2017 Honda Civic Si Finally Shows Up: Comments

[William Maley]

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We have been waiting for quite a while for Honda to reveal the production Civic Si and this morning, they did just that.

The 2017 Honda Civic Si may not look completely bonkers like the Type R, but we're not complaining about it. The subtitle changes such as the blacked-out grille, 18-inch wheels, center-mounted exhaust, and rear spoiler help the Si stand out from other Civic models without going completely mad. Move inside and the Civic Si comes well equipped with sport bucket seats, red digital gauge cluster, faux carbon fiber trim, automatic climate control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Under the hood is a tweaked version of the Civic's turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder producing 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. This is somewhat weak sauce when compared to the likes of the Volkswagen GTI (220) and Ford Focus ST (252). Honda does say those numbers do arrive at lower rpms (5700 for horsepower, 2500 to 5000 for torque). A six-speed manual is the only transmission on offer.

For the chassis, Honda has fitted a set of adaptive dampers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, larger brakes, and a honest-to-goodness mechanical limited-slip differential.

The Civic Si will be available as a sedan and coupe, and carry a base price in the mid-$20,000 range. At least you won't have to wait long as the Si arrives at dealers next month.

Source: Honda 
Press Release is on Page 2

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Honda Reveals 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan in Dynamic Global Debut Video

Apr 6, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• First ever turbocharged Civic Si is most agile, best-handling Si yet
• Standard features include Apple Carplay™ and Android Auto™
• Production reveal of Civic Si Coupe and Sedan variants on YouTube

The all-new Honda Civic Si Coupe and Civic Si Sedan debuted today in a global reveal video broadcast on Honda's YouTube channel at honda.us/2017CivicSiReveal. The exciting and dynamic video features the stylish, personal two-door coupe and sleek, accommodating four-door sedan - both sporty Si variants are designed for the everyday enthusiast. The new Civic Si Sedan and Coupe will go on-sale next month with an MSRP in the mid-$20,000 range.

"The 2017 Honda Civic Si is our first turbocharged Si and sets a new sporty compact benchmark in terms of agility and precise handling while building toward the launch of the Type R as the final chapter in our epic 10th-generation Civic story," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president automobile division, American Honda.

Powertrain and chassis
Powering the Civic Si is a high-performance, high-torque 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC). Mated to a short-throw, 6-speed manual transmission, the powertrain provides a thrilling new driving experience with more low-end grunt and increased torque output across the engine's full rev range compared to the previous Si. Peak horsepower of 205 horsepower1 arrives 1300 rpm lower in the rev range, and the increased peak torque of 192 lb-ft2 (+18 lb-ft) is produced 2300 rpm earlier and sustained over 70 percent of the rev range.

Allowing full utilization of the powertrain, the 2017 Civic Si is significantly lighter than the previous generation model and features a more rigid body including highly upgraded chassis and drive components. These upgrades include a dual-pinion adaptive electric power steering system with variable ratios, sport-tuned suspension, an adaptive damper system, a helical limited-slip differential, larger 12.3-inch front brake rotors and wider 235/40 R18 tires with a performance tire option. In addition to adaptive dampers, suspension upgrades include stiffer spring rates, more rigid stabilizer bars (+30 percent front, +60 percent rear), solid front and rear compliance bushings, and ultra-rigid front upper control arms shared with the Civic Type R.

Allowing the driver to choose vehicle power and chassis dynamic characteristics according to their tastes and the driving environment, the 2017 Civic Si now features two driving mode options: Normal and Sport. From the more comfort-oriented yet well controlled default Normal Mode, the Sport Mode adjusts the suspension damping characteristics plus steering and throttle response for a more taut and direct driving experience.

Sporty design and styling 
Upping the sporty style quotient from the standard Civic Sedan and Coupe, the Si models feature an aggressive black "wing" front fascia with larger side air intake features, 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with a model-exclusive two-tone finish, wearing 235mm-wide, low-profile tires, and a chrome center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher. At the rear, the Si Sedan includes larger side vent features and a deck lid spoiler incorporating a LED brake light. The Si Coupe continues the Civic Coupe's distinctive full-width light bar and adds a prominent raised spoiler.

The Civic Si interior features Si-exclusive bolstered front sport seats with red stitching, including stitched Si logos. The red sport stitching carries through to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The Si interior also features a red driver's TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim.

Interior Comfort, Convenience and Connectivity
The new Civic Si variants offers premium comfort and convenience features building off of the EX-T Civic Sedan and EX-T Civic Coupe, including:

• Electronic parking brake
• Walk away door locking
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Rain-sensing wipers

Accommodating modern connectivity needs, the new Civic Si also includes a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen that serves as the nerve center for control of audio, HVAC and other functions. The Display Audio is integrated with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ platforms, providing seamless integration of smartphone features and functions, including app-based navigation, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities, and access to a host of Apple- or Google-approved smartphone apps. All Si models feature a 450-watt, 10-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with SiriusXM® Radio, HD Radio™ and Pandora® capability.

