model: Natalie,

It’s been a year since the Honda Civic Type-R has been out on the market and for the 2018 model year Honda has changed the colour. Red is now available. But obviously this one is white. So let’s just dive right into it.

Performance

Engine – 306 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque, and front wheel drive should be a recipe for endless wheelspin and torque steer. But by using maths and science, Honda’s engineers managed to subdue a large chunk of those unwanted FWD characteristics. The 2.0L VTEC engine under the hood is turbocharged and develops more power than the first generation NSX supercar. It doesn’t rev to 8,000+ rpms like Honda’s of the late 90’s but the torque more than makes up for it. It does have a bit of turbo lag but once the power comes in, it feels like a wave sweeping you off your feet in an ocean. Even with all of this power on tap, in my week of driving the car (almost 1,000 km) I managed to still get 9.0L/100km which is very good from a high performance turbocharged engine.

Transmission – Putting the power down gets managed by a slick shifting 6-speed manual and a limited slip differential. It’s nice to see that a car manufacturer still understands that a traditional manual is still the best way to have fun in a sports car.

Braking – Stopping is just as equally as impressive thanks to the large Brembo calipers and discs. They have a very good initial bite and it doesn’t take much pedal pressure to bring the car to a stop. However in certain situations the brake pads do squeel a bit.

Handling – In a straight line there is wheel spin when accelerating from a stop but once the Type-R is moving, by second gear the low profile tires grip and eliminate wheelspin. Torque steer (that’s when the torque of the engine tugs on the steering wheel) can still be felt a tiny bit in lower gears under full throttle applications but the new Dual-axis front struts do a great job of eliminating a large chunk of unwanted steering wheel tug. These new Dual-axis front struts also provide excellent front end grip and response as well as a confidence inspiring planted feeling that allows you to push harder when going into a corner.

Comfort

Ride Comfort – The Civic Type-R comes with electronically adjustable suspension that has 3 different modes; Comfort, Sport, and +R. For the most part I’ve kept the car in the +R mode and the suspension was still very comfortable over small bumps and road imperfections. Those red bucket seats look uncomfortable for daily driving. But in reality they are one of, if not, the most comfortable bucket seats available in a vehicle. They provide plenty of support when you’re trying to achieve high G-forces but are also supportive and plush when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The rear seats are just normal bench seats from the standard Honda Civic but for some reason Honda decided to ditch the center seat and replace it with two cup holders. Because of course the drinks won’t spill when going quickly around a corner…

Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – By far the biggest complaint I have with the Honda Civic Type-R, and it’s the only complaint I have with it, is the amount of noise that intrudes into the cabin. The tires are incredibly noisy at highway speeds. They also pick up and throw every little rock that’s on the road along the wheel well which in turn is heard very loudly in the cabin. Unfortunately the good noises are not loud enough like the exhaust or the blow off valve under the hood.

Interior Design – The rest of the interior looks pretty much just like any other Civic but the Type-R loses the heated seats and heated steering wheel functions. The infotainment system is just like that found in any other current Honda product however it’s missing the all important volume knob.

Odds and Ends

Gadgets – While Honda has developed a lot of advanced safety and convenience features, majority of them are not available on the Civic Type-R. Heads-up display, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, emergency collision alert, 360 camera system, and so on are things that are not available on the Type-R. The aforementioned infotainment is also the older system not the new one that is available on the current Honda Accord.

Exterior Design – The Honda Civic Type-R looks like it’s already had a teenager fit every piece of body kit available from a tuning magazine. While the exterior design of the Type-R is not to everybody’s tastes, it does appeal to the inner 9 year old. I personally like the large spoiler, the big & fake air intakes in the front and back, and even the Ferrari F40 inspired tailpipe.