We gave you all the goods on the 2022 Honda Civic hatchback yesterday, and part of that reporting also mentioned the Si performance trim — and how it’s likely that the Si trim will be offered only on sedan models.
Some Civic enthusiasts, remembering how the Si was once offered on hatchbacks, likely got agita at the news. But I am here to tell you that if that’s how things play out, it’s not a problem.
It’s worth remembering that the previous-gen Civic Si was coupe and sedan only — no hatch.
It’s also worth noting that while hatchbacks might offer more utility than a sedan, and the idea of a “hot hatch” is always appealing to enthusiasts, the Civic wouldn’t be giving up much to the competition.
Let’s take a look at the vehicles the next Si will contend with. By my count, the only hopped-up compact cars that come in hatchback form are the Hyundai Veloster/Veloster N and the Volkswagen GTI. The rest of the performance-boosted compacts are sedans — Hyundai Elantra N Line, Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and Subaru WRX.
Yes, I get it from the hatchback-buyer’s perspective. If you want a Civic hatch that offers performance beyond the “mainstream”, your only option is the Type R — the next Type R will likely be hatch only like the current one. I understand that the Sport and Sport Touring trims might not be enough for you, even with the available six-speed manual transmission.
But at least the Si will continue to exist, and for many buyers, the sedan body style will be good enough. And hey, you can always buy a Type R.
More to the point, Honda likely has business reasons to not make the Si available in the hatchback body style. Considering that Honda enthusiasts didn’t seem to howl too much when the last Civic Si wasn’t offered in hatchback form, the company likely believes there won’t be enough takers.
Even a brief scan of the comments on our news post seemed to show that most of you seem quite content that the Si is sedan only, as long as it a) continues to exist and b) will still offer a shift-it-yourself option.
There are a lot of product decisions that outrage us enthusiasts. While this one is a bummer for some buyers, it’s not worth getting too upset about.
Now, the lack of a Coyote V8 in the Ford Bronco, however…
[Image: Honda]
It is surprising considering Honda did say the hatch was supposed to be the alternative to the coupe and there was a SI coupe. There’s isn’t that much of a styling difference between the new generation’s sedan and hatch compared to the previous generation so it could be not that big of a deal after all. Though the idea of a medium spicy liftback sounded enticing.
I mean, I bought the R, but if there was a Si hatch, I think I would’ve had a hard time choosing.
I had a hard time to pick between Si and Elantra Sport. In the end, I went with Mazda6 sport. Lost some 0-60 times but otherwise – no regrets
@Slavita
Trust me, you made the right decision. Honda is not what it once was, and based on my recent interaction with Dusty of their customer care team, their customer service is almost non existent. I’ve purchased many Honda’s new. No more. I’m a Mazda customer now, and probably always will be. BTW, just wanted to thank you for your insights into Eastern Europe a while back. Much appreciated, and very insightful. Enjoy your 6! Great choice.
Thanks. It is about 3 years now. All good. And based on experience with my 2010/11 Mazda3 cars, even Top Honda wasn’t as good.
If they made the R SH awd setup, and give both different tuned versions of the 2.0T , I would shop either one.But I’d have a hard time choosing a 1.5t over the 2.0T offered in the GLI or N variants. I really like the Teutonic styling of the new Civic though.
It’s fine if Bronco never offers V8.
If Acura offered hatchback version of this platform as Integra GS-R then I’d agree Si hatch is not needed. Entire Civic line as sedan would be fine.
I personally feel that sedans are underrated. I love having a physically separate trunk.
Admittedly, that’s a luxury thing, especially when you have kids and/or dogs and/or need to carry bulky stuff from time to time. But I miss it, with neither of my daily drivers being a sedan at the moment.
In any event I’ve spent more than my share of time window shopping for Civic Si sedans of many different generations and don’t feel left out because it doesn’t come as a hatch.
