Test Drive: 2004 Honda Civic SiR

Performance

The Civic SiR was designed from the ground up as a performance model so its chassis offers outstanding torsional rigidity. Rigid cars provide excellent feedback through road feel, making the Civic SiR a very dynamic machine. For 2004, Honda engineers blessed the SiR with an all-new “Euro-sport” suspension which incorporates control-link McPherson struts up front and a double wishbone system in the rear. This trans-formed the car’s overall handling from being good to being outstanding. Add to this a competition-worthy steering wheel (with just enough power assist), aluminum pedals (situated nice and close to each other for heel and toe operation), and grippy performance rubber on lightweight alloy wheels and the Civic SiR is a definite smile generator.

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The SiR’s inline 2.0-litre, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder power plant is a charmer and boasts a healthy 160 hp and 132 lb.-ft. of torque. A quick flick through the SiR’s short-shift 5-speed (the only transmission offered) while exercising on a curvy sheet of asphalt will leave you begging for more. I had a couple of grinning passengers comment on what a great value the SiR seemed to be, but not due to the car’s combination of boy-racer looks and sporty attitude, but the simple fact that this much fun can be had for under 30K.

The presence of larger wheels and low profile performance tires keep the car firmly planted on the road, although when driven at the limit, the SiR has a tendency to lift the inside rear wheel off the asphalt when cornering. This occurs because the front-wheel drive layout places the majority of the vehicle’s weight up front and the tall body succumbs to lateral G-forces. Luckily this only happens when the SiR is pressed to its limits as such a condition can feel somewhat unsettling on the road. The resulting loss of traction and exaggerated feel of body roll make you reluctant to really explore the true capabilities of this car.

The Civic SiR is said to launch from 0-100 km/h in a mere 7.6 seconds which puts it on par with most of it competition. Unfortunately torque steer rears its ugly head when you launch the car in anger, robbing the car of the precise feel offered by say its cousin, the Acura RSX Type ‘S’. Luckily for enthusiasts the SiR shares the same point-and-squirt feel that you get in the RSX, which is a good thing. You won’t win many stoplight drag races in a SiR as the peak torque comes in at higher revs, which is the case with most of the company’s VTEC offerings. Once the ball gets rolling however, the car is feisty to say the least, and gobbles up corners with aplomb. When driven in the safe-and-sane manner prescribed by the rules of the road however, the Civic SiR offers exceptional everyday road manners and is an excellent choice for the commuter. It also survives on regular unleaded fuel, which will help give your pocketbook a rest.

Safety

Honda’s engineering department has addressed this area well. Front passengers benefit from advanced ‘dual stage, dual threshold airbags, while 3-point seatbelts are found in all five seating positions.

Braking duties are handled by oversize ventilated disc brakes with ABS that effectively keep this four-wheeled dynamo in check, especially when backed up by Honda’s electronic brake distribution (EBD) system.

Tuner styling

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The SiR looks trick right off the showroom floor so it makes a nice alternative for those import fans that like the boy-racer look, but don’t like to invest the time, inconvenience or extra money that goes into customizing a stock car. The car comes standard with re-designed headlamps and also new for 2004, Altezza-look taillights. Buyers can choose to have the dealer add the factory body kit prior to delivery which includes side skirts, a deep front spoiler and a racy rear bumper shroud, all painted to match the car’s exterior colour. A shapely wing rides atop the rear hatch, immediately above the rear window. The whole body package fits together very nicely and compliments the SiR’s sporty nature without being over-bearing. The look is subtle enough to just hint that the car is not a garden variety Civic.

Loaded for comfort

Honda has come a long way with its interior design, and the fit and finish, as well as the quality of the trim materials in the SiR would embarrass many more expensive cars. The dash layout and interior in general have an uncluttered look highlighted by white-face gauges which illuminate red at night. Lots of silver trim brightens up the dash while faux suede seating surfaces (with bold red stitching) cloak the front race buckets. Deep, plush carpets benefit from colour-matched floor mats embroidered with SiR nomenclature in bold white thread.

Honda has loaded the Civic SiR with a full complement of standard equipment including a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 capabilities, air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, heated power mirrors, and a smoked glass moon roof.

Ergonomics

The Civic SiR is surprisingly roomy for such a compact car and most switchgear and gauges fall readily to hand and eye. Honda engineers have dash-mounted the slick-manual shift lever up on the dash rather than the floor, making for an easy reach and quicker gear changes.

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The seats themselves offer excellent support and wide side bolsters grip your body to hold you in place while exercising the SiR’s 160 ponies. I must point out however that I never managed to get comfortable in the seats, as my wide back had issues with the seat’s ergonomics, enough so that I could never drive the car for more than an hour without feeling fatigued. An adjustable lumbar support would likely remedy this problem, but as I am somewhat larger than the average Civic SiR buyer, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. The rear compartment can handle three smaller passengers, but two would be much happier. Unfortunately, unlike Civic hatchbacks of the past, rear passengers cannot open the windows for ventilation.

Storage

The wide hatch lifts up and out of the way to reveal a flat-floored cargo area that offers 445-litres of space. The 60/40 split rear seat folds forward to swell the cargo capacity to a commendable 1007-litres. Narrow door bins offer room for gloves, maps or glasses, while a centre cubby and a fairly large glove box offer more secure stowage. The rear cargo hatch offers a self-deploying cargo cover that lifts out of the way when the hatch is open, but lowers to conceal the contents of the rear cargo area when the hatch is closed.

Conclusions

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