Honda Confirms $23,900 Starting Price For 205bhp Civic Si

North America isn’t just getting the new Honda Civic Type R – it’s also getting a 205bhp Si version. And we’re a bit jealous.

The Si only packs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-pot but clever turbocharging means a healthy peak torque of 192lb ft between 2100rpm and 5000rpm, making the warm Civic poky without terrifying your insurance company.

It’s offered as a two-door coupe and a four-door saloon, but both come with less weight and wider front and rear track measurements than before. Honda says the car’s centre of gravity is lower than for the previous Si, and handles better as a result. The only difference in headline spec between the two versions is a rear-seat heating vent in the saloon.

The anti-roll bars are 30 per cent and 60 per cent stiffer than before at the front and rear respectively. Bushings have been upgraded and the suspension’s upper control arms are now the ‘ultra-rigid’ ones found on the full-fat Type R.

It’s no revvy animal, with peak power arriving all the way down at 5700rpm instead of the old car’s 7000rpm. Instead, it offers two driving modes; Normal and Sport. They do pretty much what you’d expect them to, utilising the broader range of control in the adaptive dampers and variable-ratio power steering.

Of course, technology plays a big part in the SI’s game plan, and a seven-inch touch-screen is standard. It’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to get the most from your smartphone, and there’s a decent 450-Watt, 10-speaker premium stereo to enjoy.

As for price, the US cars are all priced at $23,900 (£18,550), so if Honda could match that price in the UK the Si would look like stunning value.

The 200bhp-ish mark is a real sweet spot for cars with good chassis, which is why we’re looking forward to the next Ford Fiesta ST. We think we’d love the Civic Si in Britain, so Honda, now you’ve given the US the Type R, can you send us the Si in return? You know you want to.