• JDM tuner Hondata discovers the 2022 Si makes more power
• The 2022 Civic Si makes 22 more hp than advertised
• Manfuactueres routinely sandbag their models

The newest Honda hot sedan is all the rage. The new Civic Si has been everywhere lately, largely because it’s so damn good. It’s been met with rave reviews from everyone who’s gotten their hands on one. And for good reason. The 2022 Honda Civic Si gets a bunch of hand-me-down parts from the current Civic Type R to make it a performance machine. Oh, and 200 hp doesn’t hurt either. Well, it may not actually be 200 hp.

The 2022 Honda Civic Si lies about its power figures

For those of you that aren’t in on the industry secret, renowned JDM tuners Hondata got their Civic Si before any customers for a reason. You see, often OEMs will give out cars to tuning companies ahead of the car’s release. This helps out the tuning companies by allowing them to test new products on pre-production models. That’s exactly what the folks over at Hondata had when they found out the 2022 Honda Civic Si lied about its power figures.

Honda sandbagged the new Si. It not only makes more than the previous 10th-gen Civic, but it also makes nearly the same power as the Volkswagen GTI. In reality, the new Civic produces 222.31 hp, a full 20hp more than claimed. That may not sound like much, but with less than 3,000 lbs to move, you’re likely to notice if you forgot your wallet when you stomp on the gas. Frankly, this is typical of OEMs, and Porsche is notorious for doing exactly this.

Horsepower doesn’t make the 2022 Civic Si a good car

Now, that’s all well and good, but horsepower isn’t what the 2022 Honda Civic Si is about. Not that we’re complaining, mind you. This is a car that’s supposed to be enjoyed from its 1,000 rpm idle all the way to the redline. Power and speed are almost irrelevant in the Si. The 2022 Honda Civic Si is about the experience. It’s one of the few cars left on the enthusiast market that prioritize this over outright speed.

Rather than simply aiming to make the Civic Si faster on paper, the JDM brand has made changes that make the new car more engaging to drive. That means carryover parts from the Type R like interior bits, suspension arms, and bushings. Additionally, the new Si gets stiffer roll bars and an overall stiffer ride. More adhesive has also been used in the construction process to help ensure the only noises you hear are the exhaust and the screaming of your tortured tires.

There won’t be a Civic Si coupe, and we don’t want it

Some are still upset about the demise of the Civic Si coupe, however. To that we say, go drive one. Honda continues to put effort into making their cars the best-driving models at their price point. Here, at least, the Civic Si is a success.