All this added go-power would be overkill were the car(s) it nourishes not equally upgraded, and Honda met this challenge with the same commitment. The chassis' added crashworthiness also adds stiffness, giving the car a more solid and more planted feel. Redesigned front and rear suspensions coupled with larger wheels and tires improve directional stability and sharpen steering. The longer wheelbase smoothes the ride.
The LX sedan is the most comfortable and confident Civic we've driven, and a refreshing improvement over the 2005, which had lost some steam and enjoyment in Honda's drive to reduce complexity and costs. Ride was solid but comfortable, with less road noise and wind whistle expected for the class. Shifts were smooth, if not entirely transparent. Brake feel was solid, steering response certain, if not sports car-quick. Thankfully, Honda has not fallen prey to the Sport-Shift fad, so the automatic transmission is just that, a select-it-and-leave-it gearbox. We do wish, though, that Honda would insert a tab below the "D" setting in the gate, as we routinely passed that one right by when shifting out of Park or Reverse and ended up in the "D3" notch. And despite the seeming logic behind the relocation of the digital speedometer, we confess we never quite adjusted to that weird pod on top of the dash.
The major difference noted between the sedan and the Hybrid was in the transmission, as the shiftless CVT left engine speed roving around the tachometer as the electronic brain kept the rpms at their most efficient given road speed and load. Surprisingly, weight was a non-issue, with the Hybrid tipping the scale at a mere 74 pounds over the gas engine-powered sedan.
Differences between the coupes were the most dramatic. The Si's 6-speed manual was a delight of precision, with short throws and certain engagement. Less pleasant was the other coupes' 5-speed manual, which felt a bit rubbery and required careful aim. Handling, too, was a distinguishing factor, although not always as might be expected. The Si's more powerful engine also returned more front wheel-drive syndrome, where hard acceleration excites the steering wheel demanding more driver effort, than the base-engined coupe. This was a small price to pay, however, for the fun time we had playing with the Si. Braking down from socially irresponsible speeds and feathering the throttle through sweeping curves then restraining the steering wheel when powering out on the way to another set of esses was pure joy. Well, we've had more fun in pure sports cars, but for the price and package, the Si delivers. For commuters or college students, any of the everyday coupes will be more than sufficient and more than worth the money, but for those with a little extra to spend and that devilish sparkle in the eye, the Si is the buy. Next Page