Honda is expanding the recently introduced Civic. The best-handling, best-equipped and most fun-to-drive Civic Si ever is coming to Honda dealers later this year to entice a new generation of young driving enthusiasts. Based on the all-new 11th-generation Civic Sedan, the turbocharged 2022 Civic Si sets a new benchmark for sport compact sedans, with improved dynamic performance and an updated manual transmission now featuring the rev-matching system from the Civic Type R.
Inside, new Si-specific sport seats with embroidered Si logos and red contrast stitching are standard. This also is the first Civic Si with a large 9-inch HD color touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a Bose Centerpoint 2 premium sound system.
Civic Si features the same long list of new active and passive safety systems as the rest of the 11th-generation Civic lineup. This includes the latest generation of Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, groundbreaking new driver and front passenger airbags designed to reduce the risk of traumatic brain and neck injuries, rear seat side airbags, and an updated Honda Sensing suite of active safety and driver-assistive technologies.
The 2022 Civic Si is powered by an updated high-output VTEC 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with usefully broader power curves than before. The engine’s peak torque of 192 lb.-ft. of torque at 1800-5000 rpm (SAE net) now arrives 300 rpm sooner for a quicker punch off the line and out of tight corners. Performance is also improved at the top of the tach where the engine maintains more output between its 200-horsepower power peak at 6000 rpm (SAE net) and its 6500 rpm redline.
Improving the sound of the engine is a new dual-coil silencer exhaust system that increases exhaust flow 27 percent compared to Civic Touring. To complement the engine’s natural exhaust note inside the cabin, Civic Si uses an improved Active Sound Control system that can produce high-quality sound over a wider range of engine rpm.
A new single-mass flywheel is 26 percent lighter than the dual-mass unit used in the previous Si. The flywheel’s 30 percent reduction in inertia gives the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine a snappier throttle response for an even sportier driving experience, while also improving drivability. To maximize available traction when accelerating, power is routed to the front wheels through a standard helical limited-slip differential.
Equipped exclusively with a manual transmission, Si’s 6-speed has been updated for enthusiast drivers with improved shift feel and 10 percent shorter throws. A new, more rigid shift lever mounting bracket and a new leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob similar to the Civic Type R’s contribute to the improved feel.
For the first time, Civic Si features a rev-matching system directly from the Civic Type R. With the same 430 m/s response time as Civic Type R in Sport mode, the new rev-matching system will “blip” the throttle when it detects a downshift, quickly and perfectly matching revs.
In terms of body stiffness, this is the most rigid Civic Si ever, with an 8 percent increase in torsional rigidity and a 13 percent increase in bending rigidity compared to the outgoing Si. Like the 2022 Civic Sedan, the new Civic Si also benefits from a 0.5-inch wider rear track for additional stability, and a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase for a smoother ride, as well as greater high-speed stability. The Si’s 107.7-inch wheelbase is the longest in its class.
To maximize handling and driver enjoyment, spring rates are 8-percent stiffer in front and 54-percent stiffer in the rear compared to Civic Sedan. New dampers also have been tuned specifically for the Si. The front MacPherson struts feature reinforced upper mounts to handle the increased cornering loads, and thicker front (27 mm hollow) and rear (18 mm solid) stabilizer bars compared to Civic Sedan to minimize body roll.
