The new 2017 Honda Civic Si goes on sale throughout Canada today, in both two-door Coupe and four-door Sedan body styles.
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| The all-new 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan are upon us, and better than ever. (Photo: Honda) |
To sport compact fans, the Honda Civic Si is the stuff of legend. In North America the “Si” name dates all the way back to 1985 when first introduced as a range-topping CRX, that model now a very collectable two-seat Civic-based coupe. The Si most enthusiasts grew to love came along in 1986 as a special sport-tuned variant of the third-generation Civic Hatchback. Both models incorporated a 91 horsepower, 12-valve, SOHC, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, which was a potent package for the era.
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| Unique styling details set both cars apart from more common Civic trims. (Photo: Honda) |
The Civic Si has been available for most model years ever since, growing in power and handling prowess while developing a devoted cult-like following amongst sport-compact fans. The most recent ninth-generation 2012–2015 Civic Si was available in Coupe and Sedan forms and boasted 205 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque from a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, also driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual that many consider one of the best of its type available in the industry.
Its six-speed manual and 205 horsepower output remain the same for the all-new 2017 Civic Si, although its peak arrives 1,300 rpm lower in the rev range at 5,700 rpm instead of 7,000, while maximum torque increases by 18 lb-ft to 192 and starts 2,300 rpm earlier at 2,100 rpm compared to 4,400 in the old model, plus it’s sustained over 70 percent of the engine’s rev range. This should make it a much more tractable car to drive around town, plus much more capable when powering out of slow corners or making the most of a tight, circuitous auto cross or race course.
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| The 2017 Civic Si Coupe stands out from the crowd. (Photo: Honda) |
One word is responsible for the boost in performance: Turbo. The engine itself is some 900 cubic centimetres smaller than the outgoing mill at just 1.5 litres, but a turbocharger and direct injection, along with dual variable cam timing, allows for the big gains in performance despite much better claimed fuel economy of 8.4 L/100km city, 6.2 highway and 7.4 combined, compared to 10.8 city, 7.6 highway and 9.4 combined with the old 2015 model.
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| Both the Civic Si Coupe and this Sedan feature a unique gloss black grille and large lower vents. (Photo: Honda) |
You’ll need to set the new Civic Si’s dynamic driving mode to Normal to eke out the most from a litre of fuel, while this will also allow for a more relaxed, comfortable driving style, whereas Sport mode extracts all the performance from the powertrain and suspension by enhancing throttle response, sharpening steering and stiffening the shocks.
When Sport mode is selected, Honda promises the “most agile, best-handling” Civic Si it’s ever built. It all comes down to lighter yet stiffer body shells and a wider track, with both models shedding eight kilos resulting in a 1,330-kg Si Coupe and 1,341-kg Si Sedan.
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| A big wing flies high over the Si Coupe’s trunk lid. (Photo: Honda) |
Additional 2017 Civic Si component upgrades include a dual-pinion adaptive electric power steering system with variable ratios, a two-mode adaptive damper system for the sport-tuned suspension, a helical limited-slip differential, larger 12.3-inch front brake rotors (up 0.5 inches), and wider 235/40R18 rubber.
On top of the aforementioned adaptive dampers, the Civic Si’s updated suspension boasts stiffer spring rates, stabilizer bars that are 30-percent and 60-percent more rigid front to rear, solid front and rear compliance bushings, and much stiffer front upper control arms pulled from the future-legend Civic Type R.
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| Both models receive a totally original centre-mounted polygonal chromed exhaust outlet. (Photo: Honda) |
As for wheel track, both models get a 34-mm front and 33-mm rear increase from 1,504 mm and 1,521 mm respectively to 1,538 mm front and 1,554 mm rear, which provides a lower centre of gravity for better transitional stability and enhanced cornering capability.
The new 10th-generation Civic Coupe and Sedan are so eye-catching they hardly needed much visual improvement for the Si upgrade, but Honda nevertheless added more aggression up front with the trademark Honda “wing” grille in glossed black enveloping a set of LED headlamps at each corner, plus massive black bezeled lower air intakes with mesh inserts just below. These flank a gloss black mesh lower air intake at centre and a black lip spoiler, the frontal view appearing menacing to say the least.
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| As usual, the new Si’s cabin boasts plenty of exclusive black and red detailing. (Photo: Honda) |
Muscular front fenders fold over new 18-inch machine-finished Y-split five-spoke alloys with black painted pockets, wrapped with low-profile Goodyear Eagle Sport all-season tires, while at the very back both models also get a unique centre-mounted polygonal chromed exhaust system positioned within an exclusive lower rear bumper cap. The Si Coupe keeps its full-width light bar taillights while adding a large raised wing-type spoiler across the top, whereas the Sedan incorporates a totally unique rear fascia with a big wing attached to the trailing edge of the rear deck lid, featuring an LED centre-mounted brake light tucked underneath.
Civic Si Coupes and Sedans have long included some of the best sport seats in their respective classes, and the new 2017 models appear to be just as impressive. As usual, deep sculpting and aggressive side bolstering are present, as s sporty red stitching and embroidered “Si” logos on the upper seatbacks, while the cloth door inserts plus the leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, shift knob and boot get red thread highlights as well.
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| Red stitching can be seen here highlighting the steering wheel, shifter and seat bolsters. (Photo: Honda) |
Along with all the performance trim upgrades, the new Si includes all of the same superb electronic interfaces that make less sporting Civics stand out in their compact segments, the new model’s TFT gauge cluster and its audio system illumination enhanced with a unique red colour scheme. Even better, the Si’s standard 7.0-inch colour infotainment system features a throttle and brake app displaying a graphic percentage format, turbocharger boost in pounds per square inch (psi), a race track lap timer, race inspired shift lights, and a graphical G-meter that shows acceleration, braking and cornering forces. Lastly, carbon-look instrument panel inlays and aluminum sport pedals complete the interior upgrades.
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| Expect some of the best sport seats in the compact segment. (Photo: Honda) |
The 2017 Civic Si Coupe starts at $28,890 plus freight and dealer fees, and the Si Sedan at just $28,490, while on top of everything already mentioned both feature standard pushbutton ignition, white ambient LED lighting, an electromechanical parking brake with auto brake hold, illuminated steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio, phone and Driver Information Interface (DII) controls, dual-zone auto climate control, the previously noted 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, navigation, voice activation, wireless phone, streaming audio, 452-watt 10-speaker premium audio with
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| Just in case you forgot you were seated in a Civic Si, these handy embroidered reminders look fabulous. (Photo: Honda) |
satellite and HD radio, wireless device charging, heatable front and rear seats, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, hill start assist, a convenient capless fuel filler, and much more, plus a strong enough body structure and amply stocked suite of standard safety features to score 5 stars overall from the NHTSA.
Canadian Civic Si fans can take special pride in knowing the 2017 model gets built at Honda’s Alliston, Ontario production facility, while the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine is assembled south of the border at Honda’s Anna, Ohio engine plant.
Pent-up demand from a two-year hiatus means early cars will be snapped up quickly, so don’t hesitate if you plan to be first on your block with a new 2017 Civic Si.
© (Copyright: Canadian Auto Press)
