Honda Civic Si
The little engine that could
|
  |
By Richard J. Newman
|
NITS: One additional feature I'd like to see is an armrest between the bucket seats in the front. Without it, your elbow dangles and your arm becomes tired on long drives.
G-FORCES: The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine is quite a charmer, flaunting power and refinement at the same time. The Si handles like a zippy little sports car ought to, with a nose that tracks curves like it's being led on a leash. I oversteered on tight curves before I got used to the tight cornering.
GIZMOLOGY: Gauges are attractive and easy to read, and climate controls are simple to operate. Not so the radio. The knobs are small and very sensitive, which made it tricky to do basic things like tune in a radio station.
KID MARKS: Older kids will do OK in the back seat, but car seaters will find their legs pressed up against the front seatbacks. Storage space is adequate, for a compact, although the cargo area narrows a good deal at the car's haunches.
HOT OR NOT? Hot. But many will disagree. The sleek front end contrasts with the humpy rear, yet the Si turns just about every head under 30.
ENVIROMETER: Three stars out of five on the EPA's "green vehicle" ratings scale. Mileage is 26 mpg city/30 mpg highway. Details: http://www.epa.gov/
autoemissions/E-HONDA-Civic-02.htm (The Si is the 2.0-liter model.)
CRASH COURSE: Ten stars out of 10 in the government's frontal crash test ratings. The Civic hatchback has yet to be tested for side impact crashes and for rollovers. Details: http://www.nhtsa.gov/NCAP/
Cars/2124.html
PRICE POINTS: Base price is $19,710. Price as tested: $19,710 (All prices include delivery fees.)
MORE INFO: http://civicsi.honda.com/
|
Model year tested: 2002
The Civic Si is the first car I ever pushed beyond the "red line" without meaning to. I was pulling onto the highway and revving up to the prevailing speed in second gear. As I was getting ready to shift into third, the acceleration suddenly gave out. I glanced at the tachometer in time to see the needle plunge from the red zone back into the safe range. I had "redlined" the car, hitting the governor that prevents RPMs from running too high. I quickly shifted into third, and the sprightly little car picked up where it had left off.
It's not that I was drag-racing or daydreaming. Most cars squeal, shudder, and shout as you approach their maximum RPM setting, giving you ample notice that it's time to upshift. But the Civic Si's 160-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine is so smooth and quiet that it gave no signal it was about to reach its limit. With such a silky performance at its highest output point, the Si was a dream during ordinary driving. The engine zoomed with quiet confidence and no rumbles or high-pitched whines to draw attention to itself. The 5-speed manual transmission was as smooth as warm butter, helped further by a power train that provided good power in any gear.
Honda's heritage begins with engines, so it's no surprise it aced the one in the Si. The rest of the car is pretty darn nice too. The interior is a bit utilitarian (it is a Civic, after all) with a soupçon of European styling that I found just right. The buttons and switches are simple and laid out unpretentiously. And I credit Honda for sticking with a 5-speed manual, instead of the gimmicky 6-speed that some manufacturers are tossing into lesser cars. Yet the base Si still comes with most things drivers will ever need, such as full power features, A/C, a CD player, cruise control, and so on. Antilock brakes and front-seat side air bags are standard, along with alloy wheels and other sporty features on the outside.
The Si also does a lot with a small amount of space. There are a number of cleverly engineered storage nooks, and a cup holder that pops out of the upper left side of the dashboard, right near where you would hold the steering wheel. That's good attention to ergonomic detail. Overall, the Si offers a great combination of features and performance for less than $20,000. Just watch the tach.
 In the market for a new car? Use our auto search for more information.
Is there a car you would like us to review? Send your suggestion to test-track@usnews.com.
Return to the auto page to view more reviews.
|
