I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si for a Week, and I'm Convinced That You Don't Need a Type R

I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si for a Week, and I'm Convinced That You Don't Need a Type R originally appeared on Autoblog.

The 2025 Honda Civic Si has enough gusto

Ask any Honda enthusiast what their favorite model is from the Japanese automaker, and the Civic Type R is likely to come up. We can’t blame anyone for saying that, considering the hot hatchback pushes more than 300 horsepower to its front wheels and handles like a rear-wheel-drive car. We have spent some time in the Civic Type R and came away impressed with it, but its nearly $46,000 price tag leaves something to be desired. However, when shopping for a sporty car, you have to think about more than just its price and power.

For instance, if you’re only looking for something fun to drive on the street but don’t plan on hitting the track at all, then I would argue that the Honda Civic Si presents a better value over its high-powered stablemate. Like its big brother, the Type R, the Civic Si only comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, so it’s plenty fun right out of the box. It also has a sport-tuned suspension and well-bolstered seats to hold you in at every corner, so you’ll get those boy-racer sensations when driving it spiritedly.

2025 Honda Civic SiHonda

However, the Civic Si is also powered by a smaller turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, compared to the Type R’s 2.0-liter mill, which only produces 200 horsepower to the front wheels. But does that mean it's not fun to drive? After all, there are many critics and owners out there saying that it feels underpowered, especially when comparing it to the Type R. To find out, I spent a week in the 2025 Honda Civic Si and was surprisingly impressed with its performance. In fact, by the end of the week, I was convinced that most prospective buyers shouldn’t even look at the Type R.

2023 Honda Civic Type RHonda

The Civic Si is more than its power rating

As stated, the 2025 Honda Civic Si is motivated by a small turbocharged engine that generates 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, which doesn’t sound like much compared to other high-performance sedans and hatchbacks on the market. For example, the competing Volkswagen GTI has 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, which sounds monstrous compared to the Civic. And, of course, the Type R completely overshadows it with its 315-horsepower rating. However, I’m here to argue that those power numbers don’t really matter when you’re behind the wheel and aiming to hit the next apex on the winding road you’re on.

Let’s keep in mind that the Civic Si only weighs 2,952 pounds, which is relatively light for a sedan equipped with plenty of safety features and other comfort amenities that typically add a lot of weight. This isn’t a race car, by any means, but it is fun to drive. With its good power-to-weight ratio, the Civic Si feels agile and quick when you put it through its paces. No, it doesn’t pull like a freight train, and it won’t win any drag races against a Mustang GT, but straight-line speed isn’t what this car is about, so don’t mind its 6.6-second 0-60-mph time. That’s actually still pretty quick, but on paper, it doesn’t sound that great compared to other performance cars.

2025 Honda Civic SiHonda

Instead, the Civic Si shines in the corners with its sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels wrapped in sticky summer tires. I sent the Civic Si down my favorite Colorado canyon road, and it ate up the corners with ease, so much so that I could barely get the tires to complain. Its handling limits are meant to be explored on a racetrack. Maybe not a large one with sweeping turns, but a technical one with sharp corners will allow the driver to really feel what the car is about.

As for the powertrain, the Civic Si’s force-fed mill pumped out its power in a smooth way throughout the whole rpm band. It has a meaty mid-range torque curve that does well to pull the car out of tight turns, and its close-ratio gear set keeps the tachometer needle right where it needs to be. The limited-slip differential also gives the car the traction it needs when cornering at speed. Needless to say, traction and superior handling are what this car is about, and that’s mostly what makes it fun to drive.

2025 Honda Civic SiHonda

Final thoughts: You don’t really need a Civic Type R

Considering how well the Honda Civic Si handles on canyon roads, it’s surprisingly comfortable to drive on the street. The suspension soaked up road imperfections well, and the car never felt unsettled when hitting dips and going over speed bumps. The Civic Type R, on the other hand, feels a little rougher on the street, and despite its insane power and superb handling prowess, it’s not fun to drive over speed bumps or up steep driveways. You know, regular driving duties.

Additionally, although some enthusiasts will like the Civic Type R’s well-bolstered race buckets, those tall bolsters are a pain to get over when getting in and out of the car. The Civic Si’s sport seats are bolstered well too, and they hold you in under tight cornering pretty well, but they also aren’t a pain to get in and out of.

2023 Honda Civic Type RHonda

Lastly, while the Civic Type R’s immense power and handling make the car feel like a race car on paved roads, it’s better suited for an actual racetrack so the driver can really explore its limits. The Civic Si, on the other hand, can be enjoyed on normal roads and on a normal commute while giving you a smile-inducing experience when you want to take the scenic route on your way home from work.

I Drove the 2025 Honda Civic Si for a Week, and I'm Convinced That You Don't Need a Type R first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 17, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.