Outside of the unobtainable hypercar sphere, the manual gearbox is living in borrowed time. Only a couple dozen mass-produced new cars entered 2026 with available manual transmissions, and that number is going to shrink heading into 2027 because one of the more affordable options is going down for a nap. I’m talking about the Honda Civic Si.
The Civic Si finds itself in a strange position. Given the existence of the hi-po Civic Type R, it’s no surprise that the Si isn’t the quickest Civic. The unusual bit is that it’s not even the second-quickest Civic. The fuel-sipping hybrid will actually outrun the Si from zero-to-60 mph, partially a function of its smooth electric torque but partially because the Civic Si still only offers 200 horsepower. That’s just three more than it made in 2006, although a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine instead of a naturally aspirated two-liter screamer has traded revs for torque.
However, most people don’t buy Civic Sis for straight-line performance. They buy them because each one features a proper limited-slip differential and one of the sweetest shifters this side of a Mazda MX-5. With a short throw and tight gates, it’s a joy to engage with even if rev hang hampers shift speed. With a combined fuel economy rating of 31 MPG, it’s a practical, economical sedan that’s involving to drive without breaking the bank.
With a price tag of $32,690, the 2026 Honda Civic Si is the second-least-expensive new stick-shift car you can buy next to the base Mazda MX-5. However, next year, the second-least expensive new stick-shift car you can buy will likely be something else. On Wednesday, an internal memo surfaced claiming that the Civic Si would be temporarily dropped.
Due to evolving business conditions surrounding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations required to certify 2027 MY and beyond, Honda has made the decision to pause production of the trims that utilize the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired to the six-speed manual transmission (6MT) at the conclusion of the 2026 model year.
It turns out the memo’s accurate. This will be the last full year of the Honda Civic Si and Acura Integra A-Spec 6MT until further notice. However, that doesn’t mean that both of these models are gone for good. Honda plans to restart production of both models when the opportunity arises, although we don’t know just how long this break is going to be. There’s certainly something strange about Honda not being allowed to sell the little Civic Si for 2027 without further certification yet Dodge is cool to keep putting Hellcat engines in Durangos, but that’s bureaucracy for you.
Still, even though the Honda Civic Si can’t really hold its own against the Hyundai Elantra N, I’ll be sad to see it go. We all should be. Sure, that 1.5-liter turbocharged straight-four is rather atonal and curiously inert, but the rest of the car is a solid sensible giggle. The red upholstery is a bit juvenile, but beyond that, it’s a proper economy car for keen drivers with plenty of grip, solid aftermarket support, and genuine refinement.
While Honda expects to have stock into 2027, we’ll eventually get to a point where, for the first time in 27 years, you won’t be able to just walk into a Honda dealership and drive out in a new Civic Si. I know it’s only temporary, but that doesn’t make it feel any less bizarre.
Top graphic image: Honda
Sad news. I bought an Si in May and I really like the drivetrain in this car. This latest iteration of the 1.5L is quite torquey, making it fun to drive even when you don’t rev it to 5000+ rpm. When you do rev it, you get the shift lights that make it seem like you shouldn’t be allowed to have this on a street.
Usually I’m commuting 40 minutes in heavy highway traffic to work. It’s a rare car that can make this kind of drive engaging. Most sports cars are ridiculous overkill and downright frustrating to use for such a task. But in the Si I’m shifting up and down the gearbox with the computer handling the rev-matching on downshifts as traffic speeds yoyo … or if I want, I can leave it in a single gear for quite a while – this engine will happily cruise anywhere from 1500 RPM to 3000RPM (70mph in 6th gear is ~3000RPM) in any gear. With such a small turbo, I don’t notice any lag at all. I had a ’17 Golf R manual for a few years that had noticeable lag. I’ve heard talk about rev hang but I haven’t noticed it as an issue.
I test drove the Civic Hybrid. Since it is mostly electric drive, I was hoping it would be torque heavy at low speeds, and therefore feel more powerful than the numbers say, like our Nissan Leaf. But that didn’t really pan out. The Hybrid is fine but just didn’t resonate with me. Better mileage, sure, but the Si gets plenty. After subtracting 2mpg from the optimistic dash mpg numbers, I can easily get 40+ mpg on my (all highway) commute. And my overage average per tank tends to be 35+ mpg. Honda says 91 octane recommended, 87 minimum. I shoot the middle – 89.
The Si is not about being faster. It will lose drag races, on paper and in reality. I’ve owned a Porsche Cayman S manual and it was an amazing car, but actually kind of boring when limited to road legal behaviors or just limited by traffic. The Si is fun regardless.
Time to put the 6 speed with the hybrid for the next SI and then carry that over to the Prelude.
It’s not awful, and I know it’s practical, but I’ve not been enamored of how the last couple of Civic generations look. I’m looking forward to whatever the next generation might bring.
Rev hang is such a drag. I test drove a ’17 Golf GTI manual and it too suffered from the condition. My then daily driver was a 2001 Jetta TDI stick and didn’t do that. I was somewhat bummed. But deep down, I’m happy not to have owned another VAG product.
I have a ’21 GLI 6MT and they eliminated the rev hang sometime between 2017 and 2021.