Honda’s Civic Type R is one of the last true front-drive, manual gearbox hot hatches. And it’s an utterly compelling car to drive.
A turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque through a sweet-shifting six-speed manual transmission to a limited-slip differential. It’s suitable for a claimed 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds.
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1. Power
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the last generation Civic Type R has been improved to deliver 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. That is a total of 12 horsepower and 15 lb-ft more than Honda USA rates it at, and that’s a welcome boost for Type R enthusiasts in California.
The Type R’s six-speed manual transmission has received some tweaks to make shifts even slicker and more reassuring. This includes shorter throws, a lighter flywheel, and a new high-rigidity lever.
There isn’t a lot of lag in this motor, so it feels eager to deliver its explosive output and when pushed hard, is capable of a whole raft of high-speed acceleration. It doesn’t have the firepower of some all-wheel-drive German mega hatches, but it does a fine job at making every corner feel like a heist, and the whole thing is an absolute pleasure to drive.
2. Style
The honda type r is the ultimate hot hatch for enthusiasts. If you live near canyons, love to hit track days, or enjoy driving your car, it may be the perfect choice for you.
The 2023 Civic Type R is significantly improved over the previous model, with a more refined appearance. It sports a new honeycomb grille, subtle fender flares and sills, and a triple exhaust outlet.
It also features a retuned suspension, broader and bigger wheels, enhanced brakes, retuned steering, and a six-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching.
As you might expect, the 2023 Civic Type R is no slouch in terms of performance. It boasts 201 PS (148 kW; 198 hp) and 193 Nm of torque, which is more than enough power to get the Civic from 0-62 mph in around 3.5 seconds.
3. Suspension
The honda type r is equipped with an advanced suspension system for the car’s optimum ride, handling, and steering. With extensive development in Japan and rigorous testing at racetracks around the world, including Germany’s Nurburgring, engineers have fine-tuned the chassis to give the Civic Type R a driving experience that’s more responsive, comfortable and thrilling to drive than ever before.
The front suspension includes a dual-axis strut design with aluminum knuckles, strut forks, and lower arms. It is specially tuned to enhance sporty handling, featuring more initial negative camber for crisper turn-in and more caster, which adds stability.
At the rear of the Civic Type R, a torsion beam suspension system is used, but it’s not like the Subaru WRX STI’s RevoKnuckle setup. Instead, it features a Dual Axis Strut system that separates the steering and suspension forces, reducing torque steer by 55 percent.
4. Comfort
The Honda Civic Type R has many comfort features to make your day-to-day life as comfortable as possible. Its seats, for instance, are deep and supportive yet surprisingly soft on your lumbar.
This is because the seats themselves are 7% lighter than those in the previous Type R while sitting 8 mm lower and offering better support and more breathable fabric. Type R also has a new steering wheel and a more modern shift pattern.
Type R’s driving modes can be changed through a toggle switch in the center of the steering wheel. It defaults to Sport mode, but when you press the Comfort button, the dampers soften for a more compliant ride; EPS lightens up the effort for easier turning; throttle response is smoother, and the rev-match, VSA, and traction control can be turned off.
5. Technology
Type R offers many advanced technology features to help you stay connected. Bluetooth wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a reversing camera, and Honda Sensing driver-assist technology all come standard as part of the package.
The interior ergonomics have been developed with instantaneous recognition and intuitive operation, blending easy-to-understand information with natural-feeling controls. Meters and the center display are placed on the instrument panel, enabling easy access to essential driving data with minimal eye movement.
The Civic Type R’s chassis was reworked to improve high-speed stability, ride comfort, and to steer responsiveness. This includes improvements to the dual-axis strut front suspension with unique geometry and aluminum knuckles, strut forks, and lower arms.
