2007 Civic SI sedan

[speedracer*]

aparantly there will be a civic SI sedan next year
http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=495409
i think thats a much better car than the coupe.

 

[95GTIVR6]

I really hope the concept is the only version with the carbon fiber and black rims.

Im not a huge fan of the new design. It looks like a rain-drop.

Anyways, this news doesnt phase me at all in any way. Dont get me wrong, the civic is a quick little car but I dont think I would ever own one.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Here is a pic of the production version...

 

[Swift]

I had a chance to drive the Si coupe...didn't like it all that much to be honest. Not to mention the interior is just dumb.

 

[JohnBM01]

Ahh, the Civic. Perhaps one of the most hated cars among auto enthusiast types (excluding myself). I kind of got used to the new Civic's styling. I actually don't hate it as much now. The sedan still has that edgy look to it, though you can bring along more people with the sedan variant. In terms of looks, I'd give it 82% out of 100%.

 

[Vonie]

Here is a pic of the production version...

That's actually a Photoshop.

Here are some pics of the concept (click 'em):



More here.

 

[L8 Apex]

The Civic's a nice car for the money, regardless of what trim/model you buy, but if I was in the market for a 4-door pocket rocket with a trunk, I'd probably pony up the extra couple grand for a VW GLI (w/ DSG, of course; stick shift+LA driving= )

 

[dropzone]

I remember the test drive of the Civic SI on Speed Channel and I liked it, but I've always passed on Honda as I see them played out in the Tuner market. Wow, how original for Honda in the US market(I think they've had "SI" Civic sedans for their other markets). The SI sedan is just to one up(and does so easily) the Corolla XRS(with a severely detuned Celica GT-S engine).(The Honda and Toyota dealer are right next to each other where I live, so sue me). It just sucks that Toyota has given up on any sport cars they had 👎 . Now I'ma be considering going American. But wait, I can go old school with it as there's a 89 Celica GTS chillin in the garage .

 

[eliseracer]

Still looks weird and unproportioned...

 

[skip0110]

The Civic's a nice car for the money, regardless of what trim/model you buy, but if I was in the market for a 4-door pocket rocket with a trunk, I'd probably pony up the extra couple grand for a VW GLI (w/ DSG, of course; stick shift+LA driving= )

👍 That peaky engine is not going to be fun around town...

I think the cam switchover is at a psychotic 6000 rpm...anyone who runs around town at 6000 rpm is stright-up nuts. C/D also said it has a tendency to hold onto revs, which will make quick shifts difficult...

Whereas the GTI has a nice flat usable torque curve...

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, the idea may be a good one, but going up against the GLI when the car has allready lost out to the GTI, its probably not a good idea...

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Si Sedan? Is this to compete with the other 4 door sporty cars out there, like the Lancer and Impreza?
I gotta admit, I like the 2 door Si better then the hatchback we saw the last time the Si came out, but i'm not sure where Honda is going with their interiors. It seems with every year, they're getting more and more abstract.

 

[JohnBM01]

When it comes to Hondas, the first thing I try not to think about is "oh, that 11th grade kid with the IQ of his shoe size is going to mod this car with a 'fart can' and a Le Mans Prototype rear wing." I know Hondas are huge in the tuner market, but that's the first thing I try to negate about ANY Honda. The next thing I negate is the "they are better off with dull, boring, mundane, but otherwise useful cars." Unless of course, you don't want them to have ANY sort of sporty vehicles.

It's just me. I'm not so quick to jump the gun on something like this. In the end, I sort of thought that it was interesting to have a Civic drag race on the Honda Test Drive for Speed Channel, but it seemed pretty dumb. Then of course, Danica Patrick will let you know what she thought of the latest Civic. My thing is, when I think Civic, I don't think of a high schooler with no knowledge of smart driving (or any other redundant stereotypes). People have tried to hop these machines up and all. It doesn't mean that people would be better off getting a real sportscar than just modding up a car like the Civic. I know Honda has a commitment towards Safety for Everyone and caring for the world with its MPG numbers, but I think it is still a practical auto whatever version you get.

