timing and lift. REDLINE/FUEL ... BODY MATERIAL: steel stampings. STEERING
... Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 ... HONDA CIVIC Si (2.4-LITER INLINE-4, 201 HP, 6-
SP MAN) ... MAZDASPEED 3 (2.3-LITER INLINE-4, 263 HP, 6-SP MAN).
ROAD TEST
ONDA CIVIC Si SPECIFICATIONS PRICE AS TESTED ..................................... $24,655 BASE ................................................. $22,955
GEAR 1 2
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive,
5-passenger, 2-door coupe OPTIONS: Navigation and XM-radio package, $1500; summer tires, $200 STANDARD: power windows, locks, and sunroof; remote locking; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheel AUDIO SYSTEM: satellite radio, CD player, minijack and USB inputs, 7 speakers ENGINE
inline-4, aluminum block and head BORE X STROKE ... 3.43 x 3.90 in, 87.0 x 99.0 mm DISPLACEMENT ................... 144 cu in, 2354 cc COMPRESSION RATIO .............................. 11.0:1 VALVE GEAR: double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake-valve timing and lift REDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF ........... 7100/7400 rpm POWER .............................. 201 hp @ 7000 rpm TORQUE .......................... 170 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION ....................... 6-speed manual FINAL-DRIVE RATIO ................. 4.76:1, limited slip
3 4 5 6
RATIO
........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........
3.27 ..... 2.04 ..... 1.43 ...... 1.07 ...... 0.83 ..... 0.65 .....
MPH PER 1000 RPM
MAX SPEED IN GEAR (rpm)
4.6 ............ 33 mph (7100) 7.3 ............. 52 mph (7100) 10.4 ........... 74 mph (7100) 13.9 ........... 99 mph (7100) 18.0 ........... 128 mph (7100) 23.0 .......... 137 mph (5950)
CHASSIS
unit construction
BODY MATERIAL: steel stampings STEERING
rack-and-pinion with variable electric power assist RATIO ..................................................... 16.1:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ............................... 3.3 TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB ......... 35.4 ft SUSPENSION F: ind, strut, coil springs, anti-roll bar R: ind, 1 lower control arm and 1 upper lateral link
per side, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES F: 11.8 x 1.0-in vented disc R: 10.2 x 0.4-in disc STABILITY CONTROL: fully defeatable
CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTS ACC EL ERAT I ON ZERO TO
SECONDS ............................................... 2.3 ............................................... 3.4 ............................................... 4.7 60 MPH ......................................... 6.3 70 MPH ............................................... 8.2 80 MPH .............................................. 10.6 90 MPH .............................................. 13.4 100 MPH ....................................... 17.1 110 MPH .............................................. 21.9 120 MPH ............................................ 28.5 130 MPH .................................... 40.8 STREET START, 5–60 MPH .............. 7.2 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................. 10.4 TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH ................... 9.9 1/4-MILE ........... 15.0 SEC @ 94 MPH TOP SPEED (GOVERNOR LTD) ..... 137 MPH 30 MPH 40 MPH 50 MPH
TEST NOTES: The Si requires two shifts to get to 60, which is okay because the shifter’s operation is magic. Sidestep the clutch at 2500 rpm, and the wheels spin until about 6000 rpm. This may not feel like the quickest technique, but less wheelspin slows acceleration times by about 0.4 second.
H ANDL I NG
ROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD ............. 0.90 g UNDERSTEER ..................... MODERATE TEST NOTES: Skidpad handling is predictable, with minimal torque steer, but steering feel is lacking even in steadystate cornering. Understeer is easy to control, and the back end of the Si steps out predictably under light braking.
BRAK I NG, 70 TO ZE R O M PH
FIRST STOP .................................... 174 ft SHORTEST STOP ........................ 175 ft LONGEST STOP ............................. 179 ft FADE RATING .................................. MILD TEST NOTES: The numbers above may look like we don’t know what we are talking about. We do. The new “first stop” data reflects cold brakes. With ABSequipped cars, we report the second-best stop as the shortest to eliminate electronic anomalies. No matter, because the Si stops repeatedly without tangible fade or a change in the brake pedal’s feel.
W E IGH T
CURB ........................................... 2864 lb PER HORSEPOWER ...................... 14.2 lb DISTRIBUTION .......... F: 61.3% R: 38.7% GVWR ........................................... 3925 lb
FUEL
CAPACITY ................................... 13.2 gal OCTANE ................................ 91 required EPA CITY/HWY .................... 22/31 MPG C/D OBSERVED ..................... 26 MPG
I NTE R I OR SOUND L EV E L
IDLE ............................................. 42 dBA FULL THROTTLE ......................... 81 dBA 70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 73 dBA
tested by K.C. COLWELL in Chelsea, Michigan
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE ................................ 103.2 in LENGTH ...................................... 175.5 in WIDTH .......................................... 69.0 in HEIGHT ........................................ 55.0 in FRONT TRACK .............................. 59.0 in REAR TRACK ................................ 59.9 in GROUND CLEARANCE .................... 5.8 in INTERIOR DIMENSIONS SAE VOLUME ............ F: 51 cu ft R: 32 cu ft TRUNK ........................................ 12 cu ft WHEELS AND TIRES WHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION
............ 7.0 x 17 in/ cast aluminum ........................ Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 215/45ZR-17 91W SPARE .......................... high-pressure compact INFLATION ............................ F: 32 psi R: 32 psi TIRES
NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS Specific to the Si are stiffer springs (+30% front, +27% rear), 18-mm front anti-roll bar (+1 mm), 15-mm rear anti-roll bar (+4 mm), stiffer shocks, and 4-mm-lower ride height.
COMPETITOR SET HONDA CIVIC Si (2.4-LITER INLINE-4, 201 HP, 6-SP MAN) HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 2.0T R-SPEC (2.0-LITER INLINE-4, 210 HP, 6-SP MAN) MAZDASPEED 3 (2.3-LITER INLINE-4, 263 HP, 6-SP MAN) VOLKSWAGEN GTI (2.0-LITER INLINE-4, 200 HP, 6-SP MAN) CUR R EN T BAS E PR ICE* dollars x 1000
*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.
CIVIC Si GTI MAZDASPEED 3 GENESIS COUPE 20
22
24
26
70-0 BRAK ING feet MAZDASPEED 3 GENESIS COUPE GTI CIVIC Si 155
160
165
170
175
ACC EL ERAT ION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds MAZDASPEED 3 GTI CIVIC Si GENESIS COUPE 5
6
7
14
15
16
ROADH OLD ING 300-foot skidpad, g GTI MAZDASPEED 3 CIVIC Si GENESIS COUPE 0.88
0.90
0.92
0.94