2004 Honda Civic Si-G Coupe Road Test

Bigger tires or not, the Si still incorporated amazing road handling skills. If I could sum up its handling in one word, it would be "stable." Even at higher speeds and

If I could sum up the Civic Si's handling in one word, it would be "stable". (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

during tight turns, the coupe had minimal body roll and showed no signs of instability. The firmness of the steering coupled with an agile suspension made for quick A to B, to C and then onto D transportation. In fact, it was so fun I'd take it to Z and back again. It featured a front independent toe control link strut with stabilizer bar suspension and rear double wishbone with coil springs and stabilizer bar suspension, combining a smooth ride with sporty driving dynamics. The front cloth bucket seats, with their substantial side bolstering, also made for a supportive yet comfortable ride.

Harnessing the power from the signature Honda V-TEC engine through its standard 5-speed manual transmission is easy, as there isn't a heck of a lot of power to begin with. Like its Si sedan sibling, shifting was ultra easy, smooth with relatively short throws considering the coupe doesn't come with a close-ratio gearbox. With 127 horsepower at 6,300 rpm

The 127-hp, 16-valve, DOHC, 1.7-liter V-TEC 4-cylinder in the Si is fuel efficient, but lacking in power compared to much of its competition. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

and 114 lb-ft of torque at 4, 800 rpm, the 1.7-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, V-TEC 4-cylinder engine is again not nearly as enticing as engines offered by Honda competitors such as the Mazda3 (148 hp base engine and 160 optional engine), the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (162 hp) and Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V (170 hp). Still it's adequately powered for its size and class, and offers better fuel economy than any competitor previously mentioned.

Whenever I think of the word "coupe," I think of poor visibility. In this case, I was proven half wrong. Visibility out of the traditional C-pillar blind spots was surprisingly good. The tiny side window was large enough to let me see comfortably around the car without the need to take my eyes off the road for too long.