Now on to this car. The simple way to explain this thing is to say that everything you love about the latest Civic is in the sedan, only that you can carry more people without having to adjust the front seats and all. I'm not going to say it's completely beautiful, but I think it's functional for both the one who perfers a sensible daily driver, not to mention the one who wants a little V-TEC performance on the track or a drag strip If Honda is coming up with a high-performance Civic sedan, I'd probably recommend the Si over the sedan. Regardless, the people made the Civic hot. And if it was at the expense of more power and edgier styling, then so be it for many satisfied Honda fans. This will likely sell very well to many drivers with many tastes.

 

[Pupik]

Si Sedan? Is this to compete with the other 4 wheel drive sporty cars out there, like the Lancer and Impreza?

It's lacking quite a bit of power to those two, plus it's FF. It's likely a Corolla XRS and Sentra Spec-V challenger.

Anyhow, I like how everyone has all these preconcieved notions that everybody and his grandmother are going to tune this car at the first chance they get. The reality is that 90% of the public won't modify their Civic in any way; most of what you criticize are 5-to-15-year-old Civics tuned by people who want to make their car look, or in some cases, actually make the car faster by tuning the suspension and engine (of course, some more professionally than others).

People buy this car because it's an all-round great piece of machinery for the money: It's reliable, inexpensive, great-quality, holds it's resale value, and easy-to-maintain bit of engineering, and this crowd jumps all over them like snake oil salesmen. Grow up, people.

 

[Ghost C]

Why does Honda keep trying. They should just put a 102 or so bhp engine in all of their cars and be done with it - The new Si coupe is slow, this thing will be as slow or slower. Worthless.

 

[YSSMAN]

It will be "faster" than your average Civic, but I dont think it will be any faster than it's 3-door sibling, the Civic Si coupe. But in a wold of SRT4s, GLIs, A3 Sports (and the upcomming GTI 5-door), Cobalt SS', etc... The Honda is just another "pocket rocket" in a growing segment in the auto industry.

 

[JohnBM01]

You see, this is why I don't usually bash the Civic. With all due respect, I think people don't want a sports car when at a Honda store (S2000 and NSX nonwithstanding). Honda goes through the trouble of making cars sportier. It isn't likely a Civic owner (or any other Honda for that matter) will take a car to the track and let on-track competitors know what time it is. I've always thought the Civic was more of a car that was part sporty, part functional. Usually, never leaning too much on one side. I'm usually sick of taking shots at Honda. The latest Si is probably the best of them. My thing is, I don't know if the car was blessed with this much horsepower because Honda of America got tired of hearing people call the Honda weak and fickle or not.

You're right, Pupik. I've always seen the Civic as a sporty car. It's not an all-out sports car or sports sedan/coupe at least, but it's still practical and cost-efficient. Think about it. You get 197hp for less than $20K. It isn't like the Dodge Neon SRT-4 where you get 220hp or so for less than $21K. Here's something I don't get. I usually don't see people complain about a Toyota Corolla (21st Century ones, not the classic 1980s ones), a Suzuki Aerio, a Kia Rio, or anything like that. Even they are front-drive. So why the Civic? Why Honda? Okay, the Civic isn't a sports car. Does it have to be? Whatever happened to form and function? Having said all of this, this is a good chance for Honda to let their little baby shine on the roads.

Like I've said, I've sort of grown on the car's looks compared to the last Civic. Should be a great car whether if used for practical use or for some club racing.

 

[niky]

Why does Honda keep trying. They should just put a 102 or so bhp engine in all of their cars and be done with it - The new Si coupe is slow, this thing will be as slow or slower. Worthless.

They do have 100 hp engines in the Civic and Fit.

Although I wouldn't consider it a rocketship, I don't consider anything that gets to 60 in under 8 seconds (7.2 to be exact) slow. In fact, that's just about par for most top-end sports compacts and full-sized V6 sports cars. Slow? Really?

While I'm not a fan of the Civic, I'd say it's more than a match for its closest possible competitors in the marketplace, the XRS, Sentra SE-R, and Mazda3 2.3... at least in a straight line... who knows how it'll compete with the Mazda dynamically.

