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Thanks, Alex. My first Honda was a Red 1990 Civic SI 3-door hatchback. I owned 10 yrs. and put 180,000 miles on it. Great little car and would average over 30 MPG. To this day it's my favorite car, just ahead of the 2007 Mazda 6i 5-door I owned for 12 years, with 168,000 trouble free miles and traded in last year for a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature. Love your channel and reviews.
I had a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V that, while it was a mechanical nightmare, I miss driving a lot. I’ve got a CR-V right now and am seriously considering this once my wife takes over the CR-V. The SI seems like perfect balance of practical and fun.
Drone at 75? yes please! I wouldn’t be buying an Si to give a great amount of thought to fuel economy while I’m screaming through the gears. I checked and I can’t see an ILX available with a manual trans. If I see gen ten Si out on the road, I know it’s going to be a manual and that says something about the driver. We,who drive a Civic Si, don’t want an automatic! This car is not for everyone. It’s for people who drive and who also don’t have a destination. Driving is the reason to drive. As for factory navigation, CarPlay takes car of that. Always love your attention to detail Alex. Thanks for another comprehensive and enjoyable flic.
Never really appreciate the Civic's exterior. Luckily this RED is so attractive, now I know at least there's a Civic that has the look that's livable. Heard as lot about it's handling and fun factor. With wild praises from Alex, perhaps it's about time I try one out myself.
I have a 2019 SI Coupe which I love. The only thing I can think of is I wish they offered an SI touring model with leather, power seats and navigation as standard
can power seats be added, i use my phone for navigating. i do love mazda 3 interior it is like 3 times more upscale, soft touch leather, buttons, instrument dials, etc.
@@Tigerex966 I would be buying another Mazda3 now if they had a sedan with the manual. I just don't like their hatchback design of any year, especially the latest one though. Oddly to say I do like the look of the VW GTI but worry about the reliability and cost of long term ownership.
i own the 2019 Si and its really the most fun car iève owned! the ONLY thing i wish is more HP.... hope Honda can listen and increase from 205 to like 240 Hp so the gap is not so wide with the type R
I own a 2019 Si and all you need is a plug and play tune like hondata or ktuner to get to 240hp... then you can add performance parts like intake, downpipe, intercooler, etc. to take that even further so you decide. I did all of the latter and the car is a whole different beast. Have fun!
I just got my 2020 Honda Civic Si sedan and absolutely love it! My previous car was a 2000 Honda Accord EX (which I bought new also) and having all the safety and tech at such a good price is awesome! I would have gotten the summer tires but then I wouldn't have been able to get modern steel metallic color I wanted. I did buy separate winter tires and rims but since the tpms is linked to the factory rims I just won't have that in the winter. Overall it's a very fun car to drive and hoping to keep it for 20 years also!
I have a 2018 Civic Si and I am still really liking it. Handles really well in the corners and the LSD with all the torque from the turbo gives you great feel when you punch it coming out of turns. I am glad my 2018 does not have a lower drive ratio, already approaching 3000 rpm when cruising on the highway going 70-75 mph. As far as oil dilution goes I am in the north east and have not had a problem with that. I change the oil every 3000-5000 miles just to be sure.
Did you compare the SI to anything else when you made your purchase? Are you running regular grade gas or premium? And does your car have a spare tire?
@@t.k.morris This car runs on premium to get peak power. Audi A5, SQ5, BMW X2. Audi A4, Camry TRD, Tesla... it's true fun car. money to fun is excellent and economical on gaz and build for the bad pavement (Texas)
Nice review, Alex. I appreciate you discussing the enjoyment that a manual transmission provides. One of my coworkers, a former automatic driver, currently has a Civic Si and loves it. One thing: sure, many auto and DCT cars are faster than their manual counterparts. Really, though, in day to day driving, where is anyone going to notice a couple of tenths more when accelerating? As such, I feel you over emphasize the faster argument.
