Mike Humble:

“Type R is an almost perfect driving experience and yet just as practical as any other family sized hatchback”

When it comes to hot hatchbacks, many try to muscle in on the act while one or two just simply deserve the much overused moniker of ‘legend’. To use the term legend (no pun intended) Honda not only built a luxury saloon of the same title, but for many years their Type R Civic has gone through a number of evolutions since the first model was launched onto an unsuspecting public in EK9 form in 1997. Now in its sixth generation that was introduced in 2022, the Civic Type R (FL5) represents the latest technology Honda has to offer with a pleasingly watered down styling over the previous FK8 version. Still powered by a transverse 2.0 Turbo VTec engine through a limited slip differential 6 speed gearbox, a few technical tweaks have not only improved efficiency and emissions, but also outright power and torque as well. 

A redesigned turbo with smaller compressor housing and revised turbine blades along with a reworked and straighter exhaust system have boosted outright power from an already useful 306 to a heady 325bhp. Other vehicular revisions include extra weight saving via an aluminium bonnet and redesigned suspension with a slightly widened track. Despite the outgoing and current model having no too dissimilar styling at a passing glance, these are two very different vehicles in almost every area. There’s also a very strong accent on technology too with virtual instruments, a changeable driving style programme, lap timer, G force display and an on board computer that goes so in-depth you almost are in disbelief at the available live data you can summon. It’s just a bit of a shame that the information font and style on the centre screen look a little bit monochrome and old fashioned.

Stats such as air intake temperature, turbo boost status, oil pressure and temperature can be called up on the 10.9” central screen. You can even change the style and display on the main instrument dials from traditional circular items to sliding graphs and digital numerical readouts. All of this may sound a bit overkill, but in practice, and once accustomed to, it’s all rather impressive with the exception of the centre screen display style. Rib hugging red suede bucket seats, a suede rimmed chunky steering wheel, bespoke racing pedals and a gearshift lever turned from a billet of solid aluminium round off what is a bloody good driving position. Equipment such as dual zone climate, adaptive cruise, sat-nav, rear privacy glass and almost every possible kind of direct and passive safety kit all add up to a very well equipped car that simply bristles with technology that’s easy to use.

One of the most impressive things that stands out right away with the new Type R is the much improved overall feeling of quality despite some radical dieting. The last two generations in some areas could feel a bit lightweight and dare I say it – cheap to the touch but Honda have really pulled out all of the stops in order to make it feel and smell every penny of its price tag. The switches rather than clicking on and off or in and out now operate with a near silent damped feel that tells your subconscious that the car should go the full distance. Perhaps not quite as well executed as its arch enemy – the Golf R, but in general quality terms the Type R is pretty damn close. Passengers are treated to ample leg and headroom but that Japanese trait of having lever type reclining controls opposed to a rotary wheel up front means minute adjustments on the move are nigh on impossible. Also, the rear seat is strictly only for two not three.

Unless you select ‘R Mode’ from the driving style programme, the Civic is pleasingly good to ride in. Firm yes but nowhere near as crashing or unbearingly hard as first impressions would perhaps have you to believe. In fact, when in ‘comfort’ mode, show the Type R a smooth bit of fast motorway or dual carriageway; it’s almost as forgiving as any other family sized hatchback.  Massive Brembo discs and callipers shaved off excess knots in nanoseconds and despite some hard charging refused to show any hint of fade or distress. The more you become ‘at one’ with the car, the more you admire and enjoy its serious hard core Japanese technology. It takes a little while to get used to the gizmo overload but once you do the car becomes addictive. 

Power delivery is electrifying with hardly any turbo lag low down or tail off as the revs reach the maximum due to the superb intake engineering of variable valve lift technology and state-of-the-art turbocharging. Even chugging along in heavy traffic is no more a chore than in a less exciting model – a difficult trick to achieve in such a highly strung machine. Civic is a practical thing too thanks to a low flat boot floor and scattered around the cabin are plenty of cup holders and nick nack holders. The only thing I found myself tutting over was the rather small fuel tank size of just over 10 gallons, even driving in slippers will at best give you a range of around 320 miles.

Cruising economy isn’t too bad though a journey from Lancashire to West Sussex sticking to the legal speeds with traffic in my favour saw the car return just short of 40 mpg. I suppose the one advantage of a small tank means you get the chance to hop out more often to admire the huge alloys and boot spoiler. Filling station stops bring plenty of admiring comments from other motorists too while owners of older Type R models overtake you slowly giving an admiring smile or a wave of the hand. And yet, should you see a bit of red mist, the cornering prowess and grip is something to experience – little wonder then that the Type R holds record lap times for both the Suzuka Raceway and the Nürburgring.

At a shade under £50,000 the Honda Civic Type R isn’t what you would call a budget car but equally so, for the quality and its ‘Jeckyll and Hyde’ switchable nature, it’s a car that laughs in the face of modern EV`s and Hybrids. For sure, the sheer level of power being sent through the front wheels requires any driver to be on guard and wide awake and you’ll yelp if you make a mess of your cornering. But to summarise, the Type R is an almost perfect driving experience and yet just as practical as any other family sized hatchback. This will be the last pure petrol powered Honda Civic Type R – but one thing is certainly for sure….

It is, by a notable margin – THE best Type R to date – multi award winning too, so don’t take just my word for it.

FINAL THOUGHT:

Yes yes its expensive, yes yes it isn’t going to appeal to everybody and yes yes it makes a mockery of eco-friendly motoring. You know what? I could’t give a rats@rse. 

I GENUINELY have not had this kind of fun behind the wheel of a car is such a long time. Honda have cleverly taken a digital age car, filled it full of tech and brio to give it an analogue driving experience that cannot be described by words alone.

I’ll belt up now sufficed to say you need to experience this…. No you REALLY do.

While you have the chance because in the blink of an eye…. they’ll be gone!

OVERALL SCORE: 10/10

• Honda Civic Type R
• Cost: £48,650 (plus £650 paint option)
• Driveline: 2.0 V-Tec turbocharged 16v with electronic active differential and 6 speed gearbox
• Power: 325bhp with 420Nm of torque
• *Overall Economy / Co2: 8.2ltrs/100km & 182g/km
• *Performance: 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds and 171mph max
• Warranty: 3 years
• Insurance Grouping: 43

* = Makers claimed data

SO… WHAT’S GREAT?

• Incredible instant performance
• Excellent driving position
• As good on a track as it is in town
• Practical and well equipped
• Good motorway cruising refinement
• Packed with technology yet doesn’t feel too artificially enhanced
• Now with calmer styling yet still visually does the trick
• Endlessly smile inducing road manners

AND WHAT GRATES?

• Long range touring range hampered by small fuel tank
• Only seats four not five
• Some info graphics are a bit low rent
• Huge price rise over old model
• Infotainment and satnav still bettered by some cheaper and other rivals.

For further information on the Civic Type R or another model in the Honda range CLICK HERE