2020 Honda Civic Si: Worthy Type R alternative offers more bang for the buck

• The 2020 Honda Civic Si debuts with new styling and tech updates.
• The only factory option for the new Civic Si is $200 summer tires.
• Arriving in September, the Civic Si will also have a shorter gear ratio.

In the distant past, the Civic Si was considered an R type for the poor. But with the updated 2020 Honda Civic Si, I don't think that's the case anymore. Actually, I think the Si is better than the Type R and I'll explain more in a minute. At the moment, I sincerely consider the Si to be the best Civic in the lineup. It's not that it has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a six-speed manual transmission. It also has nothing to do with price (which, again, we'll dig deeper).

That's because the new Civic Si pretty much reminds me of Honda's glory days in the early and late 90s.

2020 Honda Civic Si: Honda Reborn

If you're old enough to remember, Honda was who you were then; they are still now, but only after waking up after a 15-year hiatus. All those screaming B16, B18 and F20C engines are forever imprinted in my mind. Mind you, I'm not the biggest Honda fan, but I certainly appreciate the engineering and reliability of these amazing high-revving Honda engines.

For me, the latest hot Civic is the sixth generation EK model. Everything went cold after that. When the tenth generation Civic arrived in 2016, it was no coincidence that the second generation Acura NSX was introduced the same year. Honda is back and Civic is better than ever! So, when Honda gave the current Civic small updates for 2019, we were expecting the Si to get those updates too. By the looks of things, Honda did this without a massive price increase.

2020 Honda Civic Si Coupé. Photo: Honda North America.

Aggressive exterior design

Wondering why the 2020 Honda Civic Si makes me feel like college again and why I wholeheartedly prefer it over the Type R? It's a fact that Honda offers the Civic Si as a two-door coupe and sedan. I personally like the Si coupe, but the sedan isn't too shabby. In terms of looks, there's nothing wrong with the base Civic sedan. However, if you think his face is similar to that of a stormtrooper, you are not alone.

Alas! The new Civic Si still looks like an attack aircraft, but now it has a more sporty vibe. The car gets new lower bumper fog light housings with a body-colored crossbar; new multi-element LED headlights and a new rear bumper. Civic Si models also get a fixed rear wing (which is thankfully thin!) and matte black 18-inch wheels. All-season tires are standard, but summer tires are a factory option for 200 $.

Red Accents and Physical Buttons

The 2020 Honda Civic Si gets a ton of red accents in the cabin. You'll also get new sports seats with red Si badges and an updated audio system with physical buttons and - finally - a real volume knob. The previous touch scrollbar was a pain in the ass, so good job again, Honda! You still get Bluetooth, a 450W premium audio system with 10 speakers, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in case you're wondering.

2020 Honda Civic Si interior layout. Photo: Honda North America.

Turbocharged and manual transmission

Want more proof that the Civic Si is for purists? It's only available with a six-speed manual transmission and it's brilliant at it. Honda knows how to make manual transmissions feel good for the money, and the Civic Si is no exception.

This delightful manual transmission is mated to the familiar 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged inline-four engine. Produces a healthy 205 horsepower. More importantly, it produces 192 lb-ft. torque (from 2100 to 5000 rpm). And while Honda hasn't figured out the exact math yet, it wouldn't be hard to push the Civic Si from zero to 60 below 6.5 seconds under the right circumstances.

The new Civic Si also gets a shorter gear ratio on the 6%. It's the only mechanical upgrade in the new Si, but it's a significant one. It still comes with a standard helical limited slip differential, but the shorter ratio means faster acceleration and quicker throttle response. In short, it makes the car feel faster and more fun to drive.

2020 Honda Civic Si Sedan. Photo: Honda North America.

Standard Honda Sensing & LaneWatch

The 2020 Honda Civic Si also comes with a host of new safety and driver assistance features. Standard in the new Civic Si is Honda Sensing, which includes adaptive cruise control, collision braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and road departure mitigation.

The new Civic Si also gets Honda's exclusive LaneWatch side-view system. This is easy enough to understand without being a rocket scientist. The system activates a camera in each of the side mirrors when you turn on the turn signals. The camera feed is projected onto the infotainment screen. This essentially eliminates blind spots to avoid sudden crashes.