Design The Civic Si Sedan’s interior is functional and made of high-quality materials, but the split-gauge dash design takes some getting used to. A navigation system is available for $1,750, and includes XM satellite radio.

Of course, the 2007 Honda Civic Si Sedan looks different from the Si Coupe, with a unique body design as well as its own grille and rear spoiler. Otherwise, the Si Sedan is, for the most part, the spitting image of its svelte sister. It wears the same exhaust finisher, the same “iVTEC” decals, and the same snazzy silver-painted alloy wheels. For 2007, a new wheel finish called sparkle silver is available on the Si Sedan and Si Coupe, appropriately trendy in a darker color yet bright enough to avoid the dirty appearance elicited by most gray rims. The sedan’s humble wing spoiler integrates well with the Civic’s fresh design and isn’t too boy-racerish, but a lip spoiler would be preferable.

Inside, the Civic Si Sedan’s materials quality is excellent, and the car is decked out with the same well bolstered and embroidered sport seats as the Si Coupe, which means they’re also covered in fabric that sticks to clothing and shows lots of lint. The floor mats are also embroidered, and the Si Sedan gets sport pedals, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering, and red gauge illumination with a high-rev warning indicator light.

Functionally, the split-level dash design is terrific but I’m not warming up to the look, which is too busy with panel joints in comparison to the car’s otherwise clean appearance inside and out. Assuming the split arrangement is a given, I think it would be better to have a green, yellow, and red bar graph tachometer up top with a traditional speedometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and oil pressure gauge down below. In this car, where maximum horsepower is made so close to maximum repair bills, revs are critical, not speed, so the tach should be located high and within the driver’s line of sight.

Comfort The Honda Civic Si Sedan deftly blends performance with comfort and practicality, thanks to its four doors, roomy interior, and supportive front sport seats.

Honda owes me dinner. A friend of mine was recently shopping for a Volkswagen Jetta TDI, tired as she was of gassing up her Lexus RX 330 for an 80-mile round-trip commute. Trouble was, the VW dealer wanted significantly more than sticker – $32,000 for a turbodiesel with leather and navigation. I told her that for more than ten grand less, she could get a Honda Civic EX with navigation and a 40-mpg highway EPA rating. Today, she is the proud and happy owner of just such a car, which brings me to my point. She called the other day and said: “I didn’t realize how much room there is inside a Civic.”

Room translates to comfort, and the Honda Civic Si Sedan is especially comfortable thanks to its unique sport seats. It’s not just occupants sitting in the front seat who enjoy the ride, because with the two six-footers residing up front there’s still enough room for another pair of ‘em in the back, and leg room is generous enough that their legs won’t contact the seatbacks. Plus, the rear floor is flat so there’s no drivetrain or exhaust hump to crowd feet, and the Si Sedan comes with a rear center armrest. Seriously, in a practical sense, the Civic offers more back seat space than some so-called midsize sedans.

If I can complain at all about comfort levels, it’s with the location of the parking brake. I tend to sit in a splay-legged driving position, forcing the brake handle directly into my right knee. For this test drive, I spent extra time fiddling with the tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, as well as the seat settings. The result was that I found a position which resolved my complaint, perhaps in part because the sport seat bolsters placed my right leg on a more linear plane with the accelerator.

One of my favorite things about the Civic Si is its standard 350-watt stereo with a six-disc CD changer and XM satellite radio. Sound quality is terrific, and unexpected in a small car. I also think it’s nice of Honda to offer a navigation system at this price point, though personally I’d likely skip this option. Like the rear seat, the Civic’s trunk is surprisingly roomy, well shaped, and equipped with a low liftover height. There’s no close-assist handle on the inside, but the lid is light and easy to slam shut. For added space, the rear seatbacks fold in a 60/40 split.