Honda Civic Type R 2.0 I-VTEC Turbo: Fun guaranteed

The Honda Civic Type R leaves no one cold. The engine is wild, the gearbox sensational and the chassis… a benchmark for the rest of the world.

The Honda Civic Type R is not the most discreet, nor the quietest. It is not the most fuel-efficient, and it may not be the best equipped… but it is a dream car. I hear comments pointing to the excess of its design, the spoilers and all that, including the triple exhaust outlet and the enormous rear wing. Not to mention the gills and other appendages that some people don’t even understand because they are there. To me, this Honda simply delights me. I find it a work of art, a peculiar, multifaceted and extra-sporty architecture, almost the caricature of a sports car sketched on paper, not by a child, but by great aerodynamics experts.

The Type R’s bodywork: much more than design

The overloaded styling of the Honda Civic responds to purely aesthetic concerns… and aerodynamic ones too. Because at a certain speed, its aerodynamic appendages, many visible and others less so, such as the underbody panelling, are capable of adding decisive kilos of “downforce”, the force the air generates by pushing the car against the tarmac. This produces greater stability through corners and composure at high speed.

On the outside there are striking features that give it an extremely sporty look and reflect its aerodynamic commitment, such as the 20-inch wheels and the sporty rear wing.

That is why there are huge air intakes, lower spoilers, gills in the wheel arches and an imposing rear wing. And it is that the Honda Civic Type R does not live on its engine alone. It also has an unmistakably sporty image and a chassis ideal for giving free rein to the pleasure of driving, whether on secondary roads or on track days. A car full of racing details that transmits strong sensations through the steering wheel. Similar to those provided by that 1.6 VTEC with 160 CV… half of this one’s 320 CV. That one, a sensational engine that was something like the seed of this one, an exciting and explosive engine from another era, now completely and decisively surpassed by this one thanks to the magic of turbo.

Yes, yes… some purists will be scratching their heads now. Where the magical naturally aspirated VTEC engine with variable valve timing and its magical change in performance, screams included, in or out of tune, coming from the engine at high revs passionately propelled us forward. Now, the most sophisticated variable valve timing technology combined with the most decisive electronic turbocharger management allows you to enjoy the best response at any rev from one of the fullest and sportiest engines on sale.

With just under 1.4 tonnes and 320 CV at 6,500 rpm, the Civic Type R’s responses are brilliant and almost brutal. Especially thanks to the efficiency of a six-speed manual gearbox that boasts an exquisite selection of its ratios. Its spectacular handling, thanks to its precision, is perhaps only matched by the most sporty gearboxes developed specifically for the world of competition, including the sophisticated electronic control system, which features the automatic rev-matching system for engaging the gear at the optimal engine speed. Operated decisively, it is as quick as those of the best competition cars. And if we maintain acceleration, the drops in revs are minimal. Thanks to this, outstanding performance is achieved, with a 0 to 100 km/h time for which 5.8 seconds is sufficient. Such performance is almost a record in the segment.

Perfect tuning

In the Civic’s favour, it must be said that the chassis is above all fun and effective. Because with such potential and without resorting to all-wheel drive, it is capable of transmitting all the engine’s potential to the ground to achieve an extraordinary performance. That said, it features a Torsen limited-slip differential which is the key to its effectiveness.

The handbrake is electronic and button-operated… comfortable and with all the automatic features typical of the era, but the sportier buyers would have preferred a traditional lever.

The Civic Type R, with a precise electric power steering of variable firmness depending on the selected driving mode, and a robust fitment of tyres on twenty-inch wheels, transmits a great deal of information to the driver. At all times you know where the car is going and the reactions it is having. Its effectiveness encourages you to attack the accelerator, and to achieve this it is essential to have great braking power, with 350 mm ventilated and drilled discs fitted with four-piston Brembo calipers. They guarantee unlimited braking with a bite that plants the front end the moment you hint at braking.

The Civic Type R offers three driving or usage modes: “Comfort”, “Sport” and “+R”. The difference between each of them affects the engine electronics, the damper stiffness and the assistance of the electronic steering. Firmer or softer, and in the most sporty position, as expected, cancelling all electronic traction and stability control support. It must not be forgotten that this car is capable of lapping the Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds… but that record is not within everyone’s reach, only the most expert hands. Here you have more information on other records of the Honda Civic Type R on different competition circuits.

A taste of competition

The Civic Type R is one of those cars that wins you over with the way it drives, but it also has great charm thanks to its styling, and in this case its strong personality, both inside and out. On the outside, thanks to its carefully developed aerodynamics, it adds a spoiler, underbody panels and a rear wing that achieve the important differentiating effect compared with the rest of the range. And while it is very attractive visually from the outside, inside it is a pleasure thanks to the racing concept of its seats. The large upholstered bucket seats stand out both for the support they provide and for the stitching and embroidery of the “Type R” logo.

The gear lever location, with its aluminium knob and exquisite handling, reminds us of the WRC rally cars of the world championship. And the instrument panel, with its design, customisation possibilities and the almost infinite amount of information offered, is a true engineering work worthy of study.

Image gallery: Honda Civic Type R

Photos: Pedro Morera and Honda.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHonda Civic3 versions · from 36,300 €