HOT HATCH GROUP TEST, APRIL 2004

‘ Great attention has been paid to the things you touch. Highlights include a deliciously tactile steering wheel, along with a cool metal gearknob and supersupportive front seats. Twist the key and the engine catches with a distant, slightly tinny note. You can sense there’s zero inertia. This engine was built to rev.

‘ Much has been written about the legendary VTEC kick as the cams switch to the second set of lobes, but in the CTR it’s less pronounced. It still happens as the needle passes 6000rpm, but now with more mid- range torque there’s a gradual transition rather than the old- school jolt. While that means some of the magic has gone, it also means the CTR has more low- and mid- range meat to work with, which makes a big difference exiting tight corners. It’s still a high- workrate car, though, requiring you to keep it above 6000rpm to really get the best from it.

‘ Numb to the point of general anaesthesia, the CTR’S steering also has a disconcerting stickiness. I can only assume Honda engineered this trait to absorb any flurries of torque steer. A good limited- slip differential would sort it out…’ – evo 066