven-inch driver information display

- Nine-inch touchscreen display

- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration

- SiriusXM

- 12-speaker Bose premium speaker

- Navigation system

Additional Packages

There are no packages available for the 2022 Civic Si. However, apart from the standard Si model, Honda offers the Civic Si with HPT (high-performance tires), which will make you pay $200 extra over the current MSRP.

What Honda Civic Si Model Should I Buy?

If you want to taste the full potential of the Civic Si, then you can get it with the HPT. Since it falls under the Civic lineup, the Civic Si is a more powerful alternative. However, the Civic Type R offers the best performance under the Civic name. So, if you want a sportier Civic trim, the Civic Si would be the perfect fit for you.

2022 Honda Civic Si Comparisons

2022 Honda Civic Si Comparisons

2022 Honda Civic Si vs 2022 Hyundai Elantra N-Line

The Hyundai Elantra N-Line is a very stylish and powerful alternative to the Civic Si. It looks way better than the new generation Civic Si and delivers similar performance for a slightly lower price tag. But for the lower price, you have to sacrifice the limited-slip differential, a leather steering wheel, and most of the driver aids which come as standard with the Civic Si. If you have a tighter budget, then the N-Line would be a great choice. Bu,t we love the Civic Si for the level of handling prowess it delivers and comes heavily featured.

2022 Honda Civic Si vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

If you want the best performance sedan in the budget segment, there is no other car other than the new Volkswagen Jetta GLI. It is among the most potent compact sedans which are currently selling in the U.S. and comes with loads of features such as a fully digital instrument console, leather seats, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless charging pad, and even a power-adjustable driver’s seat. On the flip side, it is not a perfect sedan if you want more reliability, and safety. The Civic Si, on the other hand, may not have the best performance or a feature-packed cabin, but it checks all the necessities of a budget performance sedan.

FAQ

Q: Is the Honda Civic Si a reliable car?

With an overall J.D. Power rating of 84/100, we consider the whole Civic lineup to be very reliable.

Q: How fast is the Civic Si?

The Civic Si can go 0-60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds, and a standing quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds.

Q: How efficient is the Civic Si?

The 11th-gen Civic Si has been rated well by the EPA with 27/37/31 for city/highway/combined.

Q: How much is a Honda Civic Si?

The 11th-gen Civic Si has been priced at $27,300, excluding the $1,015 destination charges.