Civic Si
The everyday enthusiast Honda, still.
18 reviewers · 62 videos · 33 press articles
Reviewers strongly agree on its handling and fun to drive, but split on performance.
across 18 reviewers
"It doesn't have the power that the GTI does, but it still feels every bit as fast and playful."
EverydayDriver · ▶ 9:06"definitively dr 86 is quicker in a straight line than a civic si"
Throttle House · ▶ 5:04Performance
3.5/518 of 18 reviewerssplit“definitively dr 86 is quicker in a straight line than a civic si”
critical · Throttle House · ▶ 5:04“It doesn't have the power that the GTI does, but it still feels every bit as fast and playful.”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 9:06“with these boltons and the tune the amount of actual power now feels perfect”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 5:21Handling
4.5/518 of 18 reviewersstrong consensus“The body control here is much more taut, much more athletic feeling. This car drives younger than the GTI does.”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 13:46“the steering has lots of feedback it's overall superb and the handling is excellent”
positive · Car and Driver · ▶ 3:01“the helical LSD that's in this car is brilliant”
positive · Sarah -n- Tuned · ▶ 10:18Fun to drive
4.5/518 of 18 reviewersstrong consensus“This car is just a joy to drive quickly. That's the key thing that the Volkswagen is lacking is it lacks this level of playful joy.”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 14:32“undoubtedly I had the best time driving the Civic SI.”
positive · Realistick · ▶ 4:09“the SI one thing that it hasn't lost over the years is that it is fun to drive.”
positive · The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 5:55Daily drivability
4.0/518 of 18 reviewersstrong consensus“civic si is just slightly better to drive on a daily basis it's of course much more practical”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 20:02“it is very lovely it's lovely it's really nice very few minor gripes”
positive · Throttle House · ▶ 5:12“this is a great car for doing all that that happens to be fun”
positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 7:37Value
4.5/518 of 18 reviewersstrong consensus“I'm just blown away by what you can get for $29,000 today from Honda.”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 0:34“This car is $10,000 cheaper than the GTI. And when you sit in here, I don't think you can tell.”
positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 5:28“the Civic SI is fantastic value”
positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 6:16Hear it in the reviewer’s words
- The Drive
2025 Honda Civic Si First Drive Review: Fun as Ever, Now With Heated Seats
◆Worth itThe 2025 Civic Si remains the benchmark for an affordable, engaging manual sedan, now with the added comfort of heated seats.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts needing a reliable, fun daily driver that can handle occasional track or autocross use.
- Watch out
- less horsepower than segment rivals · steering weight can feel excessive in Normal mode
2,009 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2013 Honda Civic Si Sedan - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
◆Worth itThe 2013 Civic Si is a superior performance sedan that makes the related Acura ILX feel watered down and overpriced.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts seeking a rewarding, high-revving manual transmission experience on a budget.
- Watch out
- dated interior materials · fake dash stitching · polarizing exterior styling
1,103 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2012 Honda Civic Si Verdict - Motor Trend
◆Worth it, with caveatsThe 2012 Civic Si is a highly reliable, fun-to-drive machine that suffers from a cheap-feeling interior and excessive road noise, making the 2013 update a more compelling choice.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts seeking a reliable, engaging daily driver with high residual value.
- Watch out
- Excessive road noise · Lack of soft-touch interior materials · All-season tires hinder handling · Supportive but uncomfortable seats on long trips
1,138 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2020 Honda Civic Si Road-Trip Review: Comfortably Sporty
◆Worth itThe 2020 Civic Si is a rare example of a sports sedan that successfully balances genuine driving thrills with the comfort and practicality required for daily use.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts who need a single vehicle that can handle both spirited driving and long-distance commuting.
- Watch out
- Awkward USB port placement · Stiff dampers in Sport mode
865 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2017 Honda Civic Si Sedan First Test Review
◆Worth itThe 2017 Civic Si is a highly capable, well-equipped, and refined daily driver that excels in handling and value, though it lacks the high-revving soul of its predecessors.
- Best for
- Buyers seeking a practical, daily-drivable performance sedan with excellent handling and modern tech.
- Watch out
- low 6,500-rpm redline · lack of unique engine character · slower acceleration than previous generations
1,969 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2022 Honda Civic Si First Test Review: Still a Sport Sedan Steal
◆Worth itWhile it has lost some of its objective performance edge and value, the 2022 Civic Si remains a fantastic, highly engaging sports sedan that is better to drive than its predecessor.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts who prioritize chassis balance, shifter feel, and daily refinement over raw acceleration numbers.
- Watch out
- slower acceleration than previous gen · brake fade under track use · lack of two-mode dampers · price increase
1,996 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2003-2005 Honda Civic Si - Review & Road Test - Automobile Magazine
◆Worth itThe Civic Si is a practical, economical daily driver that offers a fun, high-revving experience for those who enjoy working the engine.
- Best for
- Drivers looking for a practical, reliable daily commuter that still offers an engaging, high-revving driving experience.
- Watch out
- Polarizing boxy styling · Lower redline than the previous generation · Modest wheel size · Less hardcore than some competitors
878 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time - MotorTrend
2020 Honda Civic Si Sedan Long-Term Review Update 1
◆Worth itThe 2020 Civic Si is a highly capable, daily-drivable sports sedan with a world-class manual transmission that outweighs its minor powertrain quirks.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts looking for a practical, daily-drivable manual sedan.
- Watch out
- Rev hang in manual shifting · Temperature-sensitive aluminum shift knob · Engine start/stop delay
1,275 wordsOpen articleQuotes worth your time