Honda Civic Type-R
June Neary gets the chance to test Hondas Hot Civic Type-R and finds that it is a whole lot of fun
Weve become accustomed to some pretty uncompromising stuff from
Honda and the Civic Type-R is the latest in a long line of screamers. So, I was pretty excited when offered the chance to drive Hondas latest sheep in wolves clothing. I dont tend to go for ultra-fast cars, especially ones that arent specifically designed for speed, yet the Honda Type-R impressed me from the start with its dark satanic looks.
The interior of the Type-R has had a complete sporting overhaul. The almost obligatory white-faced dials put in an appearance, as does a titanium-effect gear knob which certainly wakes you up on chilly mornings. The steering wheel and seats are enlivened by some jaunty red stitching and youll also be greeted by an embroidered Type-R logo in the headrests in case you were wondering why your Honda Civic accelerated as if it had been rammed from behind by a Eurostar. Theres plenty of head and shoulder room although the rear passengers may be a bit short of legroom.
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I like the high driving position which gave me a commanding view of the road ahead. The seats are nicely formed and fully adjustable so that most people should be able to find a comfortable driving position, especially as the steering wheel can also be moved up and down. I, however, am evidently not like most people I ended up sitting a bit too far away from the steering wheel in an effort to avoid my knees being jammed into the dashboard. Height adjustment for the
seat would be helpful other than that the accommodations fine.
Luggage room is plentiful with up to 560-litres on offer with the seats down, so you can justifiably use this as a main car and not worry about fitting all of your suitcases in the back.
Based on the more familiar three-door Civic hatch, the Type-R has undergone a few modifications. Pride of place goes to the 2.0-litre engine, equipped with double overhead cams and intelligent VTEC, Hondas stepless valve control system, combining to generate 200PS, which in terms of good old bhp is a scarcely believable 197bhp. No, it doesnt quite approach the otherworldliness of the original S2000 roadsters 237bhp from a 2.
0-litre engine, but for a hot hatch its decidedly manic, especially when you consider that its attained without the aid of a turbocharger. Despite this awesome power, this
Honda is simple to drive. However, one thing youll notice (or at least I did) is the very light clutch and almost over-servoed steering rack. This can take some getting used to, with swinging through corners and over-revving being the order of the day for the first few miles.
The 2.0-litre engine was an acceptable road companion although noisy at speed and easy to stall thanks to the light clutch. This Type R is tuned to the extreme and is startlingly quick with a rock hard sports set-up that can make the drive to the supermarket a little on the bumpy side. I also found it difficult to access the rear seats.
To make the 3-door variant, the Honda engineers sliced nearly 15cm from the floor pan of the 5-door and it is through a clever use of space that the interior feels so roomy. I guess if you wanted more room you wouldnt buy the Type-R in the first place. Theres no doubt about the fact that the Type-R is very well specified although for some strange reason it doesnt come with air-conditioning as standard. It still has all the usual luxuries that are taken as read these days like a decent radio/ CD stereo, ABS brakes and electric windows.
At £16,380 the Honda Civic Type-R is certainly class competitive, stacking up well against its direct rival, the
Renault Cliosport 182. This Type-R however is an out and out hot-hatch with little or no compromises. I found it a little too urgent for my tastes but for someone looking for speed and excellent road holding in a small three-door hatchback, the Honda Civic Type-R is a whole lot of fun for a very good price.
Probably not as a daily commuting vehicle because the suspension is too hard and unforgiving on the bad roads that make up my morning drive to work. But as a weekend fun machine I could well be tempted. The Honda Civic Type-R is a cleverly-crafted package aimed at a very specific market and for that reason alone it should sell in decent numbers
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