Sporty hatch reaches our shores
Unless Honda is holding back on us, the Civic lineup of sedans coupes and hatchbacks is now complete with the recent arrival of the Type R. This made-in-England model carries the brand’s performance torch way up high and will help cement the automaker’s sporting presence on North American streets.
The Civic Type R has of course been available in other countries, and the only way fans here have had any fun up to now with it is with video games. Perhaps at least some credit should be afforded these dedicated followers for helping convince Honda to import the fifth-generation Type R to North America.
Unlike the Civic Si coupe and sedan, the Type R comes in hatchback body style only, but that’s just for starters. The most obvious difference between the tamer and torrid Civics is the Type R’s downforce-generating wing, with knife-edge side fins, attached to the tailgate. There are also “vortex generators” that smooth out the airflow passing over the roof to make the rear wing more effective.
Another telltale Type R feature is the exhaust system with three pipes below the rear bumper. All expel exhaust at lower speeds and under hard acceleration, but during higher speeds the centre pipe creates backpressure, forcing the exhaust to the quieter outer pipes. Honda says this cuts down on the tiring droning noise that’s common with many low-restriction exhausts.
Not to be overlooked is a large scoop atop the aluminum hood that ingests outside air to cool the engine. There’s also a 20-inchwheel-and-summer-tire combo that almost completely fills the fender openings.
You won’t find much subtlety in the cabin, either. The aggressively bolstered sport bucket seats and the split-folding rear bench are covered in bright red and black material with red accents on the steering wheel, dashboard and door trim. To some this might seem a bit — or a lot — over the top, but the target buying demographic will absolutely love it.
Once buckled in, drivers will command a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that spits out 306 horsepower and 295 poundfeet of maximum torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm (the engine redlines at 7,000 rpm). By comparison, the turbo 1.5-litre fourcylinder in the Civic Si makes 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet.
Both the Type R and Si can only be had with six-speed manual transmissions, directing power to the front wheels. The Type R’s version comes with beefed-up components plus rev-matching to smooth out the upshifts and downshifts.
Drivers can choose between Comfort and more aggressive Sport rev-match settings, or the feature can be disabled completely. Expect zero-to-60-mph (96 km/h) times in the 5.0-second range.
Fuel economy (premium grade, please) is rated at 10.6 l/100 km in the city and 8.3 on the highway.
Specific to the Type R is the suspension, power steering and the Brembobrand front and rear brakes. They’ve all been specifically designed to improve the car’s cornering abilities and reduce stopping distances, while still providing a comfortable and controlled ride. A floor-console switch allows for Comfort, Sport and +R settings that progressively firm up the dampers (shocks) and dial in quicker steering action.
Just because the Type R is built for street and track mastery doesn’t mean that driver and passenger comfort has been ignored.
The hatchback’s $42,600 base price (including destination charges), which is about $12,500 above the base price of the Civic Si, includes all the usual touches plus push-button start, electric parking brake, seven-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 540-watt audio system with 12 speakers. What isn’t included is the latest active-safety technology: lanedeparture warning; backup warning; pedestrian warnings/avoidance; and automatic emergency braking.
Clearly, the Civic Type R isn’t for everyone, and for some people its appearance alone makes it unsuitable or inappropriate.
But for many enthusiasts, all that matters is performance value and the Type R is loaded with it.