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2002 Honda Civic Si
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| Return of the hot rod hatchback |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:55:16 |
| Rating |
 1449 ( -110 -7.59% ) | | Author | Dan Lyons |
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Description:
2002 Civic Si
Return of the Hot Rod Hatchback
Writer's Notes
Test Vehicle
2002 Honda Civic Si
MSRP (estimated): $19,000
Showroom appeal:
Sporty hatchback, nicely equipped
Asphalt Rating:
Crisp handling, smooth shifting, sure stopping
Cool Factor:
Knowing looks from small car cognoscenti
Bottom Line:
Entertaining and practical for under $20k
Because Honda designed the Civic Si with young buyers in mind, responsiveness and a fun-to-drive feel were of paramount importance.
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Sporty Civics have been part of the Honda lineup since the mid 1980's. In 1986, the company put the "ï" in the first "Si", adding fuel injection, an upgraded suspension and some inside/outside tweaks to its "S" model hatchback. At the time, some Civic owners (with help from aftermarketeers) were already modifying their cars -- a little show and go for the utilitarian three door. Honda reasoned that it was time to take the hotrod hatchback business in house, and remained one of the main players in the sport hatch niche into the late eighties. For 2002, the Si returns to its roots, working exclusively from the three door hatchback body style for the first time since 1995.
While Honda has always been categorized as an import, many people would be surprised to know just where it's being imported from. The Si joins the ute hybrid CRV as Hondas hailing from the new manufacturing facilities in Swindon, Great Britain. Jolly good.
The 2002 Si hatchback has a modified wedge shape, with a short, broad hood, and a curving tail. Chin and roof spoilers adorn the edges, with a mesh grille added up front and dual chrome exhaust tips bringing up the rear. Size-wise, the Honda hatch was reworked with the idea of producing noticeable changes inside, from un-noticeable changes outside. Overall length is stretched 25mm, height 60mm, while the wheelbase has been squeezed 50mm tighter. As a result, the Si picked up 2.8 cubic feet of cargo room as well as a modest gain in headroom. Measured against a hatchback benchmark like the VW Golf (2001 version), the '02 Si is .7" longer, .4" lower, 1.6" narrower and 2.3" longer in wheelbase.
The Civic Si will feature firmer dampers and springs than other Civic models. Substantial front and rear stabilizer bars give the Si added tautness and precision.
Slide inside the Si and you find a sporty looking cabin, well stocked with standard equipment. The front, sport seats lack inside arm rests but are well bolstered, and slightly wider (in deference, no doubt, to the slightly wider average American). Sit down, strap in and you face a clean dash design, the standout of which (literally) is the gear shifter. The "rally style" shift lever is mounted on the center, lower dash, angling out to meet the driver's grip. The last time that I saw such a shifter arrangement was in an Italian sports car so profoundly unreliable that I'm not sure that it's even legal to mention in the same breath as Honda. Interestingly, this isn't the first recent Honda (or even the first British built Honda) to have sprouted a shifter handle in an unusual location. The other model shipped across the pond - the CRV - has the lever for its automatic sticking out almost horizontally from the dashboard. While both work effectively, the Si's overall interior design hangs together better, looking more cohesive and less like a collection of interesting, unrelated ideas. Gauges are black on white analog, and cabin ergonomics are first rate, with a trio of rheostats for HVAC adjustments, and stalk mounted controls for most else. Beyond its novel location, I found the shifter to be just about ideally placed for running through the gears, with a positive feel and close ratio gearing well matched to the engine.
Given the Si's compact dimensions, the backseat does admirable double duty. With six footers in front, there is just about enough room for like size people to squeeze in back, though I wouldn't count on them being too happy for too long. More commonly, the Si's rear chair would be called upon to convert in whole or in part to accommodate stuff. Cargo capacity measures 15.7 cubic feet, more if you flip the 60/40 split rear seat forward. In practical terms, that's enough room to hold two large golf bags or a couple of big, fat suitcases. Lift over height in back is comfortably low.
As noted above, the Si is nicely equipped right out of the wrapper, with virtually no available options, save SRS side air bags and some dealer-added goodies. Standard equipment inside includes power steering, windows and mirrors and moon roof, air conditioning, keyless entry w/alarm and a six speaker AM/FM/CD sound system.
The Si is powered by a 2.0 liter, DOHC four cylinder. The motor employs Honda's latest valve control technology, massaged here for a little added scat. Output measures 160 hp and 132 lb. ft. of torque, the latter a new, high water mark for a Civic. Gas mileage is estimated by EPA at 26 mpg's city/30 highway. The Si weighs in 2,744 lb., with a weight to power ratio of 17.15. It's reasonably quick, and more important, quick feeling, and nicely balanced with the chassis. The suspension is fully independent, with MacPherson struts up front, Reactive link double-wishbone in back, and stabilizer bars fore and aft. It is direct feeling and grips very nicely, with a decent road ride to boot.
Though my pre-production model had no official sticker, Honda representatives quote a projected MSRP of $19,000, and expect that they will sell about 12,000 a year in the U.S.. Like earlier Si's, the latest edition is a distinctive, fun driver and practical enough to keep guilt trips to a minimum. For enthusiasts on a budget, it's a sound option.
---Story and photos by Dan Lyons
photos © Dan Lyons 2002 |
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