TO THE POINTWhat’s New? With 197 horsepower flowing through a six-speed manual gearbox to a helical limited-slip differential and 17-inch Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 summer tires, does it matter what else might be new on the 2006 Honda Civic Si? Selling Points: Sleek styling, sophisticated engineering, comfortable front seats, lots of standard safety equipment, reputation for reliability, amazing performance Deal Breakers: Cramped back seat, funky dash design Our Advice: Honda unleashes a redesigned 2006 Civic Si, equipped with enough performance hardware that it sets the new standard by which sport compact cars must be measured.
An electric drive-by-wire steering system, with improved response and more natural feel, guides the 2006 Honda Civic Si’s front wheels. Standard tires are P215/45R17 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 all-season treads, with same-sized Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 performance tires available as an option. Keeping the 2006 Honda Civic Si glued to the ground is a MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension, fortified by a 28mm front and 17mm rear stabilizer bar, boosted spring rates, and less compliant dampers for a roll stiffness improvement of 30 percent. A capable four-wheel, vented-front, solid-rear, antilock disc braking system brings the Civic Si to a stop – thanks in part to front discs that are more than an inch larger than last year.