 2010 Honda Civic Si coupe. Click image to enlarge |
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Follow Autos on TwitterInside Story is a review of interior comfort features, cabin controls, storage options, trunk space and under-hood accessibility based on a seven-day evaluation. For driving impressions, please see our Test Drives section.
Review and photos by Michael Clark
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2010 Honda Civic
Miami, Florida – Five can be a tough age: fun and games percentages have been steadily dropping year over year, replaced by responsibility, light chores, and the coming threat of school days. That’s the upside. Many a five-year old has had their world turned completely upside down by new and cute arrivals.
    2010 Honda Civic Si coupe. Click image to enlarge |
Such is the case with the five-year old Honda Civic. While a formidable sales leader, the Civic has been confronted with plenty of new arrivals that would love to acquire Honda’s sales crown in the Canadian compact segment. Of particular note are the Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra sedans with their high level of standard equipment. Worse yet for the Civic Si Coupe is the arrival of the Kia Forte Koup SX, with such gotta-have features as Bluetooth and heated seats, plus a fairly potent mill to go with the visual thrill.
With all eyes set on the coming CR-Z hybrid, Honda sent out a friendly reminder to Canadian auto scribes this week in the trendy South Beach section of Miami, Florida. If there was a soundtrack, it would have included the Simple Minds classic, “Don’t You Forget About Me.” While you chant the “hey-hey-hey-heys,” Inside Story takes a primary look at the Civic Si Coupe, with an MSRP starting at $27,275. (Note: Honda Canada includes freight and pre-delivery inspection in their online configurator MSRPs. Prices shown do not include taxes, regional or promotional incentives. NOTE: Vehicles tested in Florida were Canadian production models.)
The dual pod instrument panel continues to be one of the best reads in the compact segment. Even the Si-red display is by no means overpowering. (Mazda, I’m looking in your direction.) As the day did involve track time at the Homestead International Raceway, we are pleased to report that plenty of engine limiter warnings are at the ready, in case you need them. Audio and cruise control tabs are found on the tilt/telescope three-spoke wheel. Honda did tip the hand on Bluetooth arriving in the near future. The driver information centre, below the tachometer sweep, provides dual trip meters, outside temperature, and oil life percentage. The stability control switch is housed on the dash, to the left of the driver, with the U.S./Metric toggle, odometer reset, and the instrument panel dimmer tabs.
Note the power exterior mirror toggle: on the sedan, this control pad is placed on the driver’s side window pod, which would be our preference. While we’re talking exterior mirrors, it should be noted that the Sedan units are of the breakaway style, while the Coupe versions are fixed, or the break-off style. At floor level is the uni-lever for fuel door and trunk release, with keyed lock-out. The driver’s door pod gets an auto pane for the driver’s side. The single-CD audio head unit is simple to dial in, as are the manual HVAC controls, up high and legible. As with most Honda products, exterior mirror defrost is engaged by the driver, with the rear defrost grid. The six-speed stick is a shifty treat, properly angled, with no fitment issues on the boot materials. Wipers boast adjustable intermittency.
While the front door pockets appear to have the width for water bottle swallow, there is no specific provision morphed into the injection moulding. Below the VSA switch bank is an open, cell-phone-sized cubby. Rear seat passengers get ‘cup-and-stuff’ cavities, at the front of both rear interior panels. The four-door opts for a rear fold-down centre armrest, with dual cupholders, plus oversized rear door panel cubbies, for maximum thirst-quench. The non-locking glove box is respectfully sized. The same can be said of the owner’s manual, which avoids War and Peace-thickness.