As for a GTi or SS competitor, I guess we'll have to wait and see what Honda's direction for its next Type R (or RR, whichever it might be) will be.

I don't know why people rag on Honda's engines so much... yes, yes... no torque. Big deal. They're not supposed to be muscle machines. They're engines you can ride lightly around town, driving frugally (heck, really frugally), and open up once in a while on the highway when you want to have fun. I'm ashamed to admit, even though I prefer my engines torquey, I've always had fun blipping the throttle in a Honda B-engined car when I've had the chance.

@John: still not a fan of the styling. Consider the fact that the Mazda3 has a similarly high beltline, huge bumpers and more squarish proportions than low slung compacts of the past, it doesn't look as awkward and bulbous as the new Civic (or even the old one... released when the tendency towards blobbulism first started... along with the Corolla).

I know it's psychological, but do they have to make it look like there's nothing more than a sewing machine in the engine compartment? It's things like this that started turning off buyers from the last Civic. Honda's just lost its place to Nissan in the Japanese domestic market... they make much better cars, for the most part, but their styling direction has let Nissan get the better of them.

 

[Wolfe]

They do have 100 hp engines in the Civic and Fit.

Although I wouldn't consider it a rocketship, I don't consider anything that gets to 60 in under 8 seconds (7.2 to be exact) slow. In fact, that's just about par for most top-end sports compacts and full-sized V6 sports cars. Slow? Really?

Ditto. I'm tired of Americans moaning about cars in the 7-or-8-seconds-to-60 area being "slow."

If expectations keep on rising like they have been in this country, people will be complaining in 2026 about how such-and-such car is as slow as molasses, taking an agonizing 4 seconds to get to 60mph.

From reading and watching Top Gear, I'm glad to see that this idea of straight-line performance isn't shared elsewhere, at least not in the UK. 👍

 

[JohnBM01]

So Niky, where do you think Honda should go from here? Would the Civic be better if Honda designed it to have, say, 240hp and rear-wheel drive? And do you think Honda is taking their little baby in the right direction?

 

[niky]

Though I'd like for Honda to have stayed compact, that's probably not possible anymore, with the market segment moving up in size, weight and power, the Civic is probably going to become a baby Accord.

The increase in size and weight in compacts is really hard on Honda... more so than other manufacturers, as their trademark high-revvers suffer much more than traditional powerplants with lower horsepower and higher torque. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2.4 liter K-engine in a 2007 or 2008 Civic.

I don't see it ever becoming rear-wheel drive... four wheel drive might be an option in the future, with the increasing popularity of AWD in this segment. And AWD is something Honda could probably do competently.

There's nowhere else Honda can go with the Civic but to follow the compact market. That's why they developed the Fit/Jazz, to slot into the entry level deserted by the Civic. I just wish they'd pay as much attention to design as they do to engineering. I agree that it's a good car, but if people can't get past the looks, how will they know? Then again, it's a Civic... people will buy them by the boatloads.

 

[JCE]

I had a chance to drive the Si coupe...didn't like it all that much to be honest. Not to mention the interior is just dumb.

I drive Hondas all day long and surprise surprise the Civic is as slow and ugly as ever--what's the point of having alot of bhp if there's no torque. I have more fun driving the 5spd 4cyl Accord or the 6spd V6.

 

[Amemiya]

I dont like the back of the Sedan Civic.

 

[a6m5]

I want one. Without the carbon fiber and the rear spoiler. I took a good look at a silver sedan recently, I thought it was beautiful. 👍 Honda bashing really is getting old, but I do agree on the torque issue. I do hate the gutless-ness.

 

[L8 Apex]

Ditto. I'm tired of Americans moaning about cars in the 7-or-8-seconds-to-60 area being "slow."

If expectations keep on rising like they have been in this country, people will be complaining in 2026 about how such-and-such car is as slow as molasses, taking an agonizing 4 seconds to get to 60mph.

From reading and watching Top Gear, I'm glad to see that this idea of straight-line performance isn't shared elsewhere, at least not in the UK. 👍

Couldn't agree more, Wolfe, if only because, compared to my car ('83 M-B 300 SD), almost anything feels peppier than it!

