Best Mods and Upgrades For First-Time Honda Civic Si Owners

Earlier in the week we took you on a brief tour of the current-generation Honda Civic Si, a model that has built on the performance specs and tech innovation of previous Civic Si models admirably. There's no doubt that the eleventh generation Civic Si is worth buying for any serious enthusiast, but if this is your first time in the Civic world, where do you even start? 

Today we want to help you answer that question - we'll be taking you through a few of our favorite first mods to do for the Civic Si below, as well as directing you to some popular brands that we have in stock right now. Join us and check out the perfect build sheet for your Civic Si. 

Read More: Should You Buy An 11th Generation Honda Civic Si?

Intakes

What Performance Benefits Do Intakes Provide For Cars? 

First on our list is a favorite of many performance heads out there - the cold air intake. Cold air intakes work by bringing cooler air into your engine than you'd otherwise get with a stock engine setup, and because cold air can handle more oxygen, this gives your engine more of a boost because of the nature of the part. 

This makes intakes a popular choice for those in search of some extra punch for their Civic models - in many cases, you can expect a horsepower increase of about 10 to 20 hp for your car, although we've seen higher amounts of output recorded. 

Who Should Buy Intakes For Their Civic Si? 

People who just want to go fast. We of course would add the caveat that if you want to install an intake in your Civic and it's your first time doing so, make sure that you're getting one that is compatible and you either can install it correctly or will take it to a shop that does. Installing an intake incorrectly can be a recipe for disaster, so take the necessary precautions to ensure that you're going about things the right way.  

What Are The Best Cold Air Intake Manufacturers For The Civic Si? 

Shameless plug, but we genuinely believe that our in-house MAPerformance intake is the best you can buy for your Civic Si. We've taken everything we've learned from building performance parts for previous Civic Si models and translated that to the current version, and our heritage of setting performance and speed records continues here. 

Elsewhere in our inventory you'll find quality intakes from PRL and Injen, among others - each of these are high performers in their own rights. 

Shop All Intake Types In Our Store!



Exhaust Kits

Top Benefits Of Aftermarket Exhaust Kits

If you're happy with the performance capabilities or your Civic Si or you want to build on top of it even further, you might want to consider a new exhaust kit for the model. Stock exhausts are usually decent on most new cars, but exhaust kits have benefits that stretch far beyond just the sound your car will make. Of course, if your only goal is for your Civic to sound louder and meaner, you can find plenty of kits to scratch that itch. 

One of the biggest advantages to an aftermarket exhaust kit is that they offer increased airflow, and this is huge for both efficiency and performance. The more air your car is able to circulate and expel, the faster it can utilize more air, leading to a better, smoother and more powerful ride, albeit a bit more subtly than some other parts. 

When Should You Buy A New Exhaust Kit For Your Civic Si? 

If you want your car to sound louder and perform better, a good exhaust kit is the way to go. You'll have quite a few options to choose from on your search, but whether you go with an axle back, cat back or straight pipe, the performance benefits will all be similar. 

What Are The Best Exhaust Brands On The Market For The Civic Si? 

You can't go wrong with an MAPerformance exhaust kit for your Civic Si - we have high-quality cat back exhausts in our store right now with the option of street (with resonators) and race (no resonators) styling, and you'll also get the choice of different tip styles as well, including polished, burnt blue, and carbon fiber tips. 

Of course, industry favorites like aFe Power and MagnaFlow are represented in our inventory too, although by going with us you'll be saving upwards of $500 in some cases for better performance. 

Shop All Car Exhaust Types In Our Store!



Coilovers

Benefits Of Buying Coilovers For Your Car

Finally, another popular and common mod that first time Civic owners will make is replacing their stock suspension kits with an aftermarket option, usually a set of springs. These serve plenty of purposes, all related to performance and sportiness on your car. 

The key reason that most enthusiasts buy coilovers is because they offer much more in the way of customization and on-road performance than stock suspension kits and shocks. With coilovers installed you're able to adjust your ride height and get better handling over other suspension setups - coilovers are also touted as being better for overall ride stability because they can support each individual wheel, provided that you've installed them the right way. 

Who Should Buy Coilovers For Their Civic Si? 

Track-ready enthusiasts and those who want more control out of their car should definitely give a set of coilovers a shot. Because of the nature of coilover construction, they can help to drastically reduce body roll, especially when you're taking your car around tight turns or corners like you'd find on a track setup.

Since track use is one of the most popular applications for the Civic Si, it shouldn't be surprising why so many drivers will install coilovers on the model as soon as they're able. More control and athleticism is always preferred over the alternative. 

Best Aftermarket Coilover Manufacturers and Brands

The usual suspects like Tein, BC Racing and Bilstein are all well-represented in our store, but we have to give a special shoutout to Evolved Autosport, built with American-sourced parts and expert customer service along with high-quality craftsmanship to complete the whole deal. Evolved is very new to the game, having been established in 2023, but it's quickly becoming a market favorite thanks to its wide range of available parts, ease of installation, and friendly staff. 

Shop All Civic Si Coilovers In Our Store!

Shop All Parts and Accessories for the Current-Gen Honda Civic Si At MAPerformance

The current-gen Honda Civic Si is essentially a blank canvas, and there's so much you can do on it no matter where you want to start. We hope this has helped point you in the right direction, though, and if so, feel free to head over to our store page and grab the best parts to start your build. Of course, our team is always standing by and ready to help if you need any assistance finding the perfect accessories for your Si build.