2006 Honda Civic Review

The Si long has been the bad boy of the Honda Civic line, the model bought as much for driving thrills as for transportation.

The Civic helped build Honda's reputation in America, with about 7 million sold here since the car was introduced in the early 1970s.

The Si arrived in the U.S. market in 1985. It was soon snapped up by those wanting a nimble, fast, affordable, economical and reliable car that was a kick to drive. It also could be easily modified to develop more power by the "fast and furious" crowd.

The latest compact Si is better than ever because it benefits from major changes made to the revamped 2006 Civic (Oct. 10 AutoTimes). The 2001-2005 model was conservative, but the eighth-generation Civic has sleeker styling, upgraded interiors, revised suspensions and more power.

The Si comes only as a rakish two-door coupe with a manual transmission. The regular Civic can be had as a more conservative-looking coupe or sedan, or as a gasoline-electric hybrid sedan.

There are more than 148 model, trim, option and color combinations for the 2006 Civic, or "more than ever before," Honda says. Civic list prices thus range from $14,560 for the base DX coupe with a manual gearbox to $23,650 for the hybrid with a navigation system and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The Si comes only with a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox because it's a serious driver's car, although the springy clutch needs a more sure feel. Its wheelbase (distance between axles) is a fairly long 104.3 inches for better ride and handing -- up from 101.2 inches for the 2005 Si, which had a five-speed manual transmission.

The new Si also is 9.1 inches longer overall at 174.8 inches and is 2.2 inches wider and 3.2 inches lower. It's also a little heavier, but not enough to affect performance much with its engine's additional horsepower and torque.

Park the new Si, which has a regular trunk, next to last year's hatchback coupe Si and the differences are pronounced. Drive them back-to-back and the 2005 model looks and feels old. The new Si is not only faster, it also handles significantly better.

The new base Si lists at $20,290, while an Si with performance tires is $20,490. Opt for the Si with a navigation system and XM satellite radio and it's $22,040. The highest priced Si costs $22,240 with XM satellite radio, navigation system and performance tires.

Your head might be swimming by now; the days when Honda promised to "keep things simple" clearly are gone.

The Si is well-equipped with comfort and convenience items, besides a power sunroof. Standard safety features include front side air bags and side curtain air bags.

The first thing a hot rod needs is more power, so the Si gets a 2-liter four-cylinder engine with 197 horsepower. That's 50 more horsepower than the regular Civic 1.8-liter gasoline engine, which also has less torque, and 37 horsepower more than the 2005 Si engine.

The front-wheel-drive Si can do 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and allows fast merging and passing. But the dual-overhead-camshaft engine with variable valve timing calls for high engine revs -- and thus frequent shifting -- for the best performance. Drivers accustomed to an automatic transmission car with a larger, lower-rev engine probably will be frustrated.

Steering is quick and handling is sharp -- virtually in the sports-car class, thanks partly to a helical limited-slip front differential that improves acceleration and cornering performance. Stopping power with standard anti-lock all-disc brakes is impressive, with good pedal feel. The ride is supple over rough roads, but some uneven ones cause a choppy ride.

Despite its sizzling performance, the Si delivers an estimated 23 mpg in the city and 32 on highways. But it requires premium fuel, while other Civics just need regular-grade gasoline.

The Si looks the part, with such items as a "sports grille," rear spoiler, aerodynamic body cladding, Si badging, sport exhaust tip and 17-inch alloy wheels with wide 45-series tires.

The quiet, exclusive-to-Civic interior has deeply bolstered seats for spirited driving, red fabric stitching and unique trim panels.

The large, high-set digital speedometer is easy to read in the driver's line of sight behind a large, sharply raked windshield. But it's out of place in a high-performance car and doesn't go with the conventional analog tachometer. Most controls are easily reached, front cupholders are large and there are many interior storage areas. However, front seat belts are hard to reach before being fastened.

The rear seat is difficult to enter or leave and is best suited to kids. But one can flip down the rear seatbacks to enlarge the cargo area via a big pass-through opening between the trunk and back seat area. Seatbacks sit flat when folded for a flat, enlarged cargo floor and have trunk-mounted releases to discourage thieves from stealing items from the trunk by just flipping unlocked seatbacks forward.

Cost cutting is shown by the lack of a cover for the bare metal interior trunk lid and a hood that needs a prop rod to hold it open, instead of a hydraulic strut.

The Si definitely adds spice to the new Civic line, although it's not for most Civic buyers. It never was. 

2006 HONDA CIVIC SI 

PRICES: $20,290-$22,240

LIKES: Nicely redesigned. Fast. Sports car steering and handling.

DISLIKES: Occasional choppy ride. Long, heavy doors. Hard to access tight rear seat.