The Si isn’t the most powerful or fastest Civic in the lineup, but it has always been a performance bargain in the segment. The 2025 Honda Civic Si keeps that idea alive, offering the same engaging and fun-to-drive nature without breaking the bank, while adding a few meaningful updates to keep it fresh and competitive. But is that enough for the Civic Si to hold its own against other sporty small sedans like the Volkswagen Jetta GLI and Hyundai Elantra N?

What’s new for 2025?

The Civic Si sees similar updates for 2025 as the rest of the lineup. The freshened exterior styling is quite attractive, with redesigned front and rear fascias yielding a cleaner and sportier look. The Civic Si also receives new 18-inch wheels finished in satin black; the split five-spoke design is very similar, though not totally identical to what’s on the Integra A-Spec. Inside, the Civic Si’s interior remains pretty much identical, save for an update to the infotainment. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Does the Civic Si get more power?

Sadly, performance numbers haven’t changed significantly ever since the Civic Si went turbo. It continues to use a slightly more aggressively tuned version of the 1.5L turbo-four from in the standard Civic, putting out 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It’s punchy enough, but I was hoping for a power bump: all of its key competitors are more powerful, and the all-new Civic Hybrid feels much more punchy in a straight line. But the 2025 Civic Si remains manual-only, and the six-speed manual continues to be the cherry on top. Rowing through the gears is simply a joy thanks to the crisp and smooth shifter, and there seems to be less rev hang than before. A rev-matched downshift feature is still standard, and it can still be turned off.

As a front-wheel-drive sedan, the 2025 Civic Si proves not everything that’s sporty needs to be all- or rear-wheel-drive. Granted with proper summer tires, our tester could’ve impressed us even more with better grip, but the Si performs rather well driven with gusto even on all-season rubber. The suspension doesn’t beat you up over imperfections, but it keeps the car planted and composed when you explore its limits. If you want higher performance and the exclusivity to go along with it, the Civic Type R turns up the heat quite a bit. I still would’ve liked for Honda to include a more pronounced exhaust note; the Si still seems too silent compared to Hyundai, Toyota, and Volkswagen’s offerings in the segment.

“Fuel efficiency” and “Honda” often belong in the same sentence. The Si is no exception, sipping fuel like a Civic would, but you do need to pump in premium in order to make the most of its performance. Honda rates the Civic Si at 8.7 L/100 kilometres in the city, 6.4 highway, and 7.7 combined. I averaged a slightly higher but still-very-impressive 7.9 L/100 km, and I was having fun with it.

Interior design, comfort, and practicality

Inside, the 2025 Civic Si stays mostly unchanged, and that’s a good thing. It’s well-laid-out, and materials and fit-and-finish continue to feel great. The Si in particular gets slightly more bolstered front seats with red inserts and stitching, and the dash features red trim to match. As with previous years, a line of lights sits just above the instrument cluster serving as shift lights when you rev it out.

The biggest update for 2025 is one you can’t see right away. Infotainment is still handled by a nine-inch touchscreen display that seems small-ish by today’s standards, but the software is now Google-based, lending to much better performance over previous iterations. A wireless phone charger, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose sound system. Unless everyone is over six feet tall, seating inside is plentiful, and the 408-litre trunk is roomy. It would’ve been even more practical if Honda offered the Civic Si as a hatchback.

Is the 2025 Civic Si worth it?

At $38,030 as-tested, the 2025 Honda Civic Si is a steal if power isn’t your absolute top priority. The Jetta GLI offers more power, more bells-and-whistles, and similar bang-for-your-buck, but it lacks the agility, and frankly, few other car companies make a manual feel as good as Honda’s. The Hyundai Elantra N and Subaru WRX are good options as well in the realm of sporty compact sedans, but they’re both (justifiably) pricier than the Si.

Personally, I’m one of those begging Honda for more power. Not enough to dethrone the Civic Type R, but 250-ish horses would be enough to keep it competitive, and satisfy those who want more power without resorting to aftermarket mods. Even if a two-pedal Civic Hybrid feels punchier in a straight line, the 2025 Honda Civic Si remains a strong value proposition that’s easy to live with, fun to drive, and with a six-speed stick that never fails to put a smile on your face.