Having owned a 2005 Honda Civic Si in the past, I was excited to get behind the wheel of the new 2025 model. After putting over 2,000 miles on my brand new Civic Si in just one month, I felt it was the perfect time to share my detailed review. My journey to this car involved trading in a 2024 Civic Sport Touring Hatchback 6MT, which, despite its merits and 22,000 miles in under a year, lacked the driving fun I craved. While the hatchback was a great car, especially with a manual transmission, it simply didn’t deliver the engaging driving experience that was important to me. Given the similarities between the two Civic models, you’ll find several comparisons throughout this review.
What I Love About the 2025 Civic Si
Handling: Without a doubt, the 2025 Civic Si boasts the best handling in any front-wheel-drive car I’ve ever driven. The combination of its sport-tuned suspension, enhanced chassis stiffness, and the limited-slip differential (LSD) provides an incredibly rewarding driving experience, even on my daily commute. Handling was a critical factor in my decision to move on from the Sport Touring Hatchback. Dynamic driving capabilities were a non-negotiable requirement for my next vehicle, and the Si exceeds these expectations admirably. While there’s a subtle hint of understeer and a touch of body roll, it’s important to remember this is designed for the street, not a racetrack, so these are perfectly acceptable trade-offs for daily driving enjoyment. The ride quality is also surprisingly comfortable, avoiding harshness, although it can feel a bit “bouncy” on uneven road surfaces.
Engine Tune: Interestingly, the 2025 Civic Si shares the same engine as my previous Civic Sport Touring Hatchback. However, the Si variant clearly benefits from a more potent tune, delivering increased horsepower and torque. Beyond just the numbers, the torque curve feels significantly more linear in the Si. In the Sport Touring, the engine offered a strong surge of torque off the line but didn’t encourage higher RPMs. Conversely, the Si’s engine builds torque progressively and genuinely enjoys being revved. I often found myself short-shifting in the hatchback, partly to maximize fuel efficiency, but also because the engine’s tune felt more suited to lower RPMs. The Si’s engine mapping is distinctly sportier, encouraging me to explore the higher rev range and enhancing the overall driving pleasure.
Power: The power output of the 2025 Civic Si is, in my opinion, just right. I’m not someone who constantly drives at high speeds, but I do enjoy spirited cornering, and the Si provides ample power for real-world driving while maintaining excellent handling on winding roads. I desired a bit more power than the standard Civic, but without compromising fuel economy, and the Si strikes that balance perfectly.
Fuel Economy: The fuel economy is truly outstanding. After five tanks of gas in my new Si, I’m averaging an impressive 37.53 mpg, even with some occasional spirited driving. This efficiency is remarkable for a car with this level of performance.
Looks: The 2025 Civic Si’s aesthetics are subtly sporty, perfectly aligning with its performance capabilities. Initially, I wasn’t thrilled about getting a primer gray car, but the Urban Gray Pearl finish has really grown on me. The black accents and wheels complement this paint color exceptionally well, giving the car a somewhat understated, “sleeper” look. When clean and under sunlight, the Urban Gray Pearl is genuinely gorgeous.
Technology: The technology package in the 2025 Civic Si is largely consistent with what I experienced in the Sport Touring Hatchback, with the welcome additions of performance gauges and engaging shift lights. These features enhance the sporty feel and provide useful driving information.
Sound: While subjective, I appreciate the interior sound of the Civic Si. Yes, it’s artificially enhanced, but I find it to be a decent and enjoyable sound that encourages me to rev the engine a bit more before shifting, further adding to the fun driving experience.
Drive Modes: A small but appreciated detail is the absence of an ECO mode in the Si. In the Sport Touring, I regularly used ECO mode on the highway. It’s convenient not having to remember to switch modes, and having Sport mode readily available for more engaging drives is a definite plus.
Trunk Size: The cargo capacity of the trunk is surprisingly generous for a sport sedan. The Civic sedan’s trunk actually offers more front-to-back length than the Civic hatchback. While the hatchback offers significantly more overall cargo space with the seats folded down, I rarely utilized that feature. For everyday use, the larger trunk of the sedan is more practical for my needs.
Quieter Cabin: There’s a noticeable reduction in road noise within the Civic sedan compared to the hatchback, a welcome improvement that contributes to a more refined driving experience.
Minor Dislikes of the 2025 Civic Si
Seats: As a larger individual, I find the thigh bolsters in the front seats to be somewhat restrictive, pressing into the backs of my legs. While I am adjusting and plan to lose weight, currently, the seats are quite snug. For longer drives, I use a thin foam stadium seat cushion to raise my seating position slightly, which alleviates most of the pressure from the thigh bolsters.
Third Brake Light Housing: The height of the third brake light housing is perplexing. It protrudes excessively and obstructs the rear view mirror’s field of vision. While seemingly minor, this is a genuine annoyance while driving.
Rear View Mirror: Another minor complaint is the stiffness of the rear view mirror when attempting to adjust it. It feels less refined and somewhat cheap, which is a minor letdown.
Incandescent Light Bulbs: It’s surprising that a 2025 vehicle, especially one priced over $30,000, still uses incandescent bulbs for the rear turn signals, reverse lights, and trunk light. I immediately upgraded these to Lasfit LEDs, as I did with my Sport Touring Hatchback. LEDs should be standard across the board, including interior lights, in modern vehicles. While understandable as a cost-saving measure, it feels out of place in a new car.
Features Missed From the Sport Touring Hatchback: Trading in my hatchback for the Si meant willingly giving up some features. While not essential, there are aspects I do miss:
- Power Seats: The power seats in the Sport Touring offered significantly more adjustability and were more comfortable and softer than the manual seats in the Si.
- Auto-Dimming Mirrors: Auto-dimming mirrors are a feature you truly appreciate once you no longer have them. They were incredibly convenient and effective at reducing nighttime glare.
- Homelink in the Rear-View Mirror: Having Homelink integrated into the rear-view mirror was convenient for garage access. While I have a separate remote, the integrated system was a nice touch. The frameless design of the Sport Touring’s mirror also added a touch of luxury.
- Google Integrated Technology: The integrated Google system in the Sport Touring was interesting, but it didn’t always function seamlessly with Apple CarPlay, which I primarily use.
- Boost Blue Pearl Paint Color: I loved the vibrant Boost Blue color of my Civic hatchback. I hope Honda considers offering the Si in more exciting and vibrant colors in the future.
The Intangible “Si Factor”
Before purchasing my 2025 Civic Si, I watched numerous YouTube reviews of both the 2022-24 Si and the refreshed 2025 model. One review that particularly resonated with me was Matt Maran Motoring’s recent video. He articulated that there’s an intangible quality to the Si that elevates it beyond its specifications on paper, making it a superior car and daily driver. To my knowledge, Matt is unique in capturing this essence in his review of the updated Si.
I wholeheartedly agree with Matt Maran’s sentiment. This car genuinely feels special. It’s an absolute joy to drive – engaging, fun to toss around corners, aesthetically pleasing, fuel-efficient, and offers just the right amount of power for enjoyable daily driving. Affordable and exciting new cars like the 2025 Honda Civic Si are becoming increasingly rare, making me even more appreciative of this vehicle. I am extremely happy with my new Civic Si and anticipate enjoying it for many years to come.
This 2025 Honda Civic Si review aims to provide a comprehensive look at what makes this car a standout sport sedan in today’s market, blending practicality with driving fun in a compelling package.
