2008 Honda Civic Review

Specifications

Powerful, peppy and practical? No, I’m not talking about the Honda Element SC! It’s the 2008 Honda Civic Si Sedan; yes, if you haven’t yet heard it became available in the oh-so-convenient 4-door configuration last year. Justifying a ’sports’ car to the spouse as a family vehicle is now a lot easier.

The Si sedan follows in the coupe’s footsteps, with its great track record of performance, comfort and convenience. Its fine lines, smooth curves and sport-tuned exhaust are bound to turn heads from all directions, and if that doesn’t do it, add a 350-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with seven speakers and a subwoofer into the mix.

Mechanically, the Si Sedan is identical to the Si Coupe. This means that you get the same highly praised close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox and sport-tuned suspension, while power is distributed to the front wheels via a helical limited-slip differential. The Si’s wheel and tire package includes split five-spoke rims covered with 215/45R17 all-season tires. And who could forget the 2.0L, 16-valve, DOHC, i-VTEC 4-cylinder with an output of 197 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 139 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm? It’s all there, plus all the utility of 2 extra doors, 88.4 cubic feet of passenger volume and 12.0 cubic feet of cargo volume. Not only can it fit an entourage of friends in the back, but a couple of hockey bags, groceries, golf clubs and maybe even a small pony in the trunk. Ok, maybe not a pony, but the rear bench comfortably delivers ample room for 2 to 3 adults. And I mean comfortably.

Along with the more than adequate cabin room, the Si sedan offers a slew of funky features that make it a blast to drive. One of my favorite attributes of the newly styled Civic, no matter the trim level, is the digital display instrument cluster. It’s so ingenious. Not only does it look good, but it adds flare and character to a once flare-lacking car (I’m pretty sure you know what I’m talking about when referring to the… yawn… old model). The display is effortless to read with its large, bold numbers. It also reminds me of ‘the good old days’ when I used to tag along with my older brother and his friends in their parents’ Chrysler LeBaron, and I thought the digital display was pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. Now, I can have my bread and read it too!

Other funky features include the steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather and aluminum shift knob, air conditioning, the audio system as mentioned above, GPS navigation ($1,750), and much more. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize good visibility from most angles in the car as a ‘funky feature’, but it helps when I can see where I’m going, whether forwards or backwards. The Si sedan has what I call an ‘open’ or ‘welcoming’ feeling to it. It made me feel at home behind the wheel, especially at highway speeds.

As for performance, the Si sedan doesn’t have a lot ‘weighing’ it down even with the 4-doors. In fact, according to Honda, this car tips the scales at no more than 59 pounds heavier than its coupe counterpart. This means that not only does the Si Sedan accelerate just about as quickly as the Coupe, but there’s really no penalty for opting for a more practical version. My co-pilot and I just loved sitting in the front sport styled, cloth bolstered seats. They’re wonderfully supportive and ultra comfortable, and for good reason one of the other attributes of the Si that I have grown to love over the last couple of generations.

Not only is the 6-speed manual gearbox super agreeable to shift, the front sport-tuned control-link MacPherson strut and rear sport-tuned reactive-link double-wishbone suspension made the ride smooth as ice. Combine that with the electric variable, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and it’s the perfect setup… an undercarriage made in Honda engineering heaven.

While there aren’t too many obvious differences between the sedan and the coupe, the sedan has a more subdued rear spoiler, as well as a differently styled front grille. Other than that, features like traction and stability control, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD, dual stage, dual threshold front airbags and side curtain airbags come standard with the coupe and sedan.

Fuel economy-wise, the Si sips more aggressively than the standard 1.8-liter Civic engine. On the plus side, its smaller displacement and i-VTEC variable-valve timing allow it to consume just 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, so the gas bill won’t set you back too much. Just the same, if you’re like me and like to drive around in the optimal horsepower and torque range of 6,000 rpm and up, you’re gonna to “pay” for it at the pump! Still, compare that to competitors with bigger displacement engines or turbochargers, and you’ll find the Si to be one of the most frugal sporty sedans around.

So, whether you’re single, married, have kids, want kids or what have you, the Si badge brings a whole new meaning to the 4-door sedan. No need to trade in the sports car for the minivan anymore.

Specifications (Honda Civic Si Sedan):