A perennial favorite due to its speedy performance and excellent handling, the Civic Si gets some small updates for 2009, including a USB/iPod connector for the audio system, and a new grille.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
The 2009 Honda Civic Si is the sport model of the Civic line-up. Where the base Civic is bland, the Si version is very exciting, combining excellent handling and a high-revving engine.
This Si is the coupe model. Honda released a sedan version last year, and is expected to again this year. The couple has an excellent shape, with a spoiler unique to the Si.
The interior design and materials are the same as in the other Civic models, including the two tier instrument cluster, but the Si gets a few unique styling cues, such as the Si-logo tachometer dial.
One thing that makes the Si a real value in this class of cars is its available tech, which includes this navigation system. The system works well, but is a little crude by today's standards.
