2019 Honda Civic Coupe Si: Powerful Performance, Sport Styling, Fun to Drive

The Civic has been an important vehicle in the Honda fleet for a number of years. Studies show that passenger cars still capture 55% of first-time car buyers; so with the overall shrinking of the car pool within the automotive industry, the Honda Civic should be around for a while longer. It is evident that buyers are very happy with the Civic's performance, style, and quality because it is a leader when it comes to first-time buyers as well as the Millennial and Gen Z demographic segments. It has captured the Millennial buyer demographic every year since 2011 and also leads the industry in sales for the Gen Z buyer; but to stay relevant in a fast changing demographic, there has to be constant technology upgrades and style tweaks.

For the 2019 model year, Honda engineers focused on enhancing the technology to stay current with new advances, made a range of interior improvements to refine the driver experience, and developed aesthetic changes to keep up with discerning tastes for the loyal Honda customer base and new buyers attracted to the Honda brand. The Honda Civic and Accord play an outsized role in attracting first-time buyers, young buyers, and a growing population of multicultural consumers to Honda, said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of the American Honda Automobile Division and general manager of the Honda brand.

Focus on Performance

The two-door Coupe Si has been routinely recognized for its 1.5-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder engine. It it capable of producing 205 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque; and since it weighs just a biscuit under 2,900 lbs, it has more than enough power to make you grin when you want to use it. When you consider the power that is created, the coupe will get a very respectable 28 mpg fuel ecnomy in town and 32 mpg on the highway. The Coupe comes equipped with a quick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission with an adjustable two-mode adaptive damper system which you control depending on your needs. You will want to use the normal setting if you are in town on grocery-getter duties and the sport mode if you are running the highways. I put the Coupe Si through its paces in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It moved through traffic with ease, and I was impressed with how the blind spot camera worked in heavy traffic too.

Retro Style

The return of physical buttons and knobs on the center stack is making a welcomed comeback. The driver information interface will now look similar to a 'radio' from 'back in the day' with a volume knob as well as buttons for other key functions like the heat/air conditioner fan control on the center stack. Safety studies are beginning to show that driver interaction with buttons or knobs is more efficient and safer than touch or slide interfaces. With Honda being recognized as a responsible safety-first type of corporation, it only makes sense that they are bringing knobs and buttons back. There have also been owner focus group discussions about a preference by drivers for a return to buttons and knobs as well.

Exterior Options

The 2019 Civic Coupe will add two more new colors to its palette of choices. There will be Platinum White Pearl and Tonic Yellow Pearl. As you can tell from my pictures, the color of my test model was the Tonic Yellow Pearl which I think fits the personality and attitude of this car perfectly.

Interior Design

When you climb into the Civic Coupe, you will see how the engineers were able to bring the sporty feel from the exterior and combine it cohesively with the alloy sport foot pedals and aluminum shift knob with a leather boot cover. Before you even climb into the car, you will see the one-piece sport seat that looks like it was pulled from a rally race car with thigh and side bolsters and a forward-tilting head rest. The side bolsters also double as a side impact air bag. Whether you are drifting through some corner on a dirt road or just heading home from a long day at work, the sport seat will provide the comfort and support no matter your lifestyle.

The Civic Coupe's rear seats fold down to allow two traveling companions plenty of room to stow away camping gear for just a weekend or a week-long excursion. With one or both rear seats down, there is plenty of room for suitcases and sports gear for a family that perhaps has a child that plays on a baseball, softball, or hockey travel team. The Coupe also comes with a moonroof that not only makes the vehicle feel bigger, but allows you to feel the open road when you are out on the highway seeking your next adventure. Once you are settled into the driver cockpit, you will see the 7-inch display interface that is a high-resolution WVGA (800x480) electrostatic touch-screen. It provides clear viewing for all infotainment needs and provides a crystal-clear camera vision too.

Favorite Safety Feature

The reason Honda chose to install a high-resolution touchscreen in the Civic, is so that the blind spot camera could produce clear video. When you use the right hand turn signal, the touchscreen located on the dash becomes a high resolution video screen to show you what might be lurking in your blind spot.

Favorite Technical Convenience

This favorite feature allows you to walk to and from your Civic all day long without ever taking the key FOB out of your pocket or purse. The smart entry with walk-away auto lock allows the vehicle doors to unlock when you lift the door handle, but the system will also lock the car automatically as you walk away from it. It will give you two separate tones to let you know the vehicle is secure. Henio Arcangeli, Jr. also stated, Passenger cars are a key part of Honda's brand power and will remain an absolutely essential part of our business. I for one am glad to see that, even with the changing car landscape, there is a car manufacturer that is still committed to building quality cars. The numbers are fewer each year; but with the studies showing first-time buyers are still looking at cars, there will continue to be a need for a cars. And good for Honda for doubling down and stepping into the vacuum.

Model Specifications

MSRP: $24,300 - $25,230

Engine: Inline 4-cylinder Turbo

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

EPA Mileage 28 City, 38 Highway

Curb Weight: 2,889 Pounds

About Honda

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2018, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

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