What are the prices for the Honda Civic Type R?

The Honda Civic Type R has garnered significant interest even before its official release, with over 4000 expressions of interest logged before most potential customers had a chance to see or test drive it. With the first customer deliveries scheduled for February 2023, the new model is priced at $72,600 drive-away, which represents a significant increase from the last-gen Type R's closing price of under $60,000 drive-away.

What’s under the bonnet? 

The new Type R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, outputting 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque—upgrades from the previous model. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 275km/h. In addition, the car features a six-speed manual transmission, lauded as one of the best ever designed due to refinements made to the shift link mechanism.

A number of revisions and enhancements have been implemented in the new Type R, including a smaller, more efficient turbocharger housing and a wider exhaust intake. These upgrades, along with improvements to the intercooler and a straight-through exhaust, provide quicker engine response and increased power.

How does the Honda Civic Type R drive? 

From the outset, it's evident that the Honda Civic Type R means business. It provides a weighty and meaningful steering experience, a precise and intentional gearshift, and defined engine revs as a response to throttle inputs. Despite significant visual changes from the previous generation, it retains some mechanical components.

The car's VTEC Turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is essentially the same, but alterations to the induction, direct fuel injection, exhaust, and engine management system have resulted in substantial improvements. The vehicle exhibits a more muscular torque, and while power has increased modestly, the power delivery has seen considerable enhancement.

The engine's maximum power comes in earlier, and despite more significant pulling power at lower revs, the four-cylinder is more than eager to climb to its 7000rpm redline. It delivers a gritty sensation as you accelerate and the mechanics underneath harmoniously work to transfer power to the road.

The Civic Type R also features a shift light positioned above the driver's digital instruments, made up of 12 individual LEDs, giving it a classic tuner look. However, the augmented sound piped in through the stereo could use some improvement.

It has a broader front air inlet and a larger radiator for better cooling, as well as a new, lighter flywheel. Drivers can select from Eco, Comfort, Sport, and +R driving modes, or customize their own Individual mode. The power delivery in all these modes is immense, with full auditory entertainment achieved in +R mode.

The Civic Type R's six-speed manual gearbox is a joy to use, precise and easily slipping into gear. The high-biting clutch and the drivetrain's unfussed response to quick gear changes make it effortless to drive in traffic. The steering is entirely direct and feelsome, leading to a keen and smooth tracking through corners without significant body roll.

The Brembo braking system provides unrelenting performance, inspiring confidence with its initial grab and consistent stopping power. The adaptive dampers firm up in Sport and +R modes, offering a versatile range from relaxed Comfort mode to the firm, sporty feel of +R setting.

Overall, the Honda Civic Type R is an immersive driving machine, focusing on speed and stability over theatrics. It is an embodiment of refined performance and intentional engineering, capable of switching from comfortable daily commuting to thrilling, sporty driving on demand.

What is the Honda Civic Type R like on the inside? 

The new Honda Civic Type R offers a distinctive, high-quality interior that leaves an impression from the very first glance. The giant red bucket seats, upholstered in a suede-like material that provides an excellent grip, and the bright red carpeting ensure a unique, immersive driving experience. This choice of color might be divisive, but it certainly enhances the vehicle's specialness and attention to detail.

Inside the car, the high-quality touchpoints are wrapped with pleasant-feeling materials. For example, the metallic gear shifter and suede-effect steering wheel add a luxurious feel to the drive. Details such as metallic door handles, dual-zone climate controls, and suede-esque fabric on the door cards contribute to a coherent, premium interior design.

The interior layout is typical of the eleventh-generation Civic, blending premium features with intriguing design elements. The dashboard features a honeycomb vent strip that matches the grille, and cool alloy-crowned joysticks control the air conditioning. A numbered 'Type R' build badge signifies the model's exclusivity.

The digital and configurable instrument display changes according to the selected drive mode. While the screen may not match the crystal-clear displays found in some German vehicles, the graphics in Sport and +R modes, which show gear position and shift lights, are highly functional. A responsive 9.0-inch infotainment display supports wireless CarPlay, making it excellent for entertainment and connectivity.

In the second row, amenities are minimal, with just a pair of cupholders replacing the usual fifth seat. The back seats lack air vents and map pockets, and the upholstery is black rather than the vibrant red seen in the front. However, the back seats offer decent knee room, although taller passengers may find the headroom somewhat limited due to the roofline.

The rear hatch opens to reveal a 410L load capacity, which can be expanded to 1212L when the 60/40 rear seats are folded down. A sliding cargo blind provides privacy for your belongings, but it's worth noting that there's no spare tire – only a tire repair kit is included.

Is the Honda Civic Type R safe? 

Despite the Civic Type R not being crash-tested by ANCAP, its hybrid counterpart, the Civic e:HEV, received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2022, which applies to all Civic models sold in the European and UK markets. The new Type R also features Honda's Sensing active safety and driver assistance technology, which includes autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and more.

Honda also introduces some impressive passive safety features such as an evolved airbag for front occupants and an outer-lap seatbelt pretensioner for the driver, which can reduce chest injuries during an impact. The Civic models, including the Type R, come equipped with a total of ten airbags, a reverse camera, and other safety features.

How much does the Honda Civic Type R cost to run? 

The Civic Type R is covered by Honda's five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and comes with five years of Premium Roadside Assist. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, with each of the first five service visits costing just $199. Fuel consumption for the Type R on the combined cycle is claimed to be 8.9L/100km.

Yeecar’s Take on the Honda Civic Type R 

Despite the high price tag, the Honda Civic Type R offers exceptional value when evaluated on the basis of its performance and fun factor rather than its driven wheel configuration. With its direct steering, high grip, and excellent handling, it delivers an extremely engaging driving experience that rivals some of the best vehicles costing under $100,000.

The Type R is also a perfectly suitable family car or daily commuter, albeit with a seating capacity of four rather than five—a characteristic trademark of the Type R. If seating capacity is a concern, the regular Civic or the soon-to-be-released Civic e:HEV may be a better fit.

What sets the Honda Civic Type R apart is not just its speed, but also the ease of accessing its power. It effortlessly re-establishes its position at the top of the front-drive performance hierarchy, even giving a few all-wheel-drive hatches a run for their money.

In terms of sheer driving enjoyment and performance car purity, the new Civic Type R is undoubtedly a triumph at any price. If Porsche were to make a front-wheel-drive car, it would likely feel a lot like the Civic Type R.