2025 Honda Civic Si Review // Should enthusiasts BUY the Hybrid Civic instead?

#Honda #CivicSi #savethemanuals #hybrid

After a week of testing the refreshed 2025 Honda Civic Si, is it still a great option for enthusiasts? What about the new #civichybrid ? How does that compare to the Civic Si? Which would be best for #family driving?

Civic Si gains exciting new design with more aggressive front fascia and grille, revised taillights, and new wheel design
Driver-focused tech includes a new LED shift indicator light and Google built-in
New level of fun-to-drive dynamics with enhanced ride comfort
Civic Si is the only car in its class available exclusively with a manual transmission – truly catering to enthusiast buyers
Honda will unleash the best-equipped and most fun-to-drive Civic Si ever this summer, as the brand continues to offer young driving enthusiasts more affordable high-performance. The refreshed 2025 Civic Si brings an aggressive new front design, improved dynamics and a host of new standard features, including heated front seats and Google built-in.

Honda is America's #1 brand in manual transmission sales this year, with Civic leading the pack as the country's best-selling manual transmission vehicle. The turbocharged 2025 Civic Si is the only car in its class available exclusively with a manual transmission.

The 2025 Honda Civic Si will go on sale in early August with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)1 of $29,950 (excluding $1,095 destination charge). Optional high-performance summer tires that maximize grip and handling add just $300.

“The best only get better at Honda, and this year we're taking Civic to an even higher level with our new 2025 Civic hybrid and now an even more desirable Civic Si," said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co. "Civic Si is a performance icon in the sport compact segment, and the 2025 Civic Si continues that legacy as the most fun-to-drive Si we've ever offered to our customers."

2025 Civic Si Pricing & EPA Ratings

Trim

Engine

MSRP1

MSRP Plus $1,095 Destination Charge2

EPA Mileage Rating3
City/Hwy/Combined

Si

1.5L Turbo

$29,950

$31,045

27 / 37 / 31

Si with Summer Tires

1.5L Turbo

$30,250

$31,345

27 / 37 / 31

Civic is the longest-running Honda automotive nameplate, with Americans having purchased more than 12 million Civics since 1973, making it one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in America over the past 51 years4. The high-performance Civic Si was first introduced in 1986.

An unparalleled success, the 11th-generation Civic serves as a gateway to the Honda brand and America’s most popular vehicle with Gen Z buyers, first-time new car buyers as well as multicultural customers5.

The new SICE-compliant body makes this the most rigid Civic Si ever. New lower B-pillar and rear door sill supports increase torsional and bending rigidity.

To further amplify driver enjoyment and take advantage of the increased body stiffness, the Si suspension dampers have been retuned to match the increased body stiffness. And for drivers looking for maximum performance, sticky summer tires are now available as a factory option.

The performance of the standard Si rev-matching system has been enhanced by expanding its function to include downshifts from 2nd to 1st gear. The rev-matching system will “blip” the throttle when it detects all downshifts, perfectly matching revs with a lightning quick 430 ms response time.

Civic Si delivers high levels of driver exhilaration and engagement with a precise short-throw 6-speed manual transmission, complemented by a light single-mass flywheel, which helps give the sport sedan’s high-torque VTEC® 1.5-liter Turbo engine snappy throttle response. To maximize available traction during acceleration, the engine’s 200-horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque is routed to the front wheels through a standard helical limited-slip differential.

Civic Si comes standard with larger brakes than the standard Civic Sedan, along with 235/40R18 all-season performance tires, or the aforementioned optional summer tires.

00:00 - 2025 Civic Si Walkaround
02:02 - Trunk
02:10 - Engine
02:42 - Backseats
03:22 - Front seats
06:54 - Driving Impressions
16:53 - MPG results
17:37 - Civic Si vs Civic Hybrid

[reaality]

The best family sedan I've ever owned was a 1986 Honda Accord with manual transmission and pop-up head lights.

[MrDaveaccord]

Heads up to buyers. Many 2025 Civics are under a STOP SALE status from Honda because of the high-pressure fuel pump recall. I was trying to buy a Civic Sport sedan last week and the dealers wouldn't sell me the car I wanted on the lot because of this recall. I was pretty disappointed.

[NFiltrRed]

Our family has both, Si and Hybrid Touring. The Si is the best all around car and you’re still in control. I don’t miss my X3 M Competition one bit.

[bigcrowfly]

Some Acura dealers are having trouble moving MT Integras, plus Acura has great lease/financing terms. Shop around and you will find a MT Integra hatch close in payments/price.

[sam-znnr]

Looking to buy a Civic Si or Civic Hybrid next month. The Si is the passion choice, and signals to Honda we still want manuals. The Hybrid is the smart choice - cheaper insurance, wife can drive it with the auto, better fuel economy around town and on stop-and-go commute, takes regular instead of premium, better torque delivery. Hate to say it but I'll probably go for the Hybrid. It's a shame Honda didn't give the Si even a little more power to make it an easier choice, but the Hybrid practically makes the decision for you if you can give up the manual.

