I have always liked what are now known as “hot hatches,” those three-door vehicles that are small, light, powered, and capable of going like stink.  Unfortunately for me and about a dozen other people, I suspect, our appreciation for vehicles like the Civic Si didn’t quite make it vis-à-vis a business case for hatches in the U.S., so except for the want ads, the vehicles went away (the Civic Si hatch had its run in the U.S. from ’86 to the mid ‘90s.  Although there was a coupe Si brought out for the ’99 model year, it doesn’t’ count).  Meanwhile, over in Europe, the hatches stayed hot, are hot, and when reading magazines like say, Top Gear and looking at the Peugeots and even Rovers, I feel pangs of jealousy.

Now when we happen to talk to people who aren’t specifically interested in the subject about “production systems,” they immediately start daydreaming.  It is, admittedly, something of an acquired interest.  But there is more to be said for Honda’s production system than it is efficient or that it provides durable, quality, reliable vehicles.  It is also permitting the Civic Si, one that’s being built in its plant in Swindon, England, to make it back in the U.S. at a price under $20K.  This is a car with a 2.0-liter engine providing 160-hp (at 6,500 rpm) and 132 lb.-ft. of torque (at 5,000 rpm), a vehicle with Honda’s VTEC system (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) and a variable timing control system that continually adjusts the intake camshaft phase.  A vehicle that’s equipped with a close-ratio five-speed mounted on the dash a la a rally car (which is more common in, say, Europe than around here).  There are a MacPherson strut front suspension and a double-wishbone rear suspension, with front and rear stabilizer bars.  Electric power steering helps when maneuvering; ABS helps bring it to a quick stop.  This is a vehicle that is not only what it once was, but a little more.  Not that I don’t have fond memories of the second-generation vehicle, though. . .

The inside—at least if you’re sitting in the front seats—is roomy.  The cleverness of the hatch, of course, is predicated on being able to fold the back seat down so there is a full area to load things through the vehicle’s 1,102-mm wide rear opening (hey, this is a European-built vehicle, so we’ll use the metric system).  The gages are black-on-white, which is a good look, and compliments the silver-shiny plastic bits that are on the IP (which, I must note by way of quibble, seems to be made of too many interfacing bits, which resulted in a cold-induced rattle when driving on a crisp fall morning).  The headroom—even with a moonroof (which is just 50 mm thick)—is quite reasonable.  Of course, the overall design of this hatch is high, bringing to mind something like the European-derived Ford Focus.

Speaking of which: The drivers who really checked out the Civic Si seemed to be those who were driving ZX3 Foci.  And all I could think was, “Don’t they wish.”