2006 Honda Civic Review

Specifications

Civic Four-Door Gets The Go-Fast Treatment

At the launch of the 2006 Honda Civic Si Sedan Concept, John Mendel, American Hondas senior vice president said, “The 2007 model year will mark the first time in the Civic Sis 20 years that it will be available with four doors.” I guess he wasnt referring to the Canadian market, which featured a four-door Si in its previous generation. In all honesty, however, it really shouldnt have been called an Si considering it was powered by a 127-horsepower engine, rather than the 160-hp screamer found in the 3-door Civic Si hatchback. Ah, to embrace the differences between the U.S.-of-A. and Canada.

Honda chose the Windy City to unveil the Si Sedan Concept, which by no coincidence was the location it used to present the Si Coupe Concept last year, the vehicle that foreshadowed the 8th generation Civic lineup. It also comes as no surprise that Honda would create a four-door Si, expanding its scope beyond the previous two-door coupe and three-door hatchback body styles; since its launch late last year, the Civic has cleaned up countless prestigious awards - its both North American and Motor Trends Car of the Year for 2006. Besides, Honda advanced the hybrid game with the latest Civic Hybrid, taking care of its moral responsibility toward a greener planet, so why not add a little dose of fun for the sedan?
 
The Si Sedan Concept is dressed identically to the Si Coupe Concept, and without a doubt will be a hit with the tuners. It features a sporty aftermarket-style body kit, blacked-out tint on the windows, a flashy rear spoiler, Brembo brakes with red calipers and cross-drilled rotors, plus contrasting black-painted hood and 18-inch aftermarket wheels, which ride on a suspension system thats been slammed so low that the gap between tires and fenders is nearly nonexistent. The only real difference between the Coupe and Sedan concept in terms of design execution is that the Sedan features an offset production exhaust, while the Coupe had a pre-production rear valance with integrated diffuser and central-mounted pipes.

Under the hood of the concept is the running gear featured on the Si Coupe Concept as well as the production Si Coupe. That means Hondas VTEC-enhanced 2.0-litre inline-four that makes 197-horsepower driven through a six-speed manual gearbox assisted by an optional limited-slip differential for improved traction is standard equipment. The Si Sedan Concept is a good representation of what to expect from a mechanical standpoint. It will be toned down visually, and therefore wont feature the black contrast paint or upgraded brakes, but the drivetrain will pass through unchanged. Also, expect to find a more mild aerodynamic treatment plus similar 17-inch alloy wheels and performance tires as featured on the production Si Coupe.

Because of the Civics success in the tuner market as well as how shapely the new model is compared to the rather bland version it replaced, it was natural for Honda to offer a factory-enhanced version of the Civic Sedan. Those who buy Civics for modification purposes adore it for its tune-ability, great looks and superb handling; the Si Sedan offers all of this, plus the practicality of two extra doors and more generous rear legroom than in its coupe model. But just because the sedan is a little larger doesnt mean it wont be as good of a performer - the two extra inches between its wheels will have zero effect on the driving experience.  Expect to see production versions of the Si in dealerships this fall.