With new cars like the 2006 MX-5 and the 2.5-liter WRX TR (tuner-ready) ripe on the tree and the Lancer Evolution still driving circles around cars costing three times as much, choosing the Sport Compact Car of the Year was more difficult than ever in 2006. And that's a good thing, because it means that more manufacturers are making fantastic cars for us to get our greedy little hands on.
We've never spoiled the Sport Compact Car of the Year challenge with a price cutoff, but we can certainly appreciate bang-for-the-buck. And when you consider that the new Civic Si looks like something out of "The Fifth Element" and offers 197 bhp (210 bhp by previous SAE standards), iPod compatibility and cupholders that can house 2-liter bottles of soda-all for less than 20 grand-your ears have to perk up.
It's a responsive backroad companion, too, offering great steering feedback through the meaty three-spoke wheel, accompanied by instant changes in direction. The limited-slip differential sometimes makes itself known in tighter corners, but is a blessing when the power needs to reach the ground in less-than-ideal conditions.
A shift light mounted on the upper dashboard (yes, there are two dashboards-the car is from the future, remember?) blinks feverishly as you approach the 8000-rpm redline, and the stock intake makes an eager street bike-style bark with each shift of the scalpel-precise six-speed.
Speaking of good noises, it's clear a great deal of effort was put into tuning the sound from the single-tip exhaust. The first time you ramp through the expansive rev-range, you'll be looking around for the B.A.R-Honda F1 car resonating in your ears. The VTEC comes on vocally at 6200 rpm with an abrupt jolt and the needle (mounted in the center of dashboard number two) suddenly races like the split-second hand of a chronograph to tag the redline.
The new Civic Si further raises the bar on what we can expect from a sport compact offering. As with anything that has come out of a Honda factory, the build quality is second-to-none. The interior composites would be more at home in the cockpit of a Mercedes, and the door closes with a reassuring thud.
And so concludes this edition of the Sport Compact Car of the Year challenge, with the Civic finally reclaiming its title as the quintessential sport compact car
2006 Honda Civic SiEngineEngine Code: K20Z
Type: Inline four, aluminum block and head
Valvetrain: DOHC, four valves per cylinder, i-VTEC Variable Valve Timing
Displacement: 1998cc
Bore x Stroke: 86.0mm x 86.0mm
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
Claimed Crank Hp: 197bhp* @ 7800rpm
Claimed Crank Torque: 139 lb-ft @ 6200rpm
Redline: 8000 rpm
DrivetrainLayout: Transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
TransmissionGear Ratios
1st: 3.267:1
2nd: 2.130:1
3rd: 1.517:1
4th: 1.147:1
5th: 0.921:1
6th: 0.659:1
Final drive: 4.765:1
Differential: Helical limited slip
ChassisChassis Code: NB
Exterior DimensionsCurb Weight: 2877 lbs.
Weight Distribution F/R: 61/39
Overall Length: 174.8 in.
Wheelbase: 104.3 in.
Overall Width: 68.9 in.
Track F/R: 59.0 in. / 60.1 in.
Height: 53.5 in.
SuspensionFront: MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar
Rear: Upper and lower control arms, anti-roll bar
BrakesFront: 11.8-in. vented discs with ABS
Rear: 10.2-in. solid discs with ABS
Wheels and TiresWheels: 17x7-in. aluminum
Tires: 215/45 R-17 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 Summer * SAE 8/04 revised
The first time you ramp through the expansive rev-range, you'll be looking around for the B.A.R-Honda F1 car resonating in your ears.