2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe Review

Since 1984 Honda has marketed its topmost performance derivative in the US under the Si banner, not offering a true halo Civic like the Type R until 2017. Now, with a hardcore Type R available on US soil, the Civic Si continues to lives on but as a midpoint between the humdrum model and the Nurburgring-hammering hot hatch. Offered exclusively as a Coupe and Sedan derivative, the manual-only Si retains an athletic front-wheel drive chassis with sportier suspension tuning and bigger brakes, while power is derived from an uprated 1.5-liter turbo engine producing 205 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Priced at $24,300 the Civic Si Coupe is a huge performance bargain, and while acceleration might not quite match genuine performance coupes, the experience is one that shows Honda still cares about the enthusiasts. With few midsize rivals, closest competition comes in the form of the new Veloster Turbo which itself lies below a halo performance derivative.

What's the Price of the 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe?

Honda offers the Civic Si Coupe in one take-it-or-leave-it variant, establishing it as a marque on its own much like the Type R. The Si Coupe carries an MSRP $24,300 before tax, registration, licensing, and a $920 destination charge, but dealerships are responsible for their own pricing, so you may be able to find a great deal if you're willing to look.

2019 Civic Si Coupe Exterior

Dimensions

2019 Civic Si Coupe Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Even if the Civic Si Coupe had no increase in power or torque, the handling dynamics alone would be worthy of the Si badge. While the Type R combines power and handling, the Si seeks to give buyers a driver's car at an affordable price and advances on the already class-leading chassis of the standard Civic to create something truly special in the Si. It starts with a mechanical limited slip differential to help put the power down more effectively through corners, but the effects are amplified by a 0.2-inch drop in ride height on stiffer suspension and reworked adaptive dampers. The addition of the HFP package adds even better adaptive damping and summer tires, which increase the levels of grip to truly tremendous levels.

The result of all the upgrades is a Civic Si Coupe that breathes with the road, flowing along bumps and undulations rather than fighting to overcome them. It rushes through twisty sections of road with joy, riding firmer than a standard model but soaking up secondary bumps even better and maintaining grip with the road surface at all times. The chassis communicates better with the driver too, giving intimate feedback of the road surface and grip levels at all times, and it thrives on being pushed to its limits. The chassis is so well sorted that it feels underpowered, this despite being able to conquer a set of twists more rapidly than most would dare. No other front-wheel drive vehicle in the United States grips and handles this well.

However, there's little sacrifice when it comes to impeccable road manners, and changing from Sport into Normal driving mode sees the dampers slacken off to a placid demeanor that does justice to the high standards set by the regular Civic. The ride becomes buttery smooth to the extent that you may well forget this is half-way to being a Civic Type R.

2019 Civic Si Coupe Interior

2019 Civic Si Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe A Good car?

Performance bargains don't come along every day, and when they do, they almost certainly don't measure up to the standard set by the Honda Civic Si Coupe. It sets the bar high with 205 horsepower and one of the best manual gearboxes available, but the powertrain is underwhelming due to an absolutely stellar chassis. The upgrades turn an already brilliant chassis from the base Civic into one of the keenest driver's cars not just currently available, without compromising on ride comfort. With established reliability, upgraded infotainment for 2019, and a high-quality interior, the Civic Si Coupe is better than ever before but is still available for under $25,000. It cuts back on some frills, like the lack of advanced collision avoidance systems, but buyers here are looking for performance and driver thrills, and for that, the Civic Si Coupe comes out trumps every time.

However, if you're considering an Si Coupe, you'll need to put up with the overstyled exterior, bucket seats that impede ingress and egress and don't suit broader drivers, and the requirement for premium gasoline for optimal performance. Practicality is also hampered by the unusable rear seats, but the Civic Si Sedan exists to compensate for that.

Still, there is no better performance bargain on the market right now.

What Honda Civic Si Coupe Model Should I Buy?

Honda's made it easy by giving the Civic Si Coupe just a single trim giving you just about all you'd desire with visual appeal, upgraded suspension, and a fair bit of standard tech. We'd spring for the optional HFP package, as the adaptive dampers improve both ride comfort and control, while the summer tires are a must have for the enthusiast, especially if you're planning a track day.

2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe Comparisons

2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe vs Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai's new generation Veloster Turbo takes a big leap forward with a more engaging drive thanks to the development of the Veloster N. The Turbo offers similar outputs to the Civic Si Coupe thanks to a 1.6-liter turbo engine developing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque driving the front wheels, but unlike the Civic the Veloster offers a dual-clutch automatic gearbox in addition to a six-speed manual. But the Civic drives far better, has higher grip levels, feels lighter on its feet, rides more comfortably, and involves the driver far more than the Veloster does. The Civic Si is less practical than the hatchback Veloster, but employs higher quality materials inside and offers creature comforts like dual-zone climate control. While the Veloster Turbo is available in multiple trims, one of which undercuts the Civic Si Coupe's price by $2,000, the Civic is the better performance coupe.

2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe vs Honda Civic Type R

The Civic Type R breathes fire and eats lap records for breakfast, but it's only available as a hatchback replete with garish wings and overwrought bodywork. The Type R is substantially more powerful, substantially quicker too, so this may seem a one-sided argument, but the Civic Type R is $11,000 more expensive. The Civic Si Coupe is exploitable on the road, unlike the Civic Type R which can only access its true potential at a track, which is one of the Si Coupe's greatest traits. It offers affordable performance and road manners comparable to an ordinary compact coupe, whereas the Type R may be too hard-edged for daily use. If you're willing to sacrifice comfort and accrue judgemental looks for the sake of the odd track excursion, the Type R will reward you immensely; but if you enjoy day-to-day comfort, exploitable power, and an affordable price, the Civic Si Coupe strikes a fine balance between style and driver enjoyment and could be worth a look.