Also, having a car that is drivable right off the bat earns bonus points. What do I mean by that? Well, the clutch was effortless to work with at first push, and shifting is easy as a premixed cake. Translation: user friendly from the get-go.
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| Honda's trademark 127-hp V-TEC 4-cylinder engine sufficiently powers the Si. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Powering the Civic Si is Honda's trademark V-TEC 4-cylinder engine, which produces 127 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 114 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The 1.7-L 16-valve DOHC engine offers an additional 12 horsepower in comparison to its DX, SE, and LX Civic. I found that the sassy Si was sufficiently powered for its size, giving enough zing to get up steep hills with a little kick. But compared to other top-line engines in competitive compacts, such as the Mazda3's new 148-hp base and 160-hp optional engine, it lacks get up and go. Actually, almost every other rival automaker makes a more exciting top-line engine for their respective compact sedans. Honda might want to address this issue.
Still it gets going quick enough to appreciate the standard 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Stopping is efficient whether on dry or slippery surfaces.
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| The Civic Si's 15-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 195/60R15 all seasons, are practical, not to mention stylish. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Speaking of slippery surfaces, the West Coast was hit by a one-day-blizzard, dropping more than 20 cm (8 inches) in a very short duration. For some, that snowstorm would sound like another winter day, but not so in my region. Nevertheless, the Si got me through it in one piece. It only lost traction a few times, but on a whole it handled much better than the Mazda3 Sport that was in my possession around the same time. Perhaps the added stability was enhanced by its much smaller, less performance-oriented tires. The Honda sports 195/60R15 all seasons compared to the Mazda's 17s. The 15-inch alloy wheels are practical, not to mention stylish. On the whole, it's quite a decent front-wheel-drive "snowmobile." On the dry however, I'd take the 17s on the Mazda.