A power trip to blow your mind

The new Civic Type R brings a power boost alongside exterior tweaks and tech updates. Jack Evans finds out what it’s like.

When it comes to performance hot hatches, the Civic Type R has always been a key player. Over the years it has become faster and more hardcore, but has always had strong backing from generations of much-loved models. But times have to move on, which brings us to this brand-new Type R, which aims to be more direct and powerful but still just as engaging.

WHAT’S NEW?

The previous Type R was well known for its outlandish styling but things have been toned down for this new generation. Inside there’s a significant upgrade in a new infotainment system which replaces the severely outdated setup in the old car. It’s a little bit larger in all respects too, while the inclusion of a new ‘Individual’ mode – which allows you to pick and choose between the Type

R’s various settings for aspects such as steering and suspension – is something that was lacking from the car it replaces. A great new addition.

UNDER THE BONNET

You might think that with the rest of Honda’s line-up going hybrid-only, the beating heart of the Type R would be some sort of electrically-assisted set-up. Instead, we’ve got a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is likely to be the last time we’ll see such a unit in a Civic. It’s got 325bhp to offer – slightly more than you got in the old car – as well as 420Nm of torque. The result? Well, zero to 60mph is dealt with in 5.2 seconds and flat-out the Civic Type R will carry on to 170mph – they’re both ever-so-slight increases over its predecessor, which could manage 5.6 seconds and 169mph respectively. In terms of efficiency, we’re looking at 34.4mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 186g/km.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Slot yourself into the nicely bolstered bucket seats and it’s not hard to feel at home as soon as you’re in the Civic Type R The controls are well placed, with the delightfully tactile metal gearshifter for the six-speed manual gearbox being a particular highlight. On the move, and in its softest setting, the Type R handles the roads well, while the engine now feels even keener to get going than before. It scythes through corners with real verve, while that brilliantly weighted gearshift brings a whole lot of engagement. Refinement isn’t the best, mind you, with large levels of both road and wind noise experienced from inside the cabin – though it is a performance hot hatch, after all.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The fundamentals of the Type R’s interior remain unchanged. The bucket seats are still wonderfully supportive, while the controls have been welljudged in their placement. The pedal spacing, for example, is spot-on. For us, it feels like you’re sitting slightly higher up than before, however, and it’d be nice to be able to go a little lower. There’s a decent amount of space in the rear too, while the 410-litre boot is bang-on in terms of both capacity and shape.

THE VERDICT

The new Civic Type R is, yet again, a hit. It’s staggeringly good to drive, with levels of engagement that you just don’t tend to get in this size of car. Now accompanied by muchimproved technology, it’s a hot hatch that could quite easily transform the dreariest, most mundane drives into something really special. That price is a real hitch, mind you, as it does push the Civic Type R out of the more attainable realms that it once occupied. However, for those happy to stump up the extra outlay, this is one seriously impressive hot hatch.