The Honda Civic RS Is the Next Best Thing to a Civic Si Hatch

The current Civic is one of the best cars to ever wear the badge, and Honda seems to know it. In addition to the basic, CVT-afflicted offerings, here in 2024, the brand is taking advantage of the car's strengths by also building a delightful new Civic hybrid, an affordable-performance Civic Si model, and an all-conquering track-ready Civic Type R. But as it turns out, in Honda's home market of Japan, buyers now have the choice of another interesting option: the Civic RS, which amounts to something of a less-potent, less-pricey version of the Si. And unlike our Si, the RS is available with a hatch.

Let's get the bad part out of the way: the latest Civic RS is not for the U.S, and in all honesty, probably not necessary, considering our market is so rich in Civic offerings. Still, the RS has a lot to make us wish it were sold here. At the top of that list: a manual transmission, the familiar six-speed box also found in the Si. The suspension is stiffer and two-tenths of an inch lower than a basic Civic hatch, while dampers and bushings are unique to the model. There's a drive mode selector, which has options for both a sport mode and an individually-adjustable option. Visual changes, meanwhile, are mostly comprised of blacked-out chrome trim, giving the car a more aggressive look than the average Civic hatch.

So what sets it apart from the Si? Crucially, the RS's motor does not deliver the full 200 horsepower that the same turbocharged 1.5-liter engine produces in the Civic Si. Instead, the engine puts out a more modest 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. (It's the same engine that used to be the upgrade option on regular Civics, before being replaced by the hybrid powertrain.) Honda makes no mention of a limited-slip differential on the RS, either; in contrast, it's standard on the Si. Still, considering the Civic hatchback is no longer offers the manual in any form in America, seeing the combination of liftback and stick shift paired with even a little Si-style spice sounds like a delightful combination.

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