2009 Honda Civic Si Review

Honda Civic has always been the teenager's favorite car. It's small enough to be agile, but big enough for all your friends. Well, some of them. That depends on how many you've got.

The Honda Civic Si is now better than ever! They've fitted a regular Civic with a 2.0 engine producing 197 horsepower! And I've driven one of these, and I can report, that it's got plenty of power to go around. The car itself looks small and cramped, but when you sit in it, there's actually room enough to seat four; comfortably! It's also got a killer stereo - an essential part of a teenager's driving experience. And although I just graduated out of "teenager" mode and moved on, I still found the Civic quite entertaining, and to be honest, it's something I'd want for myself.

It's something about the new Civic that is just so comical. It's the seriousness of the older Civics that kind of repelled me. The new one is like a clown. It's bizarre, it's temporary, and it's cool. And unlike the new Type-R, which is sold in Europe, you won't need to be 40 to be able to afford one. Top range model, with options such as: sat-nav, bluetooth, XM Radio, will cost about $24,100. That's not all that much. It's the perfect car for someone who just graduated from High School, or even for someone who still goes to High School, but already has a job and makes good money.

The Civic drives rather comfortably as well. It doesn't disintegrate your spine as you run over a speck, and it's good for long trips. And when you do go on a long trip and might need to refuel, it will sip at the tank at 29 mpg on the highways. But, when you're in the city, you'll make due with only 21 mpg. It's still not bad, but a standard Civic will do so much better.

The thing about the Civic Si is, it's a car for someone who likes to go everywhere fast. It's not made to take you from A to B, it's made to give you a rush throughout the whole trip. It is, for its size, and price, seriously quick. And Honda really did think it through. You've got a four cylinder car that produces almost 200 horsepower!

The insurance agency will look at it and smile. It's got four cylinders, no turbo chargers, it's equipped with safety, and it's cheap.

When I wrote about the Civic Type-R, I didn't like it one bit. It's too expensive, it's not as fun, and it's so small, you'd have to be a child to fit in! The Si, however, is civilized and insane at the same time. You look at it and think it's a Civic, but it looks back at you and snarls "I'm going to eat you alive!"