2025 Honda Civic Si Driven: The “Sweet-Spot” Sport Compact Deserves More Power

Yes, I know. The last time I reviewed the Honda Civic Si, I said that power doesn’t define the car. And I still stand by that claim. The Civic Si is a perfect example that a sports car doesn’t need to be fast in order to be fun. But at the same time, I’ve always said that the current-generation Si, due to the sort of competition it now faces, really should get more muscle under its hood.

I discovered this when I took the updated 2025 model out for a spin. I know this car well, since I’ve driven it many times. Look, the “Sport Injected” Civic is still great. Nimble. Agile. Fun. And it’s always ready to follow you on your crazy, backroad-carving adventures. But, man. This thing would be so perfect if Honda gave it the output it truly deserves.

2025 Honda Civic Si First Impressions

Clean And Understated

The 2025 Civic Si got a mid-cycle refresh that only slightly affected its appearance. The front bumper is only a bit different from the old car’s, making the car look a little meaner, and the head and taillight designs were slightly redesigned. There’s also this new color called Urban Gray Pearl. That color does fit well with my test car’s black wheels, but I’m just so fed up with dark wheels. I can’t wait for automakers to be done with them as well.

Everything else is the Civic Si we already know. The upside here is that the Si doesn’t try to attract too much attention to itself. Unlike the Type R, which is the full-fat, race-spec Civic, the Si was always the more sensible, street-performance model. It’s the one that doesn’t forget that it’s still a Civic at heart. Only the wheels, rear spoiler, slightly sportier bumpers, and red Si badging reveal that something is going on here. That being said, I kind of wish the Si was a little louder, or at least, also offered as a hatchback. I guess you’ll need to buy an Acura Integra for that.

2025 Honda Civic Si Exterior Dimensions

2025 Honda Civic Si: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Markets

Since the Si is a trim level within the Civic lineup, there aren’t many configuration options. And although the pre-facelift Canadian-market Civic Si included standard features the U.S.-market cars didn’t get – like shift lights and standard heated mirrors – the cars are now identical on both sides of the border. Both markets also offer the same choice of four available paint colors: Crystal Black, Rallye Red, Platinum White, and this Urban Gray Pearl.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold below)

Driving Impressions And Performance

It’s All About The Way It Feels

So, very much like a , or a , the Honda Civic Si is all about how it makes its driver feel from behind the wheel. For starters, the car is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, which clearly proves Honda understands what enthusiasts really want. And boy, is this still one of the best manual gear levers available in any car.

There’s a well-oiled, snickidy-slick action to this shift lever that I just never get bored with. It’s accompanied by a light clutch, closely-spaced pedals, and an engine that revs freely, and seems to have been born to marry this transmission. I’m obviously talking about Honda’s now ubiquitous 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four. For the Si, it cranks out the same output as before: 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.

It’s ample. But compared to a Golf GTI or even a closely priced , the Si feels rather underpowered. There’s just never that kick-in-the-pants feeling we used to get from those old, mechanical VTEC engines. Now, it’s just boost pushing the little mill up through the rev range, with all the fun ending at 6,500 rpm. That’s not to say the 1.5-liter unit isn’t potent. It is! It’s urgent, loves to rev to redline, and you can really give it a proper beating. But it could do with, say, 20 more horsepower to truly come alive.

2025 Honda Civic Si Technical Specifications

Honda says it has stiffened up the car’s chassis in key areas, and that the Si’s dampers have been entirely retuned. It’s typical Honda fiddling at its best, but it’s honestly very difficult to recognize the changes. The Si’s chassis is absolutely brilliant. Everything feels so light. So easy. You can push this car 10/10ths on a windy piece of tarmac, and it always rewards you for it. The grip is immense, and the front limited-slip differential, a mechanical type, ensures virtually no torque steer is felt during hard launches. Digging into the throttle on corner exits in a is always highly addictive. And fun.

2025 Honda Civic Si Fuel Consumption

What’s great about the Si is that it never forgets that it’s still a Civic. That’s instantly observable in its fuel economy. While quick, fun, and agile, even when pushed hard, it tends to be rather fuel-efficient. The EPA rates it at 31 MPG combined, which is half decent considering the type of performance you’re getting. I wrapped up my week with the car at a respectable 29 MPG average, but I honestly didn’t even try to save fuel.

EPA And As-Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort

Mature And Well-Appointed, With Killer Seats

I rarely give a car a perfect score, but in the case of the Civic Si’s interior, I honestly cannot find any weaknesses. This is the textbook definition of what a car cabin should be like in the modern age, with the right blend of technology and physical controls. You can sit nice and low in the Si’s cabin, which is great if you’re tall like yours truly. The red sports bucket seats, unique to this Si, are fabulous. They both hold you firmly in place during hard cornering, but also don’t squeeze your love handles to the point of becoming uncomfortable during daily driving.

It’s roomy in there, too, with more than ample rear leg and headroom and enough space to fit a rear-facing car seat without having to move the front passenger forward too much. The ergonomics in a are also spot on. Everything is where it should be, from a drive mode selector conveniently placed on the center console, right next to the shift lever, to large and rather attractive rotary dials to operate the climate control settings. Everything is well put together, the dashboard has a neat, sort of retro styling to it, and it all feels light and easy inside a Civic Si.

2025 Honda Civic Si Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Simple And Straightforward

This lightness is carried over into the Si’s technology. There’s really just only what you need in this car. Except for perhaps a nine-inch infotainment screen that protrudes awkwardly out of the middle of the dashboard, and some features, like removing the car’s automatic rev-match, that require some fiddling inside some confusing menus, the Civic Si’s infotainment system is rather simple, straightforward, and easy to comprehend.

Large icons allow for quick access to vital functions, while the physical buttons are great for rapid reversal of actions. There’s a physical volume knob, which is always welcome. Wireless Android Auto (in my case) connects quickly and seamlessly. The digital gauge pod can either be loaded with useful driving data, or be entirely wiped out to leave only the gauges themselves. Those gauges are obviously virtual; it’s a cool feature, nevertheless.

Cargo And Storage Space

One Of The Most Practical Sport Compact Cars On Sale

The Honda Civic is currently one of the most practical compact sedans currently on sale, and the Si changes none of that. This is also where I realized why the Civic Si is a seriously interesting sport compact, as it stays true to the regular Civic’s daily usability. For reference, the Si’s trunk offers more cargo space than both a Mazda 3 sedan (13.2 cu-ft) and a Toyota Corolla (13.1 cu-ft).

2025 Honda Civic Si Cargo Space

Definitely A Sport Compact Car I Recommend Buying

With everything said and done, it’s obvious that the Honda Civic Si offers more than horsepower and torque on a spreadsheet. When looked at as a total package, and at what price Honda sells these things for, it’s clear that the Si is still one of the best all-around, easy-to-live-with sport compact cars.

Yes, it would be nice if Honda listened to enthusiasts and gave the car 20 more horsepower, just so it competes better against its main rivals. Right now, it’s the slowest in the segment by a good margin. Of course, this is nothing the aftermarket world cannot fix. I hear Hondata sells a pretty neat ECU tuning kit that gives the Civic Si the extra output it was always meant to have. Say what you will about the way this car performs out of the box. Honda still knows how to build a lovely Civic Si.