Honda Civic Type R Review

Introduction

For many enthusiasts, the first question following the launch of any new Honda Civic is to ask when the Type R version is coming. So when Honda launched the new Civic last year, we were particularly pleased to find this high-performance model would follow in short order. For fans of hot hatchbacks, it’s one of the cars that defines the genre, second only to the VW Golf GTI in terms of instant recognisability.

Yet the new model is a bit different, in that it’s based on a hybrid hatchback with more focus on comfort and economy than on sporting intent. So how does that translate into a high-powered sports model, and will the new Type R really prove anything like as appealing as its brilliant predecessor? There’s only one way to find out…

At a Glance

The new Civic looks a little more restrained than its predecessor, which was always designed to look a bit aggressive. However, in the case of the Type R, where aggression is a much more universally desirable trait, that has left Honda at a disadvantage. Nevertheless, the new model has all the wings and fins of its predecessor, so there’s no doubting its intentions. It just feels a little more grown up.

It certainly feels more grown up inside, where Honda has made great strides in terms of cabin quality and on-board technology. Both were major weak points for the old model, but that’s all changed now. Here is a surprisingly upmarket cabin on which Honda has hung all the usual Type R mod-cons, including red suede seats and sportier instruments.

But while the new Type R has inherited much from the Civic, Honda hasn’t given it hybrid power. Instead, the Type R gets a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a manual gearbox, just like the old model. Unlike the old car, though, the new Type R churns out 329hp, all of which goes to the front wheels.

That’s a bit strange for a modern hot hatchback, which would usually use all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission to deal with such power, but Honda wanted something more involving, so front-wheel-drive it is. And although that doesn’t necessarily help with performance figures, it makes the Type R feel old-school and exciting to drive quickly in wet weather.

Key Features

A big part of the Civic Type R experience is that outrageous bodykit, with the big rear wing, triple exhausts and aggressive bumpers. The new model is a little more restrained than some of its predecessors, but it’s a handsome-looking thing and some will prefer the more sophisticated image. But everyone will love the new interior, which is a massive step forward in terms of technology and design. Quality is exemplary, and the red seats and improved digital displays ensure it still has a sense of occasion.

But when it comes to hot hatchbacks – and indeed any performance car – it’s the driving experience that does the heavy lifting. There, the Type R excels, offering a light-footed agility and a sense of poise not normally expected from practical five-door cars. There’s something old-school about the way it delivers its power in big, turbo-assisted slugs, but the screaming 2.0-litre engine and the nimbleness of the chassis means it can still cut it alongside modern rivals.

Performance & Drive

Although the Type R is, technically, a Honda Civic, it has a very different propulsion system. While the standard car has a clever hybrid system, the Type R just has a 2.0-litre petrol engine that’s turbocharged to produce 329hp. That then goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The result is a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, which is governed as much by the speed at which you can change gear than the speed the car is capable of. Other hot hatchbacks are faster in a straight line – largely thanks to automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive – but Honda is well aware of this.

Instead of chasing performance figures, the Japanese company prioritised feel, and it wants the Type R to feel like a proper, back-to-basics hot hatchback, albeit one that’s incredibly well sorted. In that quest, the company has been aided by its work on the conventional Civic, which is both great to drive quickly and very comfortable.

As a result, the Type R is much softer than some of its predecessors, to the point where it’s now quite an easy car to cover miles in. The ride isn’t soft, but it is supple and compliant, which means the bumps don’t shake your teeth out. Naturally, the Sport setting is a bit stiffer and the +R mode is really too firm for road use in the UK, but in Comfort mode it’s subdued and laid back, which is a really nice option.

That said, we’d spend most of our time in Sport mode, which sharpens things up a bit. There, the wide tyres and clever suspension give the car immense grip, which means you can corner at the sort of speeds that make physics look a bit foolish. The body control is immense, the steering is brilliant, but the highlight is the gearbox, which is snappy and smooth, and it comes with rev-matching technology to prevent the clumsy from causing expensive damage.

Running Costs & Emissions

Nobody is leasing a Civic Type R to save money on fuel, so it’s no surprise to see pretty poor official economy figures from the Honda. Officially, it’ll return 34.4mpg, and our test suggested you could get that on a long drive, assuming you don’t use too much of the car’s performance. And with carbon dioxide emissions of well over 180g/km, don’t expect many people to choose one of these as a company car. The Benefit-in-Kind tax rates are not, erm, kind…

Interior & Technology

One of the most remarkable things about the new Civic – both in conventional hybrid form and in stonking Type R guise – is the new interior. Vastly more upmarket than before, the revamped cabin has impressive build quality and much more robust materials, as well as a much-improved design.

It will never be confused with a properly premium product, particularly in this Type R, but it feels special and spectacular, with plenty of classic Type R fixtures and fittings to add a sense of occasion. Chief among these are the seats, which are sculpted bucket-style arrangements trimmed in red suedecloth. They’re more comfortable than you might think and they hold you in place beautifully, although they aren’t quite as adjustable as we’d like.