Completely agree with you regarding the revised final drive ratio. They could have fiddled with the gearing of the lower gears. But they were lazy and claim they wanted to improve passing acceleration which is just asinine as you said it’s easy to drop a gear down to pass.
I just got the 2020 SI sedan in white. It's perfect. The car feels incredibly nimble and balanced. When you go to parallel park it, you can tell it's not that big a car. But miraculously when you are inside, it feels almost like a midsize. Even in the back seats my 5'11" kids have oodles of leg room. I have other vehicles to use when hauling the family around, but this is my car. Even as I sit here typing a part of me is aware that my SI is sitting in the garage, and I can make up some errand that needs to be done NOW so I have to go out and drive it, haha. That's the real key for a car like this, isn't it? You WANT to drive the darn thing, because it's so much fun, and this car really is. If you are thinking about it, take the plunge. You'll find yourself grinning stupidly as you drive.
Ironfangzu I’m really thinking about trading in my 2017 Abarth for a 2020 si. Do you get used to the rev hang and slushy shifts due to that? That was the only thing that annoyed me on test drive. Also, the seat felt good for a few minutes, but do the aggressive seats get old daily driving? Thanks for your insights!
Thank you for a review that is heavy on the actual driving experience. We all have eyes to see what the car looks like, and all reviews show you the interior. But your review focuses on how it feels to drive this car, the handling, the interior sound level, the handling, and the overall experience. I think most people who would consider buying an SI are really into the fun of driving a well made car, and your review shows us that the Civic SI will probably satisfy those urges in us.
Nice looking car. Honda did a good job tweeking the design just a little bit and didn't go over the top. Im shopping for a new car and since i have 2 young kids isnt going to stop me from getting a car that is fun to drive but still practical
Kudos Honda! The best sport compact car just got even better! Love the new looks and wheels. Thanks for Honda Sensing it works great! I’m ok with a better final drive and less mpg. And I love the fact you only make it in a manual transmission. #savethemanuals I would love an Si hatch! But I guess we can’t have everything we want. And a hatch Si would cannibalize sales from the Type R or Sport hatch. The good thing if you don’t want a manual or want better MPG or a better interior- you can always choose another Civic. For a car with an LSD, heated seats, Honda sensing, adaptive dampers, Apple CarPlay, killer handling and a sunroof all for $25k. I can’t think of a better value. Not to mention reliability and resale value.
please stop asking honda to add auto to the civic si, because if they do, people will stop buying the manual, and it will be discontinued. it is one of the few, if not only fwd 6 speed manual only cars available and should keepthat uniqueness. especially with the corcettes and supras, audi's, mercedes, infiniti's and others all getting rid of the manual.
@@robertgraham5486 yes recently added but for how long no one knows. Honda is said to be killing model line soon. To simplify its model choices accord will probably axed the manual after first eliminating it from all models but the sport and than making that hard to find.
@@aviatorsdream4686 Not to those who love the 2.0 liter. like me. The difference in price and power between the civic si and r is HUGE. A model right in between the R and si SiR would be easy for Honda to do, and make them more money, many Honda si owners and possible buyers were and still are not excited at all by the 1.5liter fit engine + turbo, as the engine when not in boost is too weak for this car. Nor it's oil dilution history. On the other hand the 2.0 liter K series Vtec 2.0 turbo in the Honda accord, can even without turbo power the civic si well.
I know this is old but nobody mentioned WHY this is a dumb comment. To add the 2.0T option to the accord it is an over 4k upcharge no matter A/T or M/T option. Now you are in 30k territory for power levels that aren't that much more.
It would be more expensive than that. The body would need to be strengthened and the transmission may not match up. I'm betting it would be closer to the $4000 range for an add-on. For that much added cost, buyers would likely just buy the Accord or something nicer than the Civic.
Would putting the 2.0 L turbo from the Accord (maybe a tune for about 230-240 hp) make it more special? Obviously the Type R has to be the best in Honda’s lineup, but a slight power bump couldn’t hurt.
