A Closer Look at the 2020 Civic Si 6-Speed
A small engine with big performance.
Car
The base Civic has a reputation for being an excellent economy car with bang for your buck power. With its starting price of $19,750 and a spitfire 2.0-liter 158 horsepower engine that runs forever. But give the Honda folks about $5K more, and they will give you a great driving experience with their upgraded Si model. This car is bar-none one of the better performance car bargains out there.
Text and photos by Chad Haire
Badge
The Si emblem on the outside bodywork shows this is not your mom's Honda. This version of the Civic has lots of goodies to make driving fun again as we shall see in the following slide show.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Engine
Under the Hood is a small 1.5-liter engine, but thanks to a turbocharger and direct injection, it cranks out a healthy 205 horsepower. It is hooked to a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip diff. Fuel economy is listed at 26/36 mpg with 30 overall. While the claimed 0-60 time is about 6.3 seconds, there is more to real-world performance than acceleration numbers. This engine loves to be driven hard, and this car really moves out once the rpm's move up! It's refined and quiet too.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Transmission
A smooth high revving engine needs a smooth shifter and a manual one at that. Here the Civic delivers with a pleasant gearbox that is fun to operate. After racking up plenty of miles, the thought of having an automatic tranny will never happen.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Wheels
The Si gets black 18-inch alloy wheels attached to 235/40 R18 high-performance summer tires. For stopping ability, we get four-wheel disc brakes. Other items include front MacPherson struts, rear multi-link suspension, and adaptive damper system.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Gauge
The gauge cluster has an odd shape but is well designed and easy to read at a glance.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Controls
The controls are very simple to operate. Here we see buttons for electronic brake, sport mode, brake hold, heated seats, and a real radio volume knob that has been absent on previous Civics.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Headlights
The front LED headlight assembly has so many bulbs inside it was easy to lose count. At 300 feet the illumination on high beam is excellent with a widespread. On the low setting, the light reached out at this distance, which is above average performance. Overall, these are well-designed units.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Price
Unlike other car makers who low-ball you with a cheap price, then sock it to you with a flood of options, Honda doesn't do that here. There is only one set price at $26,130. This includes about everything anyone could want. This makes the Si a super bargain on any level.
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Styling
From the rear, this is a sharp-looking machine that gets plenty of attention on the street. This was the more practical four-door car, but the less practical two-door coupe is also available. Either version is an excellent choice!
>>Join the conversation on this closer look at the Civic Si right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!