WASHINGTON — I drove the reworked 2014 Civic Sedan a few months ago, and found it much improved from the previous model, putting it on equal ground with its rivals. And Honda applied those same fixes to the Coupe.
The Coupe’s interior materials are better than before; the loud ride is also gone. I took the car on several trips and had normal conversations — something I couldn’t have done with the last Civic. The front seats on the Civic SI are comfortable, but firm, and they do a decent job of holding you in place while carving up a back road.
The two-tier dash is still a little strange to me, but it does seem to make the car feel roomier and more open. The rear seats are best served for children or for short trips. The seven-inch screen is a welcome addition, and helps when used with the rearview camera. My model was also equipped with NAV, which worked well, but can be touchy when entering information.
I drove the sporty Civic SI, which has a fully loaded price tag of $25,280. It comes with a more powerful, high-revving four-cylinder engine good for 205 hp. It’s a true gift for manual transmission lovers — no CVT automatic here. The SI only comes with a six-speed manual.
The clutch is light and has great feedback, so you won’t have any jerky starts when leaving a stop light. The shifter feels nice in your hands, and it slides from gear to gear. This is really one of the better manual transmissions I have ever used. The engine is very good as well — it really loves to rev and doesn’t sound bad doing it.
A good transmission and nice engine are great, but if it doesn’t handle, what’s the point? Luckily, Honda spent some time on the SI’s handling, and it really paid off. The suspension is firmer than other Civics, and it’s tuned to make turns without being too firm or tiring on trips. It’s a nice combination. But if you’re looking for very soft ride, the Civic SI isn’t for you.
I found it to be a good-handling little car, and really good for front-wheel drive. The Civic SI seemed to have just enough power to get you in trouble. The optional summer tires work well for handling and braking. The large 18-inch wheels help the Civic’s looks and took the bumps of city driving well — no jarring ride here.
It’s not the fastest sporty coupe I’ve driven, but it’s a very good all-around sports coupe. You can drive it every day and not get tired of it. It’s good on fuel economy as well: 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. After 292 miles, I managed 29.2 mpg of mixed driving; not bad at all, although you need to use premium fuel.
The 2014 Honda Civic SI coupe, with its manual transmission, is a blast to drive, and with improved handling and a better interior, the Civic SI is now a civilized sports coupe. If two doors aren’t enough, the Civic SI comes in a four-door version too. Enjoy shifting for yourself while you still can.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
