The Honda Civic is a one-size-fits-all kind of car. There are many configurations and trim levels to choose from. The coupe mostly appeals to young drivers with its seemingly endless tuning possibilities, while the sedan keeps dominating Canadian sales charts as a tried and true people’s car. With this single model, Honda is able to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers.
I recently had the pleasure of sampling the Civic’s unique blend of sportiness and practicality in the form of the 2010 Civic Si Coupe.
The Si nameplate strikes a huge chord in Japanese car enthusiasts, much like the STi and EVO. Of course, the Civic Si compares more directly to the Impreza WRX ($32,495) and Lancer Ralliart ($33,198), respectively, but Honda has to be commended for adding a jazzed-up four-door sedan to a high-performance lineup that used to make do with a two-door coupe.
Both configurations share that boy-racer look and attitude, with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a rear wing spoiler, the inevitable body kit and a subtle red "Si" badge on the front grille. The coupe may stand out less than the competition from a styling point of view, but anyone will recognize that this is no ordinary Civic at first glance. It’s almost like a tuner’s car straight out of the factory.
Few interior upgrades set the Si apart from other trim levels. Therefore, expect the same two-tier instrument panel behind the steering wheel. I never got used to it the first time around and this latest road test did little to change my mind. I just don’t find the layout to be functional or ergonomic. The two major irritants are the abundance of hard plastics and the digital speedometer which, in my opinion, doesn’t really belong in a sporty-type car like this.
The sports seats definitely fit the bill, however. They provide all the support you need, which isn’t exactly surprising given Honda’s motorsport expertise. Unfortunately, rear passengers have to make a couple of sacrifices with regard to access and comfort.
Split personality
What makes this Civic a genuine Si can be found under the hood or by flooring the gas pedal.
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| The coupe may stand out less than the competition from a styling point of view, but anyone will recognize that this is no ordinary Civic at first glance. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
I recently had the pleasure of sampling the Civic’s unique blend of sportiness and practicality in the form of the 2010 Civic Si Coupe.
The Si nameplate strikes a huge chord in Japanese car enthusiasts, much like the STi and EVO. Of course, the Civic Si compares more directly to the Impreza WRX ($32,495) and Lancer Ralliart ($33,198), respectively, but Honda has to be commended for adding a jazzed-up four-door sedan to a high-performance lineup that used to make do with a two-door coupe.
Both configurations share that boy-racer look and attitude, with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a rear wing spoiler, the inevitable body kit and a subtle red "Si" badge on the front grille. The coupe may stand out less than the competition from a styling point of view, but anyone will recognize that this is no ordinary Civic at first glance. It’s almost like a tuner’s car straight out of the factory.
Few interior upgrades set the Si apart from other trim levels. Therefore, expect the same two-tier instrument panel behind the steering wheel. I never got used to it the first time around and this latest road test did little to change my mind. I just don’t find the layout to be functional or ergonomic. The two major irritants are the abundance of hard plastics and the digital speedometer which, in my opinion, doesn’t really belong in a sporty-type car like this.
The sports seats definitely fit the bill, however. They provide all the support you need, which isn’t exactly surprising given Honda’s motorsport expertise. Unfortunately, rear passengers have to make a couple of sacrifices with regard to access and comfort.
Split personality
What makes this Civic a genuine Si can be found under the hood or by flooring the gas pedal.
 |
| The sports seats definitely fit the bill. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |