Hey guys! Today, I'm super stoked to walk you through my journey of building my 2020 Honda Civic Sport. This wasn't just about slapping on some mods; it was about creating a personalized driving experience that truly reflects my style and performance needs. If you're thinking about doing something similar, or just curious about the process, stick around! This is going to be a fun and detailed ride.

Why the 2020 Honda Civic Sport?

So, why did I choose the 2020 Honda Civic Sport as my canvas? Well, several reasons. First off, the Civic has always had a reputation for reliability, and the Sport trim offers a fantastic balance of aesthetics and practicality. I wanted a car that looked good and was fun to drive, but wouldn't leave me stranded on the side of the road. The Civic Sport, with its sporty styling cues like the rear spoiler, blacked-out trim, and unique wheels, immediately caught my eye. Plus, the interior is surprisingly well-appointed for its class, offering a comfortable and tech-savvy environment.

Beyond the aesthetics, the Civic Sport also provides a solid foundation for performance upgrades. The 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, while not a powerhouse, is responsive and rev-happy, making it enjoyable to drive around town. And the chassis is known for its excellent handling, providing a great starting point for suspension modifications. Basically, I saw the 2020 Civic Sport as a blank slate with a ton of potential, ready to be transformed into something truly special.

Another significant factor was the aftermarket support. The Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars in the world, meaning there's a massive selection of aftermarket parts available. Whether you're looking for performance upgrades, cosmetic enhancements, or interior accessories, you can find it for the Civic. This vast aftermarket support gave me the confidence to tackle this build, knowing I'd have plenty of options to choose from. The abundance of choices can be overwhelming, but it also means you can really tailor your build to your specific needs and preferences.

Finally, let's talk about value. The 2020 Honda Civic Sport offers a lot of features for its price point. It's an affordable car to begin with, and even after adding aftermarket parts, it still represents a great value proposition. You're getting a reliable, stylish, and fun-to-drive car that you've customized to your exact liking. For me, that's a winning combination. The Civic Sport isn't just transportation; it's a platform for self-expression and a project that brings a lot of satisfaction.

Phase 1: Enhancing the Aesthetics

Okay, let's dive into the build itself. The first phase was all about enhancing the aesthetics of the car. While the Civic Sport already looks pretty good from the factory, I wanted to give it a more aggressive and personalized look. This meant focusing on things like wheels, tires, and exterior trim. I wanted to make a statement without going overboard.

First up were the wheels. The stock wheels on the Civic Sport are decent, but they didn't quite match the look I was going for. After doing a ton of research, I settled on a set of 18-inch Enkei RPF1 wheels in a matte black finish. The RPF1 is a classic wheel design known for its lightweight construction and motorsport heritage. I felt they gave the car a more aggressive and sporty stance, plus the reduced weight improved handling and acceleration slightly. I wrapped the wheels in a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, which offer incredible grip and responsiveness. The combination of the Enkei wheels and Michelin tires made a noticeable difference in the car's handling and appearance. It was a significant upgrade that was well worth the investment.

Next, I addressed the exterior trim. I wasn't a huge fan of the chrome accents on the stock Civic Sport, so I decided to black them out. I used vinyl wrap to cover the chrome window trim, door handles, and front grille surround. This gave the car a much cleaner and more modern look. The blacked-out trim contrasted nicely with the car's paint color, creating a more cohesive and aggressive appearance. I also added a front lip spoiler to enhance the car's front-end styling. The lip spoiler not only looks good but also improves aerodynamics slightly, helping to reduce lift at higher speeds. These small cosmetic changes made a big difference in the overall look of the car.

Finally, I tinted the windows to complete the aesthetic transformation. I went with a 35% tint on the side windows and a 20% tint on the rear window. The window tint not only looks cool but also provides added privacy and helps to keep the interior cool in the summer. It's a simple and relatively inexpensive modification that can dramatically improve the look of your car. With the new wheels, tires, blacked-out trim, front lip spoiler, and window tint, my 2020 Civic Sport was starting to look like a completely different car. The aesthetic enhancements were a success, and I was excited to move on to the next phase: performance upgrades.

