When we drove the previous-generation Civic Si, we found its limits on back roads fairly quickly. That was not the case with the new model. You can still find the limits without going crazy, but you have to push harder, and when you find them, the chassis is just as forgiving. The tighter chassis and reworked suspension are remarkably composed and are so good that it’s almost begging for some old-school automotive journalism cliche. Stick shift that snicks into place with the smoothness of a well-oiled rifle bolt? Check. Controls fall easily to hand? Check. Corners like it’s on rails? Check. Except this Si is far from old-school. The engine doesn’t rev out to 8,200 rpm for a start. Instead, you’ll bounce off the redline at 6,500 rpm. Honda has tuned the sound, but the wind-up is slow and peaks too soon if you’re looking for an aural thrill.
The good news is that the engine is excellent for the car and can take advantage of the extra grip to push out of a corner. Add in the limited-slip differential and Sport mode to change the engine mapping, and it all adds up to a genuine corner carver.
If you drive a manual transmission and rev-matching is a habit, it’s still worth leaving the automatic rev-matching on – at least for a while. It does a great job, but if you want to keep your foot in practice and do it yourself, the pedals are pretty much perfectly aligned. As for that stick shift, the throw is shorter than before, and it’s one of Honda’s finest yet.
After a while, we were looking for faults and couldn’t find much. If you’re going to push really hard or take the Civic Si to the track, you would be well advised to upgrade the brakes. Or save up for a Type R because the beauty of the Si is in how it handles itself in day-to-day driving as well as on a back road. Around town and on the freeway, it’s basically a manual Civic with a firmer suspension and more supportive seats. That may sound like damning with faint praise, but the eleventh generation of Civic really is a consummate sedan. The Si trim simply heaps spoonfuls of fun into the proven formula.
Keyword: 2022 Honda Civic Si Sedan: Review, Trims, Specs, Price, New Interior Features, Exterior Design, and Specifications