[protectork]

I wish they didn’t discontinue civic touring in manual . That was much nicer interior than Acura integra and better than si

[christopherobrien]

Hey Kirk, I enjoy all of your shows on YouTube and am a subscriber to your channel. I too was torn between the hybrid and the SI but after considerable consideration I recently purchased the 2025 Civic SI and am very happy with my purchase. Allow me to explain the choice I made. First of all I am not keen with the CVT transmission with all of its problems and quirks. Second, the handling of the SI is out of this world for its price point not to mention the Bose sound system. Third, SI's do not sit on the Lot waithing for a buyer like many of its other trims. The Civic SI sells before it even hits the showroom and many dealers know this so they add a markup/premium to each vehicle and that speaks for itself. Finally, you can tune the SI and upgrade many of its stock parts for a more fun/engaging experience. Did I mention if you intend to keep the hybrid for the long term you will need to get a new battery pack at some

[stevejr]

I own a 2024 Si and there are a few things the one you’re showing on this video! 1. Has an idiot light for the coolant. 2. No shift light. 3. No heated seats. The sales office wanted to remove these things to see how many loyal customers they can screw. But other than that I still love the car, no it’s not a type R but I didn’t want a big wing on the back of my car. The 2024 didn’t have individual mode it was called Custom.

[oppos]

I have 40, 000 miles on a tuned Si. My commute is 70/30 city to highway. Realistic fuel economy is 26-28mpg IF you're driving aggressively 90% of the time. Like, aggressively aggressive: frequent redlines per drive; being liberal with heavier acceleration and brake usage; disabling start/stop; driving a healthy amount over the speed limit.

If you're driving it like a grandma, you're getting 35-37mpg combined: you're using hypermiling techniques, like staying glued to the speed limit, gentle acceleration, maximizing coasting distances, and staying around 1400-1800RPM as often as possible.

If you drive like a normal individual, I'd say 32-34mpg is completely realistic. Some infrequent redline runs per drive mixed with being smart when it comes to gearing and steady state, as well as not abusing the brakes while not being that guy that's coasting a 1/4 mile to a stop. I hate to say it, but the auto start/stop feature makes a big difference in fuel efficiency.

[peppers]

I’d pick the si over the hybrid! Because I use to have a couple of these si’s and was averaging upper 50 mpg’s with putting 93 octane in them! The si is just more engaging to drive with the manual transmission! Honda’s gearboxes are nice! If you want the next step up highly recommend the type r those are a blast to drive!

[RetroTechX]

I choose the Hybrid due to the amount of city driving I do. I got the Sport Touring hatch in boost blue with the spoiler!

[davelospinoso]

Had a 2022 SI.... Massive oil dilution problems by the time i hit 20k miles. Tried to go through Honda corporate and they would not acknowledge anything.

Traded it and got an Integra Type S. Car is so good to drive my wife feels insecure around it.

[rross]

I agree with you on the hybrid discussion, but i think the Si will win in long term reliability.

[ianas]

The thing that’s makes this such a great car to drive is how the car works as a sum. Apparently one engineer was in charge from the front bumper to rear.

[deegee]

I Traded my 2024 Acura Integra for the 25 Civic Hybrid Hatchback Sport Touring, and I LOVE the Hybrid Way more averaging 51.2 MPG Driving mostly fast. It is smooth, quite responsive and has an extremely comfortable and refined suspension over all especially in town, etc... Since I do drive fairly fast and bob and weave in traffic/highway, I will be tightening up my suspension to sacrifice some of its very comfy ride in exchange for better handling at higher speeds. My Civic is in a Black Paint (nice colors, but black I think looks best). I didn't get the spoiler, removed all emblems and badges and only kept the front and rear black Honda badges, will tint windows black and will eventually get black rims (the sport touring rims are actually cool though!). It looks super sick all black on black design... I completely love this car and do not even miss the integra.. Cheers!

[antoinelee-thomas]

I'm hoping the 2026 final model year will add some new colors and special touches as it will be the 40th anniversary model year Civic Si.

If and only if this is the final generation of the 1.5T engine, I hope Honda will go all in and crank the power on this engine at least 20-25hp and 15-20lb-ft of tq so that the next gen (12th gen) Civic Si gets a much better engine or update/upgrade the 1.5T with .3L to a 1.8T so that the next gen Civic Si can have Honda S2000 horsepower performance with 235-240hp. The Civic Si is far long overdue for extra power. Hell, 230hp would be acceptable with 215-220lb-ft.

The back doors and backseats need to not be left out of the red coloring. All of the red coloring in the front on the bucket seats and door panels needs to be carried over to the back to make it a cohesive package of a car.

Heated seats in cloth seats are worthless in Florida. At least offer cooled seats for us sunbelt state residents and add a driver side map pocket and not have the passenger side be the only side with a map pocket and maybe adjustable headrest with new Si bucket seats.

Outside of that, I'm hoping the new Civic Si's for the 12th gen is one that goes all in and cracks 30 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and 34 combined. Just my opinion.

[sayurasem]

We’re a family of five, the ‘25 civic is great! Heated seats with facelift models is a plus with winter on the horizon.

[steelheader]

With an enthusiast car like the SI and it’s manual transmission, I don’t worry about mpg. I enjoy driving the car and rowing through the gears. Did you go over how it has rev hang? 😂😂😂

[paullansville]

I'm actually looking to trade in my car and get the 2025 Civic Sport Touring Hybrid, It seems like the better choice for me.🤞🏼

[SPOONfedJDM]

I had a 10th gen si coupe. Luckily I have a 30 min commute with usually no traffic all highway. I would average about 42mpg. Mpg is so dependent on a lot of different factors. Hell I still average 34 mpg on my type R now. If mpg is a priority then get the hybrid if driving fun is more important then si. Shame the si is slower though. Needs a tune to be where it should be.