COVER New Civic Type R driven
First for news every week FIRST VERDICT We get behind wheel of sensational new 316bhp performance hatch Driving position is much better in latest Type R, with steering wheel no longer obscuring the instrument cluster, which has a new digital design
Exhilarating new Honda is a five-star hot hatch hit
ONCE again the Honda Civic Type R is the fastest front-wheel-drive hot hatch around. It knocked the VW Golf Clubsport S off the top spot back in April to reclaim its crown as the quickest front-wheel-drive production car to lap the 12.9-mile Nürburgring race track in Germany.
Other than its gaudy appearance, the fourth-generation Type R bears almost no resemblance to the model it replaces. Rather than list the multitude of changes, it’s easier to tell you what hasn’t altered; the braking system, gearbox and engine are the only carry-over parts from the previous Type R, but even they’ve been tweaked.
The brakes are larger than before, the gearing has been lengthened slightly and the turbocharged engine now pumps out 316bhp – an increase of 10bhp. Honda now says the Type R will hit 169mph but claims a slower 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds – one tenth down on the previous model. The firm says it’s just being a little more honest.
In terms of rigidity, the new Type R is 37 per cent stiffer than before. That’s down to the new platform and the fact that the car was developed alongside the standard hatchback from the very beginning, rather than as an afterthought. But the idea of a stiffer Type R is a little alarming, because that’s one thing it didn’t need to be.
It’s quite a surprise, then, that the first overriding impression you get from behind the wheel is how comfortable it is. We’re not talking Mercedes S-class levels of comfort, but even within the first 200 yards you can tell the latest Type R feels like a completely different car to the previous model.
Bumps, compressions and uneven surfaces are absorbed with little fuss; take the previous Type R over similar surfaces and you’d come out less bruised after 12 rounds with boxing champ Anthony Joshua.
What has contributed enormously to the Type R’s new-found level of comfort is the new chassis, multi-link rear suspension and adaptive dampers, which feature a comfort mode. At low speed, vibrations through the seats, gearlever and steering wheel have all but been eradicated, while the overall ride quality is far more cushioned and supple – and that’s on standard 20-inch alloys.
At cruising speed everything about the Type R feels calmer, too, with less engine noise and more controlled body movements meaning long motorway slogs are no longer an arduous task. Adaptive cruise control also helps alleviate some of the strain.
The seating position is far improved and much lower, giving you the sensation of sitting in the car rather than being perched on it. The seats themselves remain a standout feature – supportive but comfortable – while the dash features a much slicker infotainment system, although the graphics and screen resolution are still a little low rent.
A new digital instrument cluster is no longer obstructed by the steering wheel, while perceived quality has also taken a leap forward with improved fit and finish, plus softer plastics in the majority of immediate contact points. Some scratchy