Why Honda Civic Si Seat comfort can be a challenge

Civic Si comes to market with what is arguably the most comfortable aggressively bolstered seat in the compact performance car segment. Yet some drivers find Civic Si to be downright painful. Can Civic Si’s seat be adjusted for extended drive comfort?

Honda engineering and design does a commendable job of accommodating a broad cross-section of body types. While the car manufacturers most often use the 6 foot 2 inch height maximum for cabin design, thanks to near infinite position adjust ability, a long seat track, and exceptional headroom, the taller, larger driver, can more often than not achieve a decent, relatively comfortable seating position in Civic Si coupe and sedan. I drive the backroads of Western Oregon in Civic Si.

The 10th generation Honda Civic lives large, approaching midsize in dimension, comfort and drive feel. Yet, Civic Si is a performance platformed club car with true racetrack tested components, tuned suspension, and cabin ergonomics. While Si is not a Civic Type-R, it is the quickest coupe and 4-door sedan in Honda’s lineup and comes complete with an aggressively bolstered driver’s and front passenger fabric covered bucket seat. This becomes problematic for those of us with broad hips, large of frame, or weighing in at more than a competitive jockey, Formula 1 driver size.

Civic Si’s stiffer suspension, tighter handling, turbo power, and a seat that holds

While the high bolstered seat can be problematic, Civic’s new found 10th generation lowered seating position also comes into play. As shared with Torque News by our friends at CivicX.com, the lowered seating position effectively changes the angle of the leg and knee in relative position to butt and lower torso. In my case, with the seat adjusted to the far back position, I’m having to reach far forward for the steering wheel, while in the case of Civic Si, handling the manual shifting duties. This can and does result in leg, lower back, and neck strain. After experiencing Civic Si, I wasn’t convinced that I needed this car.

After a day or two behind the wheel of 2017 Civic Si, I found the perfect seat setting, or as close as my 6 foot, 5 inch, 230 lb frame can come to it. Adjust the seat as you will, Honda Si is not the perfect compact performance offering for all drivers, although I’ve yet to find a better bargain in the segment.

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