2022 Honda Civic Si Review
2022 Honda Civic SI
1.5 Liter Turbo 4
200 HP / 192 TQ
0-60: 7.1 (but seriously…it doesn’t matter)
MPG: 28.7 (as observed)
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
Introduction:
The Honda Civic Si is a vehicle that is dear to the hearts of many in my generation who were afflicted with the mental condition known as a ‘Tuner’. I prefer the term ‘tinkerer’ myself but regardless, we see a vehicle as it could be not as it is. We are dreamers through and through.
The Civic Si of my youth (EM1 particularly) was one of those vehicles that set our collective imaginations on fire. Anything you wanted to do with a car you could do with a Civic Si:
- You wanted it to decimate a Mustang GT?
Done. Slap a turbo and a tune on it and you were knocking on the door of 300 whp from a stock engine.
- You want to run with the BMW yuppies at the track or in the mountains?
Done. Every iteration of coilover imaginable, good tires and a good alignment along with some chassis bracing…you got them.
- You want just a fun daily driver?
Done. Just mere bolt-ons will make you smile every time you hit that sweet VTEC crossover.
In the subsequent generations of the Civic Si, that original KFC recipe, was tweaked but largely remained the same.
An affordable driver’s car that could do everything you wanted without breaking the bank
This newest generation takes that recipe and adds a bit more cayenne pepper to the mix. This 11th generation Civic Si, might be…
“One of the best driving vehicles on the road today. ”
The Great
- Errr…uhhh…nearly everything
Nearly Everything
Seriously. It would be easier on your eyes and brain just to explain what wasn’t good on this 2022 Honda Civic Si…but alas I will try anyway!
From it’s steering, to it’s gearbox, to it’s braking, the handling, to it’s damn gas mileage…the 2022 Civic SI is just great!
Steering: One of the best feeling electric racks on the road today. It feels like Honda’s engineers went to the secret Honda’s archives, pulled out the specs for the S2000 steering and just copied and pasted it over. It’s direct, precise and full of feeling! A true joy to use and yet easy to mill around town in!
Gearbox: Using a derivative of the stellar Type R transmission this Si specced unit deserves it’s place in the hall of transmission legends. Full of snickety goodness with a beautifully weighed clutch and rev matching to boot…it’s so good you find yourself walking around your house just miming shifting through the gears with your hands.
Braking: Even with it’s relatively modest sized brakes, the Si affords an amazing amount of feedback that leaves it’s driver with nothing but confidence. Yet, it’s easy to modulate around town so one is not bucking their passengers head around.
Handling: Confidence and ease. The Si gives credence to the Miata mantra of ‘slow car…fast’. Keep your momentum up and the Civic SI resembles a 3/4 Type R in the bends. She squats and pitches a bit more but she will also grip the absolute fecal matter of the road! Pair that with a limited slip diff that claws itself into the apex of every corner and lift off over steery goodness to boot…this Civic Si absolutely jaw dropping.
Gas mileage: 28.7 wide grinned, laughing, hysterically fun miles per gallon!
The Good
An interior that make one exclaim the following:
‘Wait…this is a Civic!?!?’
Interior
If there was any achilles heel to the previous Civic as a whole…was it’s interior. Too busy, hard to read gauges and plasticky interior strewn about..the 10th generation Civic’s interior aged immediately.
This new Civic, on the other hand, takes a page out of the Mazda playbook and is errrr inspired by a company that does interiors the best…Audi.
From it’s vent-centric dashboard, to the infotainment and parking brake placement…the new Civic is clear homage to the German brand. Which is not a bad thing! If you’re going to benchmark something…might as well benchmark the industry leader.
The Civic’s interior lacks any perceivable panel gaps, squeaks and rattles of any sort. Add that along with a step up in materials throughout, gives this Civic cabin an aire luxurious sophistication that is much appreciated.
Possibly the best part is the gauges. Kicking aside the industry fascination with LCD everything…it’s instrumentation is easy on the eyes, easy to decipher in a glance and just damn lovely in it’s simplicity.
The Bad
Where in the name of frack are the heated seats??
FRACK! I’m cold
Yes, you read that right. There are no heated seats offered in the SI. Which is weird because the last generation offered it.
Which goes in line with Honda’s philosophy of ‘cold booty but quick car’ because the Type R lacks heated seats as well.
The Ugly
Nada. So here is your obligatory cat
Overall:
What is this 2022 Honda Civic Si? It is everything to everyone…it’s the jack of all trades. It’s affordable, practical, comfortable, grippy, hilarious fun.
Or in other words: The 2022 Honda Civic Si is a 3/4 Type R, which if you know me…that is the greatest compliment I can give any sedan.
