We all know about Honda’s Type R nameplate, which has been around since the mid-1990s. However, until recently, it has always been forbidden fruit for North Americans, except for the few short years we could get an Acura Integra Type R here. Instead, most of us grew up around the Si nameplate, so as we put the 2023 Honda Civic Si to the test, one question remained at the top of our mind: how has it evolved over the years?
Good news is that VTEC — every Honda enthusiast’s favourite engineering trick — is still on board on the Civic Si, with a turbocharger to boot. The 1.5 litre inline-four churns out 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, which may not seem like much nowadays, but this powerplant is tuned for street driving, where you get most of the torque as soon as you start to let off the clutch. A slick-shifting six-speed manual remains the only transmission option, and it is as easy to engage as ever. This shifter is Honda’s signature; its feel has been consistent over the years and remains one of the most joyful to row.
As expected, its small-displacement engine and turbocharger setup runs out of breath when you get into the higher rev ranges, but the new Si feels livelier and more eager to be pushed over the previous-generation model. Compared to the high-performance Civic Type R, we noticed more torque steer especially during aggressive corner exits, but understeer is relatively well-controlled. Its steering, though lacking in weight or feedback, feels responsive; the Civic Si would just go where you point and its easygoing personality keeps you coming back for more.
The Civic Si is also quite easygoing when it comes time to fueling up. Our observed 8.1 L/100km over a week of mixed commuting is close to Honda’s official 7.7 L/100km combined figure, and beats what we saw in the Volkswagen GTI and the Mazda3 Turbo. The only caveat is that the Civic Si recommends premium fuel for its 46.9-litre tank.
Though there are many visual changes from the standard Civic sedan, the Si manages to look just a bit sharper thanks to the contrasting wheels and side mirrors, and just a bit more athletic due to its slightly lower ride height. The Si’s rear lip spoiler fits this design ethos, too — sporty enough to get noticed, but not over-styled like the Type R.
Inside, the changes remain subtle. The biggest difference between the Si and the regular Civic is the two-tone dress up, and the Si-specific sport seats which are supportive for long car rides, but hardcore motorsport enthusiasts may want to upgrade to something aftermarket. The rest of the layout is a typical Honda affair — practical, no-frills, and user-friendly. A nine-inch touchscreen atop the dashboard runs Honda’s easy-to-use infotainment, and the physical buttons and volume knob is greatly appreciated. The Si comes with a 12-speaker Bose sound system with above-average sound quality, and is wirelessly integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Like every Civic that came before it, the Si is surprisingly roomy up front and out back. Head- and legroom will not be a concern for most, and the 408-litre trunk easily accommodated everything we threw in throughout the week, including two large golf bags.
The Civic Si comes standard with Honda’s suite of active safety tech and driver assists. These features include automatic high beams, forward collision alert with emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition. There is also a hill start feature that prevent the Civic Si from rolling back momentarily while you engage first gear from a full stop on an incline, which is very helpful for novice drivers.
The Civic Si starts at $35,630 and comes fully loaded. It is competitively priced not only compared to rivals such as the VW Jetta GLI and Mazda3 Turbo, but also against its siblings: it’s only $1,130 more than a top-spec Civic Touring, $3,220 less than the base Acura Integra with which the Si shares a powertrain, and nearly $15,000 cheaper than the Civic Type R.
Suddenly, the 2023 Honda Civic Si makes sense to us. As part of its evolution, the original enthusiast’s Honda has matured into a well-rounded but still rewarding daily driver. More importantly, the Civic Si is also a real value play and a solid choice for anyone looking for a fun Honda, just like the one they grew up with.