Safety 
The 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan are designed to provide a high level of collision safety performance in a wide variety of collision scenarios, including offset and oblique-angle frontal collisions as well as side and rear impacts. The Civic's safety performance starts with its class-leading forward visibility and precise, stable and predictable steering, handling and braking performance. Standard four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)4 with traction control and Agile Handling Assist further enhance dynamic stability and emergency maneuvering and braking performance. The Civic Si targets the highest NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.

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[Stew]

I like it and i am sure it will be considerably quicker than the 205 HP suggests.  Heck, a basic 1.5T is as quick as the old SI and has at least 30 HP less than this.  The red instrument cluster kills it for my colorblind ass though.  Looks like I might get another bug in a few years (14+ R-Line with sunroof and the fender audio, but same color and 6 speed manual as i have now). 

[ccap41]

Weak Sauce. No good reason to keep it so far behind the ST, GTI, and WRX...

[Stew]

IMHO, this will be quicker than a Focus ST.  C&D's last ST test got 0-60 in 6.3 and 1/4 mile in 14.9.  On the other hand, a Civic EX coupe with the turbo 1.5 (tuned for 30 less HP and torque) with the CVT and no limited slip hit 0-60 in 6.6 and 1/4 mile in 15.1.  The GTi on the other hand hits 60 in the high 5s.   I don't really consider the WRX a very direct competitor because of the higher price and AWD.  

[G. David Felt]

@ccap41 Totally agree with you. Honda is weak and still not following. Their sheeple will still buy it, but it will be seeing plenty of tail lights from everyone else.

[ccap41]

35 minutes ago, Stew said:

IMHO, this will be quicker than a Focus ST.  C&D's last ST test got 0-60 in 6.3 and 1/4 mile in 14.9.  On the other hand, a Civic EX coupe with the turbo 1.5 (tuned for 30 less HP and torque) with the CVT and no limited slip hit 0-60 in 6.6 and 1/4 mile in 15.1.  The GTi on the other hand hits 60 in the high 5s.   I don't really consider the WRX a very direct competitor because of the higher price and AWD.  

And C/D's Civic "Sport" 180hp/177tq with a 6-spd got to 60mph in 7.0 seconds and through the 1/4 mile in 15.2 seconds... More power, no CTV, slower time?

WRX is kind of a hybrid competitor with these guys as it's a compact car with balls but it's AWD and a couple grand more.

About the ST.. Reading the latest review over at C/D they mentioned it was the slowest of the 4 they've ever tested(assuming 4 different years since introduction or whatnot) and any Escape's with the 2.0 all tend to get slower after their first year testing as well. Are Ford's getting heavier as they age or what's slowing them down? I swear I read 2013 Escape 2.0's running 15.2's and I think I remember the 2017 one tested was like a 15.6 or 15.7.

[Stew]

9 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

And C/D's Civic "Sport" 180hp/177tq with a 6-spd got to 60mph in 7.0 seconds and through the 1/4 mile in 15.2 seconds... More power, no CTV, slower time?

WRX is kind of a hybrid competitor with these guys as it's a compact car with balls but it's AWD and a couple grand more.

About the ST.. Reading the latest review over at C/D they mentioned it was the slowest of the 4 they've ever tested(assuming 4 different years since introduction or whatnot) and any Escape's with the 2.0 all tend to get slower after their first year testing as well. Are Ford's getting heavier as they age or what's slowing them down? I swear I read 2013 Escape 2.0's running 15.2's and I think I remember the 2017 one tested was like a 15.6 or 15.7.

Lighter coupe vs heavier hatch.  On the ST i looked at some more and quickest is still like a 6.1/14.7.  the GTi has to be underrated though, 5.6 to 60 with the DCT and 5.9 with the manual and, if I remember, 14.3-14.6.  The 0-60 and 1/5 for the bug is 6.3-6.7/15.1 i believe?  The exception is the 14 GSR was 6.0/14.8.  I like these type of cars so i find this stuff interesting.  The 04-05 SRT4 and 09-? Cobalt SS turbo still take the cake as the cheap FWD champs though as both were capable of 1-60 in the 5s and 1/4 mile in the 13s (notice I left out the 03 SRT4 because it had less HP and no LSD, but still good for low 14s and high 13s with luck and perfect conditions/driving). 

 

it does seem like Ford it putting some serious torque restrictions on their later turbos as many have seemed to become slower over time. 

Edited April 6, 2017 by Stew

[daves87rs]

It might be engine weak, but I've heard it handles like it's on rails....

Maybe it's more for the driver who enjoys more "spirited" driving?

 

Interested to see....