New Car Review:2002 Honda Civic Si
SEE ALSO: Honda Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars with today's generation of high-performance enthusiasts. How did a car that started life as an economical, low-emissions commuter ``econobox'' in the wake of the oil shortages of the early 1970s become a hot-rodder's favorite? Much credit should be given to the first Civic Si hatchback, introduced back in 1986. Need more performance? In 1992, the Civic Si was the first North American Honda to use the company's competition-developed ``VTEC'' variable valve timing technology. The Si badge disappeared in the mid 1990s, to be re-introduced on a hot version of the Civic coupe in 1999 and 2000. When the current-generation Civic debuted for 2001, there was no hatchback and no Si in the lineup. Could Honda have forgotten its performance heritage? Not likely. It took a year and a half, but the Civic Si hatchback is back, and hotter than ever. Its 2.0-liter engine has the same 160 horsepower as the previous-generation Si's 1.6-liter, but much more torque, for easier, more relaxed driving characteristics. The styling is completely new, and very different from the current Civic sedan and coupe. Not only does it look European, it is European, built at Honda U.K. in Swindon, England. I've been driving a new Civic Si for the past week. I'll be sorry to see it go. It appeals to both practicality and hedonism, combining the power and handling of a sports car with European comfort, hatchback space and versatility, and Honda fuel economy. It's a British sports car at heart, but the 2002 Honda Civic Si is unlike any British sports car of the past. APPEARANCE: Honey, I shrank the Odyssey.... Well, not quite, but the new Civic hatchback does almost have the one-box look of a minivan, albeit in considerably smaller vehicle. Space efficiency is as important to Honda engineers as aerodynamics and styling. With its well-raked windshield, short nose, and hatchback roofline, the newest Civic Si does not immediately look like a sports car, even with the large ``i-VTEC DOHC'' stickers on the sides - a holdover from the previous Si coupe and a touch of 80s nostalgia. This, of course, can be a very good characteristic for a performance car. Definably a Honda Civic by the headlight and grille shapes, the Si shares no bodywork with the current Civic sedan or coupe, but has a unique, very clean and unadorned style all its own. The mesh grille and flat air dam front fascia at the front and small roof spoiler subtly hint at its potential. COMFORT: The boxy shape and high roofline pay off inside. There is much more room in the new Civic Si than one would expect from its size. Space efficiency? The new Si is only an inch longer, and actually two inches shorter in wheelbase, than the old Civic hatchback, yet it has more interior space and headroom. If the exterior doesn't immediately say ``sports,'' the interior does. Black cloth upholstery with red stitching accents, instruments featuring black lettering on a white background, and a large silvery center stack give it the contemporary sports car look. The front sport buckets are much more comfortable than the norm for the class, with very good support for long highway drives and good side bolstering for sports driving. The gearshift lever comes out of the lower part of the center stack, ``like a rally car'' according to Honda. It does allow more useful console space, and is placed conveniently close to the tilt-adjustable, leather-wrapped steering wheel. There are small but useful storage areas in the dash, console, and door panels. Rear seat access is good for a two-door car, aided by a spring-loaded front passenger seat. The rear seat has very good room for two medium-sized people, considering the size of the car, and a center passenger is not out of the question thanks in part to a low central tunnel. With the rear seat up, cargo space is less than the Civic sedan, but with it folded, even partially, there is a large, flat, and very useful cargo area. A large rear hatch and low liftover height make it even better. SAFETY: Honda expects the Civic Si to earn the highest ratings in various government and private crash tests. Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact beams, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard. ROADABILITY: The Si's unibody structure is significantly stiffer than those of any previous Civic hatchback, and fit and finish are to even closer tolerances. This provides a great platform for the fully- independent MacPherson strut front/double wishbone rear suspension. Like many other European cars, the suspension tuning is supple for comfort and perfectly-damped for excellent roadholding ability. Electric power steering, like on the S2000 roadster and NSX, optimizes steering effort for varying speeds, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes stop quickly. Although the Si is definitely a high-performance car, it is also very well-balanced, civilized, and comfortable. PERFORMANCE: There is no replacement for displacement. Current Civic sedans and coupes have 1.7-liter engines. The new Civic Si's engine is 2.0-liters. Add i-VTEC variable valve timing, which adds continual intake cam phasing to the VTEC variable valve timing and lift system, and you get 160 horsepower at 6500 rpm, with 132 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm. That's the same horsepower, but at 1000 rpm less, and considerably more torque - the most ever in a Civic, actually - at 2000 rpm less than was produced by the previous-generation Civic Si's 1.6-liter engine. The new Si's larger, less highly-tuned engine actually has good low-rpm torque. But, typically of Honda engines, it like to rev. Drive it fast, and you'll get well-acquainted with the electronic rev-limiter, as the four-cylinder twincam 16-valve jewel has a healthy midrange and power does not fade at the top. It goes from a classic four-cylinder growl at low revs to an insistent shriek near redline. Despite the unusual placement of the shift lever, the shift linkage is excellent, and shifting the close-ratio five-speed gearbox is a joy. CONCLUSIONS: Form follows function in a stylish manner as the new Honda Civic Si combines performance, comfort, versatility, and economy. SPECIFICATIONS 2002 Honda Civic Si Base Price $ 19,000 Price As Tested $ 19,460 Engine Type dual overhead cam, 16-valve inline 4- cylinder with variable valve phasing, timing, and lift Engine Size 2.0 liters / 122 cu. in. Horsepower 160 @ 6500 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 132 @ 5000 rpm Transmission 5-speed manual Wheelbase / Length 101.2 in. / 165.6 in. Curb Weight 2744 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 17.2 Fuel Capacity 13.2 gal. Fuel Requirement 87-octane unleaded regular gasoline Tires P195/60 VR 15 Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / independent double wishbone Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 26 / 30 / 27 0 to 60 mph 7.2 sec OPTIONS AND CHARGES Destination charge $ 460