Unofficial: 2016 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo Faster Than 9th Gen Civic Si
By Paulo Acoba
JeffX from the Temple of VTEC managed to strap a VBOX onto the 2016 Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo and extrapolated wheel horsepower as well as a 0-60 and quarter mile time.
Update February 17, 2016- Hondata just made it official (via dyno)
Ever since the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe and Sedan equipped with the 1.5 turbos were handed out to a few lucky auto journalists, they’ve all been hankering one way or another to stick one on a dyno to see just how fast these turbos really are. JeffX from Temple of VTEC planned to do just that, but with his dyno guy nowhere to be found, he did the next best thing which was strap a VBOX performance meter inside while he took the 2016 Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo out on some WOT runs. It should be noted that at this time, the Coupe only comes equipped with a CVT. The results were pretty surprising. Basically, JeffX found out that the new 1.5 turbo power units were as quick as, if not faster than the K24Z7’s found in the current 9th gen Honda Civic Si.
While not actually a dyno, VBOX’s GPS unit and software is surprisingly accurate. According to RaceLogic, “by using the carrier signals from four to nine of 24 satellites, the VBOX measures speed to an accuracy of 0.1 percent.” And according to Car and Driver, ” Our own preliminary testing of the VBOX’s accuracy relative to our Datron unit has proven the VBOX to be extremely accurate.” Heck, when Hennessey wants to break and verify speed world records, they use VBOX. Suffice to say, VBOX is a pretty accurate measurement tool.
To accurately estimate WHP figures, an approximate total weight and a level driving area is typically what is needed and is what we assume JeffX put in properly into the VBOX unit.
The 2015 Honda Civic Si Coupe and Sedan puts out a respectable 205 HP and 174 lb-ft. Car and Driver was able to pull out a 6.5 second 0-60 MPH time and a 15.1 second quarter mile time. When you strap a stock K24 on the dyno, you’ll typically see wheel hp/lb-ft around 180 HP and 160 lb-ft with peak power well past 7000 RPM. Curb weight for the Honda Civic Si (with no driver) is a tick over 1.5 tons, coming in at 3004-3011 pounds.
The 2016 Honda Civic EX Coupe with the 1.5 Turbo is rated at 174 HP at 6000 RPM with 16.5 psi of boost helping push torque numbers to 162 lb-ft. According to JeffX’s VBOX, the 1.5 turbo put down between 164-166 HP to the ground with no mention of torque figures ( if we estimate around a six percent drivetrain loss, we’re looking at 152 lb-ft.) According to JeffX, curb weight for the coupe plus the driver and 1/2 a tank of fuel came out around 2,900 pounds. After a couple of power runs and standing starts, according to VBOX, JeffX was able to pull off a 0-60 MPH time of 6.5 seconds and a quarter mile run of 14.9 seconds @ 97 MPH.
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Here’s the kicker. The entire time, JeffX was using regular old 87 octane from California’s finest pumps. The 9th Gen Civic Si recommends premium.
And when it comes to fuel efficiency, when all is said and done from the EPA, the 2016 Honda Civic 1.5L turbo is expected to return in excess of 40 MPG on the highway. The best a 2015 Honda Civic Si could muster up is an EPA-rated 31 MPG.
So not only is the mid-range 2016 Honda Civic as fast as a 2015 Honda Civic Si, it’s also more efficient. And these unofficial results don’t account for a manual when that hits the market sometime next year.
According to Jeffx in his final assesment,
"The car launches a bit soft with the CVT, but then it just charges and pulls steadily. I have found it to be quite quick and actually fun to drive as a “daily. Add to that the fact that you can easily achieve over 40mpg all day long on the freeway, and it makes this car a PHENOMENAL “daily driver”. I’m trying to think of any cars in history that combine this level of performance, refinement, comfort while still delivering an honest to god >40mpg on the highway. I don’t think it’s happened. All of this, in a fully loaded package for only $26,500. Seems like a STEAL to me."
So if you’re in the market for something that you want to zip around town in that’s quick on its feet, the 2016 Honda Civic with 1.5L Turbo can fill that void.
Honda has yet to release its 10th gen Civic Si and Type R, both promised to the North American Market. Honda will most likely use a turbocharged 2.0 in the Civic Si with a barn screamer turbo monster unit in the Type R.
Next: 2016 Honda Civic Coupe 1.5L Turbo Will Get Manual Transmission
Honda has awoken from a long and deep sleep and you’d best get out of their way.