2022 Honda Civic Si “not confirmed” for South Africa

Honda South Africa has told TopAuto that the 2022 Honda Civic Si is “not confirmed as yet” for the local market.

This sporty sedan was unveiled in late October as the “best-handling and most fun-to-drive Civic Si ever”, according to Honda.

Target market

Although the sedan body style might be a dying breed, we think there is definitely a spot for the 2022 Civic Si in South Africa – especially if it lives up to Honda’s claims.

The Civic Si targets roughly the same market as the South Africa-bound Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ – the affordable, manual, rear-wheel-drive racer built for the purist.

In this case, the purist who prefers turbos.

This is because the 2022 Civic Si is fitted with a high-output, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, VTEC engine with “usefully broader curves than before”, generating a respectable 149kW and 260Nm.

This is not far off the 2.4-litre, naturally-aspirated GR 86’s 173kW and 250Nm.

The Si’s motor mates to a six-speed manual transmission with 10% shorter throws and the rev-matching features from its bigger sibling, the Type R.

To improve high-speed handling the Si also features a claimed longest wheelbase in its class – 274cm – in addition to a more rigid body and much stiffer springs in both the front (8%) and rear (54%) when compared to the standard Civic sedan.

Design

The 2022 Civic Si features a distinctive design with functional aerodynamic aids to “improve its performance”, said Honda.

These include a more aggressive front bumper, a front lip spoiler, a black boot lid spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper that incorporates two large oval exhaust tips.

It also sees gloss black exterior trims, LED lights all-round, an exclusive Blazing Orange Pearl exterior paint, and matte black 18-inch alloy wheels.

Additionally, the Si boasts a driver-focused cabin with sports seats, sport pedals, red contrast stitching, and a signature metal honeycomb front fascia that provides a unique look.

Notable equipment includes a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch infotainment display with smartphone mirroring, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and the Honda Sensing driver assistance suite.

The 2022 Honda Civic Si will go on sale in the United States before the end of 2021, with its South African availability yet to be confirmed.