Add to that the red stitching, the alloy gear knob and the alloy pedals, and you’ve got an unquestionably sporty atmosphere, but arguably the highlight is not the sportiness, but the technology. Where the touchscreen infotainment system used to be a weakness for the Type R, the latest-generation system is a huge step forward, with sharper graphics, slicker operation and more modern functionality. It isn’t perfect – few such systems are – but it’s so much better than before that we’ll forgive it most things.

The same goes for the digital instrument display, which is another giant leap forward for the Civic. Where the old system looked decidedly arcade-esque, the new setup is considerably more sophisticated and easier to read, as well as looking more modern. Combine all that with Honda’s excellent smartphone integration (through the mediums of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), and the new Civic is on to a winner.

Practicality & Boot Space

Although the new Civic Type R has a different engine to its siblings and flash bucket seats, it’s really no less useful than the standard car. Sure, it guzzles a bit more petrol, but the view from the front is largely the same. Even the huge rear wing isn’t as obstructive as you might expect. Of course, the seats aren’t as comfortable, but there’s plenty of elbow room in there and space in the back is ample, too. You can quite happily fit four adults in there, and space for kids is cavernous, although really tall passengers might find headroom a little tight.

Boot space, meanwhile, is even more plentiful, with a 410-litre luggage bay that’s exactly the same size as the one you’ll find in the hybrid Civic. Admittedly, it’s 10 litres smaller than that of the old Type R, but we challenge any customer to spot that tiny difference in overall size. Whichever way you cut it, the Civic Type R’s boot is massive by the standards of the class, and it’s easily the most practical option out there.

Safety

Although Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Civic Type R specifically, the car essentially inherits the same score as the standard Civic. And that’s good news, because the conventional Civic scored very solidly indeed when it was tested, achieving a maximum five-star rating thanks to a strong showing in every area.

And so it should, because this is basically a family car, and Honda has equipped it accordingly. The Civic gets essentially the same safety kit as the basic Civic, with adaptive cruise control that can maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front and parking sensors at the front and rear. There’s a rear-view camera, too, and you get lane departure warning and brake assistance technology, which will either stop or slow the car when the driver fails to respond to a hazard up ahead.

Options

The Type R is a standalone product, so options are few and far between. Not that it needs many, when the standard specification is so generous. LED headlights, 19-inch black alloy wheels and a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard, along with a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors and a digital instrument cluster.

Furthermore, Honda will throw in a driving mode switch, wireless phone charging and two-zone climate control, not to mention automatic lights and wipers. Combine that with all the performance-orientated Type R stuff – the sports seats, alloy gear knob and the body kit – and you’ve got a rather generous specification.

If you want to customise your car, colours are the main way in which you can do so. Honda offers a choice of classic black, white and grey colour schemes, or you can go for the bright Rallye Red or the snazzy Racing Blue Pearl colours. Aside from that, the only optional extra is a £150 boot separator kit with different partitions for carrying cargo.

Rival Cars

The hot hatchback market is becoming increasingly busy, despite the ongoing trudge towards electrification and hybridisation. Nevertheless, some classic models remain popular, with the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Ford Focus ST still going strong. Both have plenty of performance and both are brilliant to drive, but they aren’t quite as madcap as the Civic, with all its fins and wings. The same also goes for the Cupra Leon, which is a very commendable and very subtle hot hatchback, while the Skoda Octavia vRS continues to supply customers with practicality and performance, as well as an understated image.

Or you could go a bit more upmarket with the Mercedes-AMG A 35 or the Audi S3, both of which use all-wheel-drive and automatic transmissions to get their power down. The BMW M135i does the same thing to great effect, and it’s arguably the most convincing of the premium hot hatches.

But the Civic’s biggest rivals are a bit more ambitious, with the Volkswagen Golf R, Mercedes-AMG A 45 S and Audi RS 3 all in the running to be crowned top dog. The Golf R uses much the same 2.0-litre powertrain as the Audi S3, serving up 320hp to all four wheels via its double-clutch automatic gearbox. The Mercedes tries a similar trick, although its 2.0-litre petrol engine churns out more than 400hp. And the RS 3 has a characterful 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine to achieve much the same feat.

In truth, the statistics suggest many of these cars are faster or more exciting than the Type R, and while it’s true that an Audi S3 or a Golf R offers more accessible pace, the Type R has an old-school charm that’s missing from plenty of other models.

Verdict & Next Steps

The new Civic Type R follows on from its predecessor in all the ways that matter – namely performance, handling and attitude – but it’s a more polished product. The new interior feels more upmarket and the new tech is light years ahead, which makes the car feel like a more mature and more modern product. On the road, the difference isn’t massive, but that just means there’s a well-sorted, fun-to-drive hatchback under the rowdy skin. So if you have the old Type R and you’re stuck with it for another three years, don’t worry, you aren’t missing much. But when the time comes to chop your car in for another, you’ll love this one just as much.

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the Honda Civic.

**Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 16/05/23.