2022 Honda Civic Si review

Other staff views

David S. Wallens
Editorial Director

My review is short: I’d buy one. Like, take my money.

Let me explain. My wife and I are no stranger to the Civic Si. We had an ’86, a ’92 and, when new, a 2000. We currently own a 2014 Civic Si sedan.

Then add in two CRXs: a supercharged 1988 Si and a B16A-powered HF.

Plus the magazine’s 2002 and 2019 Civic Si project cars lived with us.

So, yeah, no stranger to those two letters.

We keep coming back to the Civic Si for some simple reasons as the cars are fun, practical, reliable and reasonably priced. You can autocross them, track them, commute in them. I don’t have to worry about one leaving us on the side of the road. (Touch wood, our 2014 has only needed tires and a battery so date.)

The latest Civic Si continues that trend, and I’d call it an update on the previous model–much like how the ninth generation was an update on the eighth or how the Civic line progressed through the wishbone models.

Big selling points that would get me to move on from our current car: the more conventional dashboard and side widows. I don’t mind the bi-level dash found in our car as well as its predecessor, but I wouldn’t say I love it. The same can be said for those little “vent” windows.

The new car also sits lower than our ninth-generation car. It’s quieter, too. It’s the right size for us and just felt so comfortable on track.

I realize that all of this can be said about the previous one as well, and for not a pandemic, we’d probably have bought one. It did all of the Civic Si things that we know and love. The only issue was timing as the loan ended right as the lockdown began. Due to the uncertainty, I let the car go back to Honda. A friend then offered his to me, and I had to pass on that one as well.

Do I miss the VTEC? Yeah, a bit, and I know what it’s like to hustle a B-series around the track. But torque is torque, and our 2019 Civic Si showed me the way of Honda’s current turbo engines.

The clock says that the newer one is faster–and faster is faster. If I could turn back time, though, I’d love to have a yellow 2019, but in today’s market, assuming we can score one, I am very, very intrigued by the latest one.

Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets

Five years ago, I flew out for the launch of the 10th generation Honda Civic Si. And while I liked the car, my review ended on a backhanded compliment: Buy the sedan vs. the coupe, because

People will make fun of you for driving a poky coupe that has a turbo and driver-adjustable shocks but won’t win any autocrosses. But people will commend your practical decision-making skills for driving a slightly sporty sedan that can stiffen itself up a bit during that mountain-road vacation, but won’t ride harshly enough to wake up your sleeping baby, or drone on the highway enough to give your passenger a headache.

One year later, that same car won G-street at the SCCA Solo Nationals, beating the Golf GTI and Focus ST I said were faster cars in my review. Honda proved the internet wrong and built a best-in-class sports car that was also the most civil option for the daily commute. 

Oops.

At least I learned my lesson and approached my time in the 11th-generation Civic Si more cautiously. Had Honda worked its magic again? 

We’ll start from ten feet away: This one isn’t nearly as ugly as the outgoing car. In fact, I’d call it pretty! Looks are always subjective, but I’m glad the off-brand transformer styling is gone. Step inside, and the interior looks and feels great, too: Soft materials, a standard sunroof, and comfortable seats. Props to Honda for including wireless Apple CarPlay, too.

How’s the new Civic Si drive? Sorry, but I still have the same complaints I had before: It’s a little boring, and by that I mean the upper end of the tach is pointless and the flywheel feels heavy. This car doesn’t feel fast--it drives like a normal Civic, only slightly faster.

In fact, the only time I felt the Si badge was around a corner, where the chassis seemed instantly 500 lbs. lighter, precise steering, easy handling, and a real limited slip spinning both front tires on the exit. Then the road straightened out and it was back to mehville.

While the outgoing Type R stirs my soul, this car is just, well, a car. 

So what’s my verdict? Given the last generation’s success on course, I’m going to assume Honda’s built another sleeper when it comes to competition. Overall, this is the perfect car to do it all, and the best daily driver I’ve tested in a while.

Would I buy one? Well, sorry, but no. Maybe it’s because I grew up watching The Fast and the Furious, but I’d buy a 9th-generation Civic Si over this one. I’d rather hear the wail of VTEC on every onramp, even if all that noise happens as an 11th-gen Civic blows past me in quiet, understated competence.