Phase 2: Boosting Performance

With the aesthetics dialed in, it was time to focus on performance. While the 2.0-liter engine in the Civic Sport is adequate, I wanted to unlock its full potential. This meant exploring options like intake, exhaust, and tuning. I wasn't looking to build a race car, but I wanted to add some extra pep to the Civic's step.

My first performance upgrade was an aftermarket cold air intake. I chose the K&N 69-Series Typhoon intake, which is designed to improve airflow to the engine. The K&N intake features a high-flow air filter and a redesigned intake tube, which allows the engine to breathe more freely. The result was a noticeable improvement in throttle response and a slight increase in horsepower. Plus, the intake made a cool sound under acceleration, which added to the driving experience. Installing the intake was relatively straightforward, and I was able to do it myself with basic tools. The cold air intake was a worthwhile upgrade that provided both performance and auditory benefits.

Next, I upgraded the exhaust system. I opted for a cat-back exhaust system from Magnaflow. A cat-back exhaust replaces everything from the catalytic converter back, including the mid-pipe and muffler. The Magnaflow system is designed to reduce backpressure and improve exhaust flow, resulting in increased horsepower and torque. The exhaust also gave the car a deeper and more aggressive exhaust note. It wasn't obnoxiously loud, but it definitely made its presence known. The Magnaflow exhaust was a bit more involved to install than the intake, but with the help of a friend and some basic tools, we were able to get it done in a few hours.

Finally, I had the car professionally tuned by a reputable tuner. A tune optimizes the engine's computer settings to maximize performance. The tuner adjusted parameters such as fuel delivery, ignition timing, and air-fuel ratio to extract the most power from the engine. The tune also improved throttle response and smoothed out the powerband. After the tune, the car felt significantly more responsive and powerful. It was like the engine was finally able to breathe freely. The tune was the most expensive of the performance upgrades, but it was well worth the investment. It unlocked the full potential of the intake and exhaust, resulting in a noticeable improvement in overall performance. With the intake, exhaust, and tune, my 2020 Civic Sport was now significantly faster and more fun to drive. The performance upgrades transformed the car from a decent performer to a truly engaging driving machine.

Phase 3: Suspension and Handling

Now that I had addressed the aesthetics and performance, it was time to focus on suspension and handling. The Civic Sport already handles pretty well from the factory, but I wanted to take it to the next level. This meant exploring options like lowering springs, coilovers, and sway bars. My goal was to improve the car's cornering ability and reduce body roll without sacrificing too much ride comfort.

My first suspension upgrade was a set of lowering springs. I chose the Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs, which are designed to lower the car's ride height by about an inch. Lowering the car improves its center of gravity, resulting in reduced body roll and improved handling. The Eibach springs also offer a slightly stiffer spring rate, which further enhances handling. The ride quality with the Eibach springs is still quite good, making them a great option for a daily-driven car. Installing the lowering springs was a bit more involved than the previous modifications, but with the help of a friend and some specialized tools, we were able to get it done in a weekend.

Next, I added a set of aftermarket sway bars. Sway bars connect the left and right wheels, helping to reduce body roll during cornering. I chose the Whiteline adjustable sway bars, which allow you to fine-tune the car's handling characteristics. The Whiteline sway bars are thicker and stiffer than the stock sway bars, resulting in a significant reduction in body roll. The adjustable design allows you to adjust the stiffness of the sway bars to suit your driving style and preferences. Installing the sway bars was relatively straightforward, and I was able to do it myself in a few hours.

With the lowering springs and sway bars installed, the car's handling was dramatically improved. The car felt much more planted in corners, and body roll was significantly reduced. The steering felt more precise, and the car was more responsive to inputs. The ride quality was still acceptable for daily driving, but the car definitely felt more sporty and engaging. The suspension and handling upgrades transformed the car from a decent handler to a truly capable corner carver. It was a significant improvement that made driving the car even more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – my journey of building my 2020 Honda Civic Sport. It's been a long and rewarding process, and I'm thrilled with the results. The car now looks, performs, and handles exactly how I want it to. It's a personalized driving experience that truly reflects my style and preferences. If you're thinking about building your own car, I highly recommend it. It's a great way to learn about cars, express your creativity, and create something truly unique. Remember to do your research, plan carefully, and enjoy the process. And most importantly, have fun! Building a car is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride!