Honda Unveils 2022 Civic Si, Better Performance Is Paired With Mandatory Manual

Honda is preparing a new wave of performance offerings. While the 2023 Type R is still waiting in the wings, the Japanese auto giant has chosen to unveil the latest generation Si, bringing more performance and substance to an iconic model that has been a popular choice among young budget-minded performance buyers. 

 

Manual Transmission Is Still Mandatory On 2022 Civic Si

A critical question that we had going into today was whether the Civic Si would add the CVT standard on many lesser Civic models? Unlike Civic Sis of the past, this one would have to contend with a new wave of younger buyers who either never grew up with a manual or could not drive one. Honda revealed that this model’s take-it-or-leave-it narrative will continue into 2022, with the latest chapter of Civic Si being offered with a manual transmission only. 

While that might limit the Si’s appeal to some buyers, those that can shift it themselves will discover a Civic that’s substantially improved over its mainstream cousins. A few of the Si’s upgrades are carried over from the standard Civic, but engineers pushed further and added a 27 mm stabilizer bar and stiffer tuning for the suspension and steering. Honda even grafted bushings from the Type R to the car, which helped make the Si 78% more rigid than a Civic EX. 

The car’s rear also gets some Type R sourced bits, with the suspension here receiving roughly the same upgrades like the front. The Civic Si always had handling that matched its performance intentions, and look for this one to continue down this established path, albeit in a way that makes it better than ever. 

 

Inside And Out This Civic Si Is A Winner

Honda claimed that it wanted to go back to a time when subtle tweaks defined the Civic Si’s styling direction, with the exterior and interior sporting minimal changes compared to other Civic models. Thankfully, the company left a few clues lying around to signal that this Civic is hiding something special, starting with a trim exclusive mesh front grille that houses a tidy red Si badge. The front fascia is actually from the hatchback, with Honda designers claiming that it made the Si look sportier than before.

The rear of the car features darkened taillights and a black-hued trunk spoiler. This particular example sports an all-new orange called Blazing Orange Pearl, which is a Si exclusive color and will not be available on any other Civic models. The interior of the 2022 Si follows the exterior’s theme regarding restraint, and its core design is shared with the broader Civic lineup. However, a red line accents the honeycomb style accents on the dashboard. The seats themselves have been replaced with sportier ones that have more bolstering, and the Si logo embroidered into them. Honda’s 9-inch infotainment screen is standard on the Si, and the model even benefits from the 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 audio system.

 

Turbocharged And Ready To Throw Down With The Segment’s Best

While the carryover 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is carried over from the previous generation Si, it benefits from some new tweaks meant to help the engine have broader power curves. Horsepower does dip a bit to 200 hp (versus 205 hp), but it can climb higher to 6,500 rpm before it hits redline. The torque figure remains unchanged at 192 lb-ft, but that extra oomph kicks in 300 rpm lower than before. Honda did not release formal performance figures for the Si, but look for the boosted four-cylinder to perhaps have slightly lower 0 to 60 times due to how the torque part of the equation was reworked.

The drive modes have been upgraded too, with Sport mode now making the throttle response sharper while also reducing the boost in the electric power-steering system. It also shuts off the intrusive engine auto stop/start system, which allows the Si to be always prepared for impromptu stoplight sprints with no fear of the engine being hobbled by this system. The Si also comes with an all-new Individual drive mode, and it even adds the rev-matching feature from the Type R, which provides a blip of throttle during each gear change to help them be smoother, especially when moving at high speeds. 

 

When Can I Buy A 2022 Honda Civic Si?

Honda once again kept official pricing and distribution information to itself, but look for the 2022 Civic Si to make its way to Honda showrooms sometime next year. We hope to hear more about pricing then and the complete list of optional equipment the Si will bring to consumers, especially as it takes on rivals like the Hyundai Elantra N-Line and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.