Used 2020 Honda Civic Si

What is it?

Since its introduction way back in 1986, the Honda Civic Si has gone on to become one of the most popular sporty compact cars in America. Driving enthusiasts have enjoyed its pleasing acceleration, sharp handling, and above-average refinement and value. In its current 2020 iteration, it comes as either a coupe or a sedan. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 205 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, slotting it in between the Civic Sport (180 hp, 177 lb-ft) and the decidedly more mental Civic Type R (306 hp, 295 lb-ft). Should you prefer your fun little cars to come with an automatic transmission, you'll need to look elsewhere since the Civic Si is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

Why does it matter?

The Civic Si defined the sport compact car. And along with many other Hondas of the 1990s, the Si almost single-handedly created the import tuner revolution. Through the years, the Civic Si has remained an important car for Honda, helping to maintain its sporting image. And today it brings in the youngest average buyer (36 years, according to Honda) of any Honda sold in the U.S. It's a gateway car, if you will, to Honda performance as well as the rest of the brand.

What does it compete with?

Of its original and most direct competitors, almost none remain with the Civic Si. It has outlasted offerings from Toyota (remember the Corolla FX-16 and the Celica?), Nissan (Sentra SE-R, R.I.P.), and Mazda (Protege and sportier versions of the 3). To be fair, Volkswagen still offers the Golf GTI and Jetta GLI, but the closest competitors today come from Hyundai and its Elantra Sport and Veloster.

Even though the GTI and Veloster are hatchbacks, they offer similar levels of modernity, refinement and standard features. Both are a lot of fun to punt around. And if you want to stretch the competitive set just a bit, the Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ could be added to the list. While those coupes offer a purer driving experience, they're full of compromises, lacking the smooth acceleration and creature comforts of the Civic without being considerably quicker over a decent stretch of road.

How does it drive?

Changes to the 2020 Civic have been largely cosmetic. On the outside, Honda restyled the bumpers and LED headlights. Inside, there's new red trim garnishing the dashboard as well as new red inserts on the seats. We think these changes add some sophistication to the Si.

The lone mechanical change has had a small but noticeable impact on how the Si goes down the road. Honda has shortened the final drive (from 4.105 to 4.35) to aid acceleration, from a standing start but also, and more importantly, at speed. This makes it less necessary to downshift to a lower gear and helps the Civic Si feel more alive and responsive to throttle inputs.

The Si remains an excellent back-road companion thanks to its sublime suspension tuning. There's minimal body roll when you're going around turns, and the car stays composed and planted, even on bumpy roads. Putting the Si into Sport mode stiffens the shock absorbers further without making the ride unduly harsh. Our time in the Civic Si was done on the optional summer tires, which no doubt helped with cornering traction but came at the expense of higher levels of road noise.

The Si's steering is still a high point, feeling precise and natural. We also like how the Si's limited-slip differential directs power smartly across the front axle to help balance the car's handling.

Edmunds says

Honda remains committed not only to the badge but also the performance of the Civic Si, and it continues to refine an already solid all-rounder. With the inclusion of Honda Sensing (Honda's suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist) and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the Si looks to stay competitive against up-and-coming sporty compact cars.