Honda performance history: Civic Si, Type R, S2000 and Prelude

Honda performance car history history

The Civic Si was first introduced for the 1986 model year, and Honda's model history lists the CRX and CRX Si as part of the third-generation Civic family. The fifth-generation Si of 1992–1995 brought VTEC and 125 hp.

The Prelude coupe appears in every EPA listing from 1984, where the agency's online records begin, through 2001. The S2000 roadster, built at Takanezawa, Japan, alongside the Insight and NSX, is listed for 2000–2009 with a 2.0-liter four, enlarged to 2.2 liters from 2004.

The Civic Type R, which Honda says was the first Type R-badged Honda sold in the US, went on sale on June 15, 2017. A pre-production car lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:43.80 that April, which Honda called a record for a front-drive production car. The NSX was sold in the US as an Acura.[1],[3],[5],[7],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 1992–1995 Civic Si's VTEC engine made 125 hp, the Civic's first use of VTEC variable valve timing.
• The 2026 Civic Si's 1.5-liter turbo makes 200 hp at 6,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft from 1,800–5,000 rpm, with a 6,600-rpm redline.
• The 2017 Type R's 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo made 306 hp at 6,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft from 2,500–4,500 rpm; the engine was built in Anna, Ohio. The 2023 version makes 315 hp.
• EPA lists the S2000 with a DOHC-VTEC 2.0-liter four from 2000 and a 2.2-liter from 2004, always with a 6-speed manual.
• The 2026 Prelude is a 2.0-liter hybrid rated by EPA at 46 city / 41 highway / 44 combined mpg.

Sources:[2],[3],[5],[6],[9],[10],[11]

What changed over the years

1. 1986Civic Si introduced; CRX Si in the third-generation Civic family.
2. 1992Fifth-generation Civic Si gets VTEC and 125 hp.
3. 2000S2000 roadster arrives.
4. 2001Final EPA-listed model year of the original Prelude.
5. 2004S2000 moves to a 2.2-liter engine.
6. 2009Final S2000 model year.
7. June 2017First US Civic Type R goes on sale.
8. October 2022315-hp 2023 Civic Type R arrives.
9. 2026Prelude returns as a hybrid; Honda announces the Si will pause after the 2026 model year.

Sources:[1],[3],[5],[6],[9],[10],[11],[13],[14],[16],[17]

What to check before you buy one

• Confirm a Si or Type R by VIN; badges and body kits are easy to add to a base Civic.
• Performance Hondas are often modified. Ask what has been changed, look for receipts and a stock-parts list, and have the car inspected before you buy.
• On an S2000, confirm whether it is a 2.0-liter (2000–2003) or 2.2-liter (2004–2009) car from the model year and VIN.
• Check the VIN for open recalls at NHTSA or recalls.honda.com before purchase.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Honda Civic known issues page.

How to verify a Honda performance car history's factory options

A used Honda's model, engine and drivetrain are fixed at the factory. CarWhere decodes the 17-character VIN and, where licensed factory build data exists, lists the equipment the car was built with. It does not promise a complete option list for every VIN.