 

[Wolfe]

I don't see it ever becoming rear-wheel drive... four wheel drive might be an option in the future, with the increasing popularity of AWD in this segment. And AWD is something Honda could probably do competently.

In everyday driving in dry weather, you won't notice SH-AWD. It can be sensed, however, in an extreme situation, say, when the throttle of the car is flat-footed away from a stoplight and the car is turned sharply into a 90-degree corner. Instead of the RL pushing wide as most all-wheel-drive cars would do, it takes full advantage of its powered outside rear wheel to motor around the corner in a composed manner, more or less on the intended line. It works very well, and although SH-AWD doesn't make the RL feel like a rear-drive sedan, neither does it feel like a front driver. The added control is simply welcome, especially so in wet and slippery conditions.

(Honda's "Super Handling All Wheel Drive" uses an active rear differential, similar to Mitsubishi's Active Yaw Control as seen on the Evo.)

 

[niky]

Yup... but how much would it cost to stick the SH-AWD on their bread and butter models? The CR-Vs Real Time AWD has never (in my memory, at least) been described as more than adequate.

But yeah, it would be interesting to see AWD Civics again... but more torque first!

 

[JohnBM01]

I think if you're going to have Civics for racers, especially the latest model, don't forget about club racing and some FWD drag action. I think Honda's done a nice job giving out their little baby in either Hybrid daily driving, or the performance type drivers. In terms of performance driving, have you forgot about Autocross and touring car racing? I bet there will still be quite a market for especially the 197hp Civic on most road courses in club action. So I don't think it's like Honda gave the highest model 197hp just to perfectly waste good horsepower.

Now on to looks. People will say that looks will be the only turnoff to a car like the latest Civic. You want to talk about cars that people think look ugly but still sell? I'll name some examples. The Hummer H2 and H3 are stuff that aren't really attractive to me and don't see myself owning, but they sell very well. I thought the very first Toyota Echo was the ugliest car to go from assembly line to our eyes and brains, but it sold. I don't admire Cadillacs, but even Caddy sells, especially Cadillacs post-Cien Concept. Perhaps the highest-profile car to fit this description is the Corvette C6 and all of its variations. I think the car could have been styled better, maybe much better, but they still sell. Point is, I don't think too many people will care about looks. If it has the HPs, then granted issues with handling and performance, it should sell no matter what anyone dare say.

On the basis of engine performance and other stuff, I think people still liked the Mazda RX-8, even if it lacked enough torque. Someone agreed the enging was solid regardless as the Renesis motor won a "Best Engine" award. I think that even with not enough torque, it will still be liked and respected for what it is. My favorite model of the latest Civic is the Civic Si coupe. To me, it looks the sportiest and think it will be lovingly embraced by Honda faithful. Knowing America, we have a GREAT Honda/Civic following. I've gotten used to the Civic's looks, even though I think they could have been improved, especially up front. I can recall Speed Channel "The World's Greatest Auto Shows" when they did Chicago last year. Usually, there is the "Winners and Losers" segment to talk about what was hot at the show and what was ice cold. One of the roundtable people had the loser as the concept car for the latest Civic, saying it's boring and uninspired despite the fact it's the first Civic to hit 200 or more HP (even if it was only a concept). From there, I knew the Civic was going into a direction which is (I'll admit) all grown up. Several decades have passed on Honda's most successful model of all time, and now it's pretty powerful, not to mention very friendly to the earth, especially the Hybrid models. If I had to choose one, I'd go for the Civic Si coupe. I might choose red for a color, MAYBE silver, or a deep blue color if available.

In the future, I'll read more on the new Civic.

 

[xcsti]

Yup... but how much would it cost to stick the SH-AWD on their bread and butter models? The CR-Vs Real Time AWD has never (in my memory, at least) been described as more than adequate.

But yeah, it would be interesting to see AWD Civics again... but more torque first!

Again? There have been awd civics before?

 

[niky]

85 EF Wagon, I think.

With the Honda's current size, it'd make a pretty impressive five-door AWD wagon.