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2013 Honda Civic SI Coupe - Heels on Wheels Review


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HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel

INTRO TO THE CIVIC SI COUPE VEHICLE
With all the reliability consumers have come to expect from this mainstay model, the refreshed Honda Civic Si is a leaner and meaner coupe thanks to aerodynamic changes and some style boosts. It also features class-leading standards like rearview camera, Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio, an SMS text message feature, excellent safety ratings and a reasonable price.

I drove A 2013 Honda Civic Si with a standard 201-horsepower 2.4-liter Dual Overhead Cam i-VTEC four-cylinder engine mated with a six-speed manual transmission. Available in one coupe trim varied by optional equipment, my test drive featured the following standard equipment: Honda Satellite Navigation System; multi-angle rearview mirror; illuminated leather-wrapped steering wheel; steering-wheel mounted controls; XM Radio; Bluetooth; SMS text message function; Pandora compatibility; sport seats; moonroof; spoiler; fog lights; seventeen-inch Michelin Pilot Exalto tires. Total vehicle cost as described came to $24,215.

Honda has made a bold move to give all 2013 models a standard rearview camera. The Civic Si also features performance tweaks, exterior styling upgrades, and better interior materials. Main competitors include the Kia Forte Koup, Ford Focus ST, and MazdaSpeed3.

HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA

Stylish But Comfortable Results: With a much different feel than the tamer sedan, the Civic Si coupe features a customized cockpit with textured aluminum pedals, exclusive black cloth upholstery, and red backlight gauges. The Intelligent Multi-Information Display, or i-MID, provides vital information like current fuel economy and audio-system settings and delivers hands-free communication and turn-by-turn direction assistance.

Reliability & Safety Factor: Both the Honda Civic sedan and coupe versions are Top Safety Picks with The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the vehicles an overall rating of 5-Stars. Advanced standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist, anti-lock brakes, a state-of-the-art airbag system, and Honda’s ACE body structure.

Cost Issues: A Honda Civic Si Coupe starts at $22,515 and reaches $24,215 with such additions as navigation and summer tires. The Kia Forte Koup starts at $17,400 and the MazdaSpee3 at $16,700.

Activity & Performance Ability: Interesting performance technology includes the Sequential Rev-limit Indicator. Located at the dashboard, a series of lights indicate rising horsepower and when the engine is ready to tap Honda’s unique intelligent valve-control system for maximized horsepower. The lighter chassis pairs perfectly with the stiffer suspension and quicker transmission. The six-speed manual transmission and a race-like limited-slip differential deliver the smooth and controlled shifting and handling. Even the lighter aerodynamic body structure adds to the Si’s performance-oriented feel – for the cost, it’s a symphony of well-orchestrated engineering.

The Green Concern: Fuel economy is 22-city and 31-highway for a combined 25 miles-per-gallon.

FINAL PARTING WORDS
Restyled and revved up, the 2013 Honda Civic Si Coupe is ready to tame the road and look fierce while doing it at a very reasonable price. Increases in standard features like a rearview camera give it even more appeal against its competitors.

©2013 Katrina Ramser