Honda Civic Type R

4/5 seats, 312/1 048 L 6 airbags, ABS/EBD, stability control R 22 100 January 2019 (Shootout) and April 2018 0–100 km/h: 6,58 seconds Top speed: 272 km/h Power: 228 kw Torque: 400 N.m Fuel consumption index: 10,08 L/100 km

The Type R is well known to local enthusiasts and a frequent participant in our Shootouts. One only needs to take a look at our 2019 issue (and 2018 road test) to recall the brilliant way Honda transferred so much power to its front wheels alone. The styling of Civics is an acquired taste, a term the press falls back on when we do not want to be rude but don’t know how to describe something with questionable aesthetics. Many cars share a lack of outright beauty. In this case, it’s irrelevant, as its allure lies underneath the metal: 20-inch wheels, a turbocharged 2,0-litre engine and one of the slickest six-speed gearboxes ever invented (a Honda trait) say it all.

The exhaust exits of our Performance Shootout contenders present an interesting picture. There are cars with two, three, four exits or circular and oval shapes; but perhaps the triple setup of the Type R might have been better suited to adorn the rear end of the GR Corolla to match its cylinder count. In the Honda, different drive modes allow some added comfort on less-than-perfect surfaces. The sportiest setting is oddly named +R. While we expected a quicker 0–100 km/h sprint time, we did notice a time-robbing shift from second to third was required before reaching 100 km/h, owing to a new, shorter final drive ratio.

To prove that performance cars can be driven frugally, we reduced fuel consumption to

8,2 L/100 km on our test route.