Teresa’s View

If it seems odd to use the words “Bad Boy” and “Honda Civic” in the same sentence, you obviously don’t dwell in the fast and furious world of high-performance tuner cars. Don’t feel bad. Few of us do.

Most of us are familiar with the popular and affordable Civic — Honda has sold more than 7 million of them in the United States — but it’s the Civic Si version that earns the Bad Boy moniker. In fact, the Si was one of the first of the tuner cars and helped start the whole darn craze — you know the cars I mean; the inexpensive compacts with those huge rear spoilers, low-profile tires and thumping stereo systems.

This is not mom’s car.

That said, this mom had a fabulous time blasting around town and over hill and dale during my week with the Civic Si. The complete overhaul Honda gave the Civic this year makes the already fun-to-drive Si even better. The new short-throw, six-speed gearbox is fabulous, but the clutch takes some getting used to. I’d like it to spring back more firmly for crisper shifts.

The 2006 Si gets high marks in the looks department. An aggressive front end gives way to a squared-off tush that includes an actual trunk instead of the hatchback set-up sported by the previous model.

What Is It?: At $20K, the front-wheel drive compact coupe sits at the high end of the Civic-pricing spectrum. Buyers get a more powerful engine than the one found in regular Civics — a high-revving 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts the “sport injection” in “Si” — plus performance tires, a power sunroof and a slew of other nifty features. Options include a navigation system and XM satellite radio. Look for a sedan version by the end of the year.

The Back Seat: Don’t put people back here. Legroom is limited and if you are like most tuner boys and girls, you are an enthusiastic driver. Combine that with the Si’s sport-tuned suspension and the motion sickness quotient for back-seat passengers is off the charts. I only used the back seat for my purse and even it looked a little green around the gills after an hour on my favorite twisty roads.

Psst: Tell your mom that, like the rest of the Civics, the Si is loaded with safety features and in government crash tests, it got top scores in every category. She should still worry about your driving, but the car is safer than most.

Fuel Facts: Not only does the Si require premium petrol, it’s a smidge more thirsty than the rest of its Civic siblings.

So, Where Are Ya From?: The Si is assembled in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.

Civic Lesson: The Civic was the smallest of the Honda’s offerings until the recent introduction of the all-new Fit.

Correction: In last week’s review, I incorrectly noted Kia’s ownership. As I have mentioned before, Hyundai owns Kia.