With the demise of the Honda S2000 roadster, the 2012 Civic Si Sedan and Coupe carry the distinction, or perhaps burden, of being the only Honda-badged performance cars for sale in North America.
This latest, and cautious remake of the Civic sedan may be getting tepid reviews in the automotive press, but I suspect Honda knows what it is doing. Yes, the new ninth-gen Civic is pretty bland, breaking no new stylistic or technological ground, but it’s quieter, rides better and feels more grown up. To many of us, that reads boring with a capital “B”, but to others, like my father, it’s the one. He recently drove all the contenders in this congested segment and settled on the 2012 Civic sedan for its comfort, price and clever, highly visible two-tiered dash that agrees with his senior eye-sight.
So how does the performance version of this gentrified Civic stack up? Does the Si badge stand for Seriously Involving, Somewhat Intriguing or Sadly Inadequate?
Those who loved the outgoing high-strung Si with its rev-to-the-high-heavens 2.0-litre VTEC four and scrappy chassis will likely find this 2012 variant a little too polite. That could be good news for Honda, as it will surely have a broader appeal.
The 2012 Honda Civic Si comes in Coupe and Sedan guise, both with a starting price of $25,990. Here we’re looking at the practical four-door that should be a draw for hot-shoes with domestic considerations. Honda plays the value card, loading the 2012 Si up with standard Bluetooth, touch-screen navigation with bilingual voice control, 360-watt seven-speaker audio, fog lights, sun roof, fabric sports seats, multi-information display and XM Satellite radio.
In true Honda tradition, the engine remains naturally aspirated, but the old 2.0-litre VTEC makes way for the 2.4-litre VTEC four lifted from the Acura TSX. It is hooked up to that sedan’s excellent six-speed close ratio manual transmission – no auto is offered in the Si.
While power is up only four horses to 201 hp, it’s the 22 per cent bump in torque you can really feel. While the 2.0 litre’s modest 136 lb.-ft. peaked at 6,100 rpm, this new mill serves up 170 lb.-ft. at 4,400 rpm. As might be expected, this large displacement four with its 7,100 rpm redline will not do the “scream like a stuck pig” thing the 2.0-litre did so well as its tach needle swung from 6,000 to 8,000 rpm.
That said, the Si is satisfyingly brisk, and the short throw shifter and super smooth clutch make operating the six-speed a joy. They’ve tuned a nice little rasp into the exhaust, and with this newfound midrange torque, you’re not caught flat-footed under 6,000 rpm like in the old Si.
But is it enough? The Si’s turbocharged competition (the Mazdaspeed3, VW GTI) will leave it behind, although those cars cost several thousand more. A more realistic contender might be the $23,487 200-hp Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V.
Furthering the 2012 Si’s broader appeal is a surprisingly compliant ride, a welcome departure from the disappointingly brittle comportment of the last few small Hondas I’ve driven: the Fit, Insight and CR-Z.
Brake feel is firm and progressive.
My only complaint is the engine’s infuriating tendency to hang onto revs for a couple of seconds between gears on upshifts. It’s unnatural and basically sabotages a smooth run up through the gears. It can also make in-gear coasting jerky at times.
The Civic’s unique two-tiered dash, improved for 2012, is an ergonomic success in my books. Too bad it is rendered in such a riot of nasty grey mismatched plastics. Having just jumped out of a 2012 Ford Focus, this ambience was particularly jarring.
Get beyond that, and it all works swimmingly. The upper display with digital speedo, fuel gauge, audio info and VTEC indicator lights are crystal clear, as is the big analogue tach below. The leather covered multi-function wheel is well contoured and the controls are a model for design and ease of use. Similarly, the centre console is angled towards the driver and logically laid out with easy to decipher controls. I found the driving position excellent, although those thick and steeply raked A-pillars can obstruct vision.
Sitting “behind myself” in the nicely contoured back seat, there was generous leg and headroom.
Visually, the Si sedan is hardly a standout, especially in this non-descript gray. The front fascia is a bit more aggressive than the regular Civic’s, there is a small lip spoiler on the trunk lid and the 17-inch wheels’ design is pleasantly conservative, but only the keen observer will notice you’re in anything other than the garden-variety Civic.
Which kind of sums up this car. The 2012 Honda Civic Si is quick, capable and great value, yet fails to advertise its talents. I imagine it will run with classic Honda precision until the proverbial bovines return to the barn, yet for some reason my old passion-meter barely flickered.
Perhaps just too much grey.
Pricing: 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan
Review and photos by Peter Bleakney
Autos.ca