+1
Hatchbacks, a bit like vans and vagons, are great if one needs one all-purpose vehicle. But if one has room for a van or pickup in addition, or if one never needs to transport anything other than people and regular luggage, the sedan is tops.
Agreed. It’s a little thing, but opening and closing a trunk lid is more convenient than lifting up the entire rear hatch when all you want to do is toss in a laptop bag or your weekly grocery. Usually a little quieter too.
The versatility of the hatch is nice and I do like the generally shorter body length, but there’s a good reason to choose sedans.
You’d have an easier time arguing that it would be fine if the Civic Si were offered only as a hatchback. A hatchback can do everything a sedan can do and more. The reverse isn’t true. I can afford a Golf R or its counterpart from Audi. But the Golf is a hatchback and the Audi is a sedan. That removes the Audi from my consideration.
“A hatchback can do everything a sedan can do and more”
Except keep the smell of my kid’s stinky swimming clothes, or the bag full of Egg McMuffins that my wife’s family asked me to get, out of the passenger compartment.
I would prefer hatchback but the main issue to me – how car drives, how clutch, steering, brake and gear shifter feel.
The interior of this car here is already a big improvement. But I don’t want turbo.
The hatch on this is more of an Arteon/Stinger style “sportback” model than a real, Golf/Elantra GT style stuff-everything-from-your-one-bedroom-apartment-back-there hatchback, so it’s strikes me as a novelty. I think a sportback Si would be neat, but not really necessary.
I wouldn’t say it’s fine, but I will admit that it’s understandable. We should be thankful Honda is offering us not one, not two, but THREE different Civic models with a manual transmission. In 2021 that’s something that should be both celebrated and appreciated by anyone claiming to be an enthusiast.
I do not give a….My dream car is Elantra NN (Ne Nado).
I have a work car, so the wife’s car is our do everything mobile. She likes small, and we have no kids, so a 4 door hatch does everything we need… including take the dog places. We currently have a focus hatch, but right now our only option for a replacement would be the GTI. I can’t swing 40k…heck the 30k of a gri is a stretch.
And Si hatch with decent performance and also the lsd helping in fun driving AND winter roads would hit the sweet spot for our wants and needs. The type R is overkill and really just too expensive. Nothing else really fits the bill (holding out hope for that rumoured Toyota/Subaru rally/hot hatch thing)
“including take the dog places.”
thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/05/2021-subaru-crosstrek-limited-review-new-
engine-fresh-face-familiar-utility/
I have a work car, so the wife’s car is our do everything mobile. She likes small, and we have no kids, so a 4 door hatch does everything we need… including take the dog places. We currently have a focus hatch, but right now our only option for a replacement would be the GTI. I can’t swing 40k…heck the 30k of a gri is a stretch.
And Si hatch with decent performance and also the lsd helping in fun driving AND winter roads would hit the sweet spot for our wants and needs. The type R is overkill and really just too expensive. Nothing else really fits the bill (holding out hope for that rumoured Toyota/Subaru rally/hot hatch thing)
You forgot the Mazda3 Turbo as a hatchback competitor. While offered in automatic only, it has SO MUCH TORQUE that I would be fine not shifting myself (we have a CX-9 with this engine, trust me it is insta-torque and strong). It’s also damn good looking, pretty fancy inside, and AWD…an AWD hatchback that handles well and has power really is about the perfect do it all vehicle.
Full disclosure: I own a 2018 Mazda3 Grand Touring hatch manual, and am shooting for the turbo sometime next year (hopefully this market madness is over by then). Would I consider a Civic Si hatch, if offered, now that the Civic doesn’t look silly? Absolutely. I do like to row my own gears. But I love the utility of a hatchback, and have owned several to prove it.
Am I alone in thinking 320 pound feet makes an automatic acceptable?
Performance — and all the style of a ‘93 Malibu.
Thank God…the 90’s was the peak of automotive styling. Everything now looks like it was drawn in 7th grade study hall.
Yeah, we should be grateful the Si still exists at all.
Awful* Opinion: