America’s Second-Most Affordable New Stick-Shift Car Is Taking A Break

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