Competes with: Subaru WRX, Hyundai Veloster N, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Looks like: A sportier version of the 2022 Honda Civic sedan (which resembles a smaller Accord)
Powertrains: 200-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder; six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Late 2021
The redesigned 2022 Honda Civic sedan arrived this summer along with Honda’s promise that performance variants Civic Si and Type R would follow. No other details were released about the duo — until now. The 2022 Civic Si will be the first of the sportier Civics to arrive later this year with updates to its powertrain, suspension, multimedia and safety tech.
Related: 2022 Honda Civic First Drive Review: Honda’s Boy Racer Grows Up
The Civic Si, which will only be available in sedan body style, strikes a balance between the standard Civic sedan and high-performance Type R. For 2022, the Si takes a cue from the track-ready Type R and employs a rev-matching system for the first time.
Powertrain: Doing More with Less
The 2022 Civic Si gets an updated 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which makes 200 horsepower and 192 pounds-feet of torque. Although the 2022 Si gets 20 more hp than the standard Civic with the same 1.5-liter turbo, the new Si sees a 5-hp drop compared to the previous generation. Even though power is down on paper, Honda says the Si will offer quicker acceleration off the line and out of tight corners thanks to optimized peak torque and power output. Throttle response is also improved with a single-mass flywheel which is 26% lighter than the dual-mass unit it replaces.