Agree with Alex's comment about Honda changing final drive ratio so driver's didn't have to shift to lower gear to pass unnecessary as the fun of driving a stick is being to downshift to pass. Also to differentiate the Si from the other sport Civics the Si needs more horsepower 220 or 230 at least.
Why is 6th gear so high? People who drive Si know how to shift down for rapid passing, and a good low ratio 6th gear would be great for long highway trips. // Edit: I see Alex addresses this very concern at 17:30 -- thank you.
Those of us who live in the Midwest USA thank Honda for tall top gears. Fantastic when cruising across SD or KS at 80+. Short top gears suck, i.e. Honda Fit.
Does anyone know if the fake noise can be turned off in the menus like in the GTI or Veloster. Would suck if it has to stay on, especially during long highway runs.
I have the 2019 s i I really really love that car I did the ktuner it helped with rev hang and definitely turbo ramp up it definitely could use a lightweight flywheel I think that would help with rev hang also period. It's a 32-pound dual-mass flywheel from the factory awesome review BTW
I got a Hondata for my 2020 Si Coupe and disabled the rev hang. The car drives a lot better with it disabled. The lighter flywheel would be nice to get rid of the rest of the rev hang but the Hondata got rid of a lot of it. It's a fun car and the rev hang delete makes it even more fun.
@@honda116969 I agree with you 100%. I actually enjoy driving that car now. I hated driving it with the rev hang. Made the car so goddamn annoying to drive. The car drives so much better with it disabled.
Dammit, I don't get why they had to shorten the final gear, which lowers your hwy mpgs. People who wanna drive stick don't mind dropping a gear to pass. I hated that high cruising RPM with my MT Fit and Prelude.
I just recently purchased a 2019 Civic Si and Alex reported that the new one give about 30 in the city? Well if it's like the previous year model. I been averaging no more than 29.8 in combine driving HWY/CITY. I have been averaging 27.2 or so living in the Metro ATL area. So, Alex subtracted -2 so about 25.2.
One tenth of a second faster isn't worth the extra drone on the highway and worse fuel economy. It seems Honda doesn't quite understand Si buyers. We live to shift so it was never an issue downshifting to pass so their rationale for the change in gearing doesn't make sense. They should have worked on the rev hang and maybe a slightly better tune of the ECU for added performance. Also kind of hate the black wheels. Previous wheels look great.
Manual handbrake please. An extra 50+hp and AWD would be welcome, but manual handbrake is a must on this car and the type R and even the Accord sport 6mt (both trims). It just blows my mind how almost not one reviewer is bothered by this omission on the 10th gen Si
The plan is to introduce 0w16 "b" oil in may 2020. The newer recipe of 0w16 will be less likely to be diluted by the gas/petrol. I haven't read anything about adjusting piston rings in these engines but I can't keep up with everything (I'm not as smart as Alex) The oil dilution issues occur mainly in vehicles that aren't driven for enough minutes. Ppl who have Longer run times aren't reporting the dilution issue. I'm not a Honda owner.
@@pbentsonable As a Si owner in Canada, We did get a service bulletin to adjust ECU cold start fuel trims. And having driven with the update through a fairly cold winter last year, for me at least it seemed to have fixed the issue. I assume that all L15 Engines at this point will get the revised tune from the factory at this point. As for the people affected with the old version, we got a 6 year unlimited mileage power train warranty as a result.
He did. Watch his recent CRV video where Alex talks, in detail, about when and why the oil dilution issue matters, and does not matter. Bottom line: it is not a thing in most use cases.
Of course, it wasn't available when this video was released. The Kia Forte GT is a much better value. Fully loaded for the same money as Civic Si starting price. Love driving both. Drove my Mom's Si one time, it's a fun car.
Is the shorter final drive truly worth losing the 2mpg in the city and highway cycle? The new ameneties are nice for sure, but I don't really like the wheels, exterior changes, and additional red accents. The Si is still a phenomenal value however.
