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Photos: 2009 Honda Civic Si

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.
Wayne Cunningham
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2009 Honda Civic Si

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.

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2 of 16 Corinne Schulze/CNET

New Grille

Honda made some minor style updates for the 2009 model year, giving it a new tiered diamond grille inset, a cue that is becoming standard for Honda.

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Engine

The engine is the same as in the two previous model years, being a 2-liter four cylinder. With an 8,000 rpm redline, it produces 197 horsepower.

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Coupe body

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.

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Limited slip differential

The steering is very precise, and the car's handling is enhanced by a limited slip differential on the front wheels. The ride is sports car firm.

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Sport seats

These seats are well bolstered, doing a good job of keeping you in place during hard cornering.

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Inteiror design

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.

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Steering wheel

The steering wheel feels a little thin and cheap. We would like to see one with a thicker wheel.

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Instrument cluster

The tachometer sits in the usual place for an instrument cluster, but the speedometer is a digital read-out in a display just below the windshield.

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Gearbox

This close ratio six speed manual gearbox feels great, with precise gear shifts.

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Navigation system

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.

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Destination entry

This on-screen keyboard can be used for destination entry, and the Civic Si also has a really good voice command system.

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CD and PC Card slot

The screen on the navigation unit motors down to reveal a CD slot and PC Card slot, the latter a strange accommodation for digital music.

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USB port

New for 2009 is this USB port in the console, which works with iPods and USB drives. This is our preferred method for digital music.

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CD screen

The MP3 CD interface, like the other screens on this system, is ugly, although the functionality is good.

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Honda fits the Civic Si with a seven speaker system, which includes this subwoofer on the rear deck. 350 watts of power make the music loud.

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