Honda’s hot to trot range-topper
Sitting at the very top of the Honda Civic range, the Type R offers an intoxicating blend of driver enjoyment and practicality. Roy Woodcock reports . . .
IF the Type R badge doesn’t tell you the whole story, the massive rear spoiler should. Or the aggressive triple exhaust set-up, the air intake on the bonnet, the red brake calipers or the figurehugging front racing seats.
To say it wears its heart on its sleeve is an understatement. This is a red-blooded version of Honda’s everyday Civic saloon or hatchback and it’s there for all to see.
The latest Honda Civic Type R is the very definition of a hot hatch and delivers one of the most complete and intoxicating driving experiences of any car under £35,000. It has been engineered from the ground up to deliver the most rewarding driving experience in the hot hatch segment – both on road and on the race track.
A lightweight, highly rigid bodyshell – the product of innovative new engineering and construction techniques – complements the lower centre of gravity and a sophisticated new suspension system, contributing directly to the car’s rewarding dynamics.
An advanced Dual-axis Strut Front Suspension system reduces torque steer and enhances on-the-limit cornering and steering feel. At the rear, Type R’s new multi-link suspension enhances ride comfort as well as high speed stability.
Peak power output from the optimised and refined 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine is 320 PS at 6,500rpm, and peak torque is 400Nm from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm. It covers the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 169mph; meaning it is both the fastest-accelerating and quickest car in its class.
It is, however, a car that can be driven in all conditions; remaining relatively docile when you join the early-morning commute or school run. Available in two trim levels, standard and GT, the Civic Type R is more habitable than earlier cars to wear this badge, thanks to a new Comfort mode, which sits alongside agile “Sport” and track-focused “+R” modes.
Each tailors the adaptive dampers, steering force, gear shift feel and throttle response of the car, on demand. You’re therefore going from “every day” to “special day” at the flick of a switch!
The Comfort mode affords greater compliance and everyday usability compared to the previous Type R, offering a softer suspension set-up and smoother steering feel. It’s not only ideal for rough road surfaces, but is also a more secure configuration when driving on choppy, undulating motorway surfaces at higher speeds.
Sport mode remains the default setting when starting the vehicle. It offers a blend of comfort and dynamic response that corresponds approximately to a mid-point between the previous Type R’s standard and +R modes.
Comfort mode can be selected by using a convenient rocker switch located behind the gear lever. The instrument cluster illuminations change when the mode is engaged, lessening the intensity and number of red accents around the virtual gauges.
The +R mode remains the choice for track driving. Engine responsiveness is heightened, with the torquemapping changed to a more aggressive and performance-focused configuration, allowing more of the available torque at lower engine speeds. The throttle “blipping” effect from the rev-matching function is also enhanced.
The superb engine is matched to a six-speed manual gearbox (some other rivals offer an automatic option), which is one of the best I’ve ever experienced and it’s a frontwheel drive configuration as opposed to, say, the Golf R, which has all-wheel drive. A limited slip front differential helps generate huge amounts of grip when cornering, which slingshots you round and out of bends at incredible speeds.
If, when viewed from the outside, the car makes no pretence in hiding its capabilities, the interior is a similar story. There’s a striking suede-effect red and black fabric trim for the new high-backed sports seats, which incorporate revised bolsters and cushion pads, offering superlative support for sports driving, and are the lightest Type R specification seats ever.
The steering wheel incorporates red leather inserts and hexagonal stitching, while the dashboard panel’s carbon centre inlay is surrounded by red pinstripe trim – extending into the door cards. The spherical gear lever knob is made from machined alloy. All of these interior features are unique to the Type R.
The car comes in two trim levels: Standard and GT. Both are well equipped, however the latter benefits from extra kit such as sat-nav and dual-zone climate control. The centre console features a piano-black finish, and follows a “technology centre” theme.
The lower part in front of the gear lever is configured as a two-tier storage area, with a front tray that provides grab-and-go access to devices, with an integrated wireless smartphone charging pad (on GT specification cars).
A second tray behind the centre console provides a more discreet storage area, as well as access to the HDMI and USB ports, and a 12-volt power socket. Cable pass-through enables a connection from the second tray to the first.
At the top of the centre console sits the 7in colour touch-screen display. As well as being a touch-control device for the infotainment and climate control functions, the display also integrates with a reversing camera and offers enhanced intuitive operation and full smartphone integration via both Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
In front of the driver, the instrument display layout provides vivid clarity and highly intuitive usability. A 7in colour TFT-LCD Driver Information Interface display makes up the largest central section of the reconfigured instrument binnacle, which includes virtual gauges as well as a switchable section that can display a variety of different function readouts.
Unique to the Type R is a driving mode-specific illumination function that features specialised readouts, including an LED gearshift indicator light, boost pressure gauge, G-meter and lap time recorder.
In common with the new Civic hatchback, the new Type R features the Honda suite of safety technologies, one of the most comprehensive safety packages in its class. It uses a combination of radar and camera information, plus a host of high-tech sensors to warn and assist the driver in potentially dangerous scenarios.
In short, the Type R is an intoxicating blend of driver enjoyment and practicality.