The 2018 Honda Civic Si has finally debuted at the New York Auto Show, and it helps bridge the gap between the common Civic that everyone buys and the hardcore Type R.
This seems like the 20th time we’ve seen some sort of Civic debut in the past couple years, and that might be this Civic’s biggest problem. Does anyone really care about the Si now that the Type R is almost here? The Honda faithful also seem to be up in arms about the Si’s lack of a high-revving VTEC engine and no horsepower increase, but there are real reasons for them to give the car a chance.
The last Honda Civic Si was kind of a disappointment on the track – it was great to drive on the street but too sloppy on the track to be really gratifying. This one is promising to be much better in every way. Here are 5 things you need to know about the 2018 Honda Civic Si.
1. It Has a Turbo for the First Time Ever
For the first time ever, the Honda Civic Si is powered by a turbocharged engine. It’s not VTEC, but the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine will make 205 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque from 2100-5000 from. Honda fanboys seemed to be pretty let down because that’s the same amount of power as the last Si, but torque is higher and the car is lighter, which means it should be faster.
2. A 6-Speed Manual is the Only Transmission
As before, a six-speed manual is still the only transmission you can get, but you get two driving modes: Normal and Sport.
3. Performance Upgrades All Around
A bunch of upgrades have been made throughout that should help the Civic Si’s performance and handling: the Si gets bigger brakes, a stiffer chassis, lighter body, upgraded steering, a sport-tuned suspension, an adaptive damper system and a limited-slip differential.
4. Coupe and Sedan, No Hatch
The Civic Si will be offered as a coupe or sedan, so if you wanted a hatch, you’ll have to get the regular hatch or a Type R.
5. Availability and Pricing
The 2018 Honda Civic Si will start in the mid-$20,000s in the U.S. and will go sale in May 2017.
