SYDNEY: Honda Civic Type R has been out of action since falling victim to the recession in 2010, when the hot hatch market cooled to near arctic climes, but now with European economies notably healthier, Honda reckons that the time is right for its return.
The ‘race car for the road’, as it’s being sold by Honda, is powered by a 310PS 1996cc four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, mated to a six speed manual transmission.
Those hungry for numbers should know that all 310PS of power comes at 5,600rpm with 400Nm of torque peaking at 2,500rpm. That’s more than in any previous Type R model and boils down to the fastest front driven hatch on the market with a 5.7 second 0-62mph sprint.
It’s also more powerful than the all-wheel drive 300PS Golf R, but the VW’s lighter kerb weight makes it 0.4 of a second quicker to 62mph (5.3s), and the 7-speed DSG version is quicker still, just limboing the five second mark. An automatic Type R was deliberately bypassed in the interest of driver engagement, Honda insists.
The Type R can go quicker overall though with its 167mph top speed well ahead of the Golf R’s electronically limited 155mph.
We’ll call that even-stevens in the numbers game so how does it cope on the road?
As expected, it’s buckets of fun and so it should be. An exhilarating drive is the Type R’s raison d’étre so it’s a relief to report that it makes good on its promise. The steering wheel is perfectly sized for snap reactions and the car obeys, to the millimetre, which means placing the car is super easy.
However, the Type R’s razor sharp handling and troughs of torque are as complementary as much as they are rewarding when combined with the shortest gear throw in its class (40mm).
The more extreme styling certainly plays a part but the Honda feels less uptight than the Golf R. It’s more eager to cut loose and be a little daft without the self-conscious stuffiness of the VW. This gives the impression of greater agility if at the slight expense of the Golf R’s sophistication.
We mention styling and as aggressive as it is, almost every exterior design decision has been made to optimise downforce (with the loud rear spoiler) and maximise its aerodynamics (with a 118mm ground clearance, flat underfloor, and split front grille and side skirts). So with tons of grip, these vast efforts appear to have paid off.
With a press of the ‘+R’ button, the Type R’s dynamics shift and while it isn’t as apparent on the track (despite being specifically optimised with the Nurburgring in mind), on the road, the concentrated aggression can be appreciated much more.
You’ll notice how the steering wheel stiffens up and the ride, which was already pretty rude, becomes much harsher on roads less loved. The revs can spike with less effort on the throttle too. It’s impressive but any careful and considerate driver could find it a little unreasonable, as we did when entering tiny Slovak towns. Out on the motorway though, there isn’t much that will get in your way.
For all its success on the road, it’s let down by the overall build which isn’t up to scratch with some disappointing plastics carried over from the bog standard Civic, notably on the rear doors handles and indicator levers. They’re fine on the regular Civic but stand out for the wrong reasons here. The touchscreen isn’t the most advanced and again, cheap buttons down the side give it a cheapy feel.
There are some bizarre jagged surfaces kicking around the cabin too with random ledges that seem to be there just ’cause. The steering wheel obscures it at first but check out the void-y ledge between the steering column and the driver display. Vacuous and pointless. Same goes for the bulgy blobs either side of the steering column. Baffling.
Spots of fabric on the doors, seats, centre storage, and a confidence-inducing leather steering wheel add the kind of class we’d expect from a car like this but overall, the VW build is way ahead of what Honda presents here.
CO2 emissions are rated at 170g/km, resulting £270 a year road tax, but more importantly, the Type R is compliant with the latest Euro 6B regulations; one of the failings which contributed to its axing years ago.
Average Joe act
With performance like this, who cares what else it comes with but there’s plenty of equipment as standard to make sure it can at least pretend to be a sane and practical everyday car.
Every Type R comes with keyless entry and start, climate control, cruise control, speed limiter (pah!), rear parking camera (which’ll be useful with that ironing board on the back), automatic headlights, sports seats, leather steering wheel, and alloy covering the pedals and topping the gear stick.
There’s also 477 litres of boot space, or 1210 with the back seats down, as well as a 7″ touchscreen infotainment system with AM/FM/Digital and internet radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Don’t assume there’s a sat-nav function in there though; that’s reserved for the GT model, costing an extra £2,200 (£32,295 OTR).
For that, the Type R GT also comes with auto lights and wipers, parking sensors front and back, dual zone air con, emergency brake assist, and an upgraded 320w stereo with eight speakers, Garmin sat nav, and CD player.
Honda expects sales to be evenly split between the standard model and the GT variant, with personal buyers accounting for 90% of Type R. Yes, one in ten Type Rs will be run as part of a company fleet, so Honda says.
They’re also claiming that the UK is Europe’s largest market for hot hatches, accounting for 6.5%. There’s certainly a jump between a £18k Fiesta ST and a £30k hyper-hatch like this but Honda is optimistic with PCPs starting from £299 a month after a £3k deposit.
PR is the game here though, with the goal being to get people talking about Honda again, the last Type R reduced the age of the average Honda customer by 10 years. The idea is that if funds don’t allow for a 310PS monster, a tamer Honda would be a viable option. The intention is to make motorists want a Honda, head and heart.
Verdict
Fans of the previous Type Rs will love this but newcomers will be easily won over too. A generous power output with handling that flatters and extreme styling make this an instant winner.
A lot of it comes down to the buyer themselves though and carmakers are largely powerless in this respect.
Those who want people to know they drive a borderline-insane hatch will go for the Honda. The more reserved, the Golf R. 2016 will reveal where the Focus RS fits into the picture but we’d imagine somewhere in the middle. For now though, tongues should be a-wag with Honda.
Civic Type R at a glance:
Engine: 1996cc VTEC Turbo Petrol, six speed manual
Power output: 310PS @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 2,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 167mph
Length: 4390mm
Width: 1878mm (2065mm with door mirrors)
Height: 1466mm
Wheelbase: 2605mm
Kerb weight: 1382kg
Boot space: 477 / 1210 litres
OTR price: £29,995 (£32,295 – GT version)
Combined fuel consumption: 38.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 170g/km
Average monthly leasing rate: £299 per month with 10% deposit