@@thisisntsergio1352 which is really a civic engine, this new accord is a civic, and uses civic engines, and the civic gets the most powerful 1.5 and 2.0 liter versions of that engine, and LSD for much better handling. This is one of the first times that the Honda Accord has no special engine or platform of it's own above the Civic (aside the hybrid, although the insight is really a civic too, as well as the crv). Which is probably why the civic now outsales it Hopefully Honda will give the accord something of it's own again like AWD, V6, better looks, smaller size, a coupe again.
BBB T Yes I agree. Although I’m sure I’d love the Si I couldn’t give up the 220 hp and 258 lb ft of torque in my GTI. Any car with a manual is fun to me though. 😀
I'm kind of appalled by the idea that any car could lack a spare tire and somehow be ok. There's a huge difference between having it and not having it when you blow a tire in the highway / in the middle of nowhere.
It'd be about perfect if it didn't require premium fuel. Put the turbocharged 2.0T from the Accord Sport in the Civic Si (which produces 250HP on regular-grade fuel), change the tranny to better pair with the larger engine, and you've got a winner.
@@t.k.morris low traction situations or whenever you want? You will feel the difference with spirited driving. It's for fun mostly unless you live in a snowy climate
I love the current Civic and recognize its rear leg room advantages over competitors, but I also drive a 20 year old Toyota Camry that has much more leg room in the back.
Hi Alex, great review 👌 Question please, I’m a manual transmission novice, need a nimble, fun daily runabout. Trying to decide between Civic sport, Civic Si, & Corolla. Tempted to get the civic Si but concerned about ride quality as I’m not a young man. Any advice you have is much appreciated. thank you.
I am 62 and test drove one today.It was fantastic but not everyone has the same opinion about comfort, among most other things. I have two motorcycles and I drive a semi truck, my current daily driver is a 2006 Mazda3 5sp, so what I find to be comfortable may not be the same for you. I loved the seats, the transmission and the way it handled. I was hoping for a Modern Steel metallic but they only had a black one, which I liked a lot because it mostly hid the ugly fake vents! I also liked the passenger side blind spot camera! And the sun roof. And I am 6ft 1in and fit in the back seat of the 4 door sedan behind my own driving position! And with a hat my head did not hit the roof back there!
Just like Cobb Tuning is synonymous with Subaru, you Honda fanboys should take a serious look at Hondata. With one of their tunes paired with an aftermarket C.A.I. And exhaust, you can be right there in terms of power with a stock WRX.
They need to offer this in a hatchback. I hate they still have the ugly fake vents on the back. The sport hatchback looks a lot better in the rear because the style pieces flow together with the black rear diffuser and real twin exhaust but on this sedan it just looks tacked on. It’s really bad aesthetics.
For the price, you cannot do better. It's a great deal. My knit picks against it is the continued horrible Honda wheel design and that it is closer to the regular Civic in terms of performance than the Type R
Hello Alex, I wanted to leave some feedback. The turning camera during the driving section, didn't like it. It felt disorienting. Hope you're having a good day.
if Honda's not going to add a dct to the Si then reduce the rev-hang and add auto rev-matching for the newbies to manual. the new cheaper manual corolla have auto rev-matching
When I need to pass on the highway, I just put it into 4th or 5th gear. Why would they lower 6th gear; it’s literally the slowest gear to pass someone in.
Wish they would do a dual clutch auto or some form of automatic on the si like all the cars it competes with do. I like the looks over the regular Civic.
I disagree. It would allow the Si to appeal to more buyers, but I think it would lose something. Honda is staying true to the 6MT by not offering their performance models in automatic. With manuals already going away in favor of CVTs, DCTs, or 8+ speed automatic transmissions, I think honda is doing us right by keeping the 6MT around.
As good as this gen Civic is, I've never warmed up to the looks. Honda is capable of very good styling, but unfortunately, this isn't one of the better examples of it. Fingers crossed, next gen is better. At least this one lost that weird 2 level instrument cluster from the last one.
