The Honda Civic Si is a vehicle built from 1990 to 2026 over 3 generations. Between 1989 and 2004 it grew 24 cm longer and gained 272 kg. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Civic Si is
The Honda Civic Si is a vehicle that Honda built from 1990 to 2026 — 37 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2002. Its closest siblings in the Honda range: Civic, Accord, CR-V.
Civic Si generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Civic Si's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Civic Si that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-1991 | 397 cm | 250 cm | 980 kg | - | - |
| 1992-1993 | 407 cm | 257 cm | 1049 kg | +10 cm | +69 kg |
| 2002-2004 | 421 cm | 258 cm | 1252 kg | +14 cm | +203 kg |
Between 1989 and 2004 the Civic Si gained 24 cm in length (+6.0%) and 272 kg in weight (+27.8%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Civic Si that is 272 kg against 24 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Honda Civic Si tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Civic Si owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Honda Civic Si have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The Civic Si by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Honda Civic Si. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Civic Si | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 28 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 983 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,600/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 632 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Honda Civic Si?
The Civic Si is a vehicle, built from 1990 to 2026 across 3 generations.
How many generations does the Civic Si have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2002. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Civic Si grew 24 cm longer and gained 272 kg.
What is the Honda Civic Si warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Civic Si reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Civic Si?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Honda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 1981–2026 | 412 | 49 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord | 1981–2026 | 415 | 48 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 177 | 40 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Pilot | 2003–2026 | 197 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Odyssey | 1995–2026 | 206 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Fit | 2007–2020 | 94 | 118 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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