REVIEW: 2023 Honda Civic Type R

It's not often you get the chance to sit behind the wheel of one of the most sought-after high-performance hot-hatches on the planet.  So when that day arrives, it's an understandably exciting one.   Such was the case when the 2023 Honda Civic Type R arrived for review recently. It's the fastest Type R ever and the most powerful Honda vehicle ever sold in the U.S.  It's also only the second Type R model sold in the U.S. in the vehicle's 30-year history.

Exterior

The Type R's sheer, sleek and aerodynamic presence demands attention. Prepare to get looks because with its new (and massive) spoiler  - you're going to get some.  The black gloss rear spoiler practically reaches the sky. Its designed to increase downforce and control air resistance. 

Based on the 11th generation Honda Civic Hatchback, the new Type R is longer, lower and wider than the previous generation and includes significantly wider front and rear tracks, along with a longer wheelbase.

 

 

 

 

 

My test model wears historic Championship White, a hue exclusive to the Type R.  A gloss-black accented grille receives red Type R badging, as if it needed any introduction, along with Honda's iconic red H logo.  Engineers made the grille opening 48% wider than previous generation and gave it a wide low hood vent to help with engine cooling. LEDs are used for the headlights, daytime running lights and taillights.

Matte black aluminum lightweight 19-inch performance wheels are matched with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires with wider treads than the previous generation.  Red Brembo brakes and two-piece 13.8 inch front rotors provide exceptional stopping power.

Once you take your eyes off the spoiler in back, you see an integrated rear fender that  boosts aero performance.  A center-mounted triple exhaust features an Active Exhaust Valve that fine tunes the exhaust note.

Powertrain

The 2023 Civic Type R is the fastest Type R ever - holding front-wheel drive lap records at two of the world's most famous tracks - Suzuka and Nürburgring Nordschleife.

A redesigned 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers an acceleration inducing 315-horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. (That's +9 hp and +15 more torque than the previous generation model.) 

An updated 6-speed manual gearbox with rev-match delivers smoothness and precision that's guaranteed to put smiles on the faces of the most discerning of driver enthusiasts.

Interior

The new Civic Type R's sporty, driver-centric interior interior is attention grabbing.  The Type R's iconic red seats greet you.  The suede-effect upholstery looks and feels terrific. 

Designers positioned the driver's seat lower in the new Type R.  The lighter, body-stabilizing sport seats feature heavy side bolstering. They're comfortable - but snug - to keep you firmly in place.   

 

 

 

 

 

A new easy-to-read fully digital driver interface sits above the leather-wrapped steering wheel.  It's bright with great graphics, especially in R+ mode where it features track-focused gauges. There's a new meter design exclusive to the Type R's R+ mode that gives you the racing-inspired illuminated rev indicator and gear position at the top, easy to see during performance driving.

The interior features red stitching, carpet and trim, along with Honda's honeycomb grille pattern across the dash.  That's also where you'll find a serialized Type R plate.

A minimalist center console is where you'll find a redesigned aluminum shift knob, drive mode controls as well as an electronic parking brake, brake hold, wireless charger and cupholders. Standard features include dual-zone climate, sport pedals and push-button start.

A new 12-speaker Bose premium sound system customized for the Type R's interior sounds terrific.  

 

 

 

 

Honda swaps red seats for black ones in the 60/40 split second row.  Stadium seating means a loss of a little headroom.  A cool feature is the Type R badging on the seat backs. Cupholder are integrated into the middle section,  as in the previous generation, so there is no drop-down center console.

The hatchback design also means there is nice cargo space and it's also equipped with a removable cargo cover.

Technology

The Civic Type R is equipped with busy but responsive new 9-inch color touchscreen with navigation, Honda voice recognition, and a multi-view monitor. It features Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, HD Radio and SiriusXM.

 

 

This is also where gain access to the Type-R's exclusive enhanced Honda LogR® Performance Datalogger (which debuted in 2020.) It provides drivers with real time performance stats, G meter, lap timer, tire friction data and more. 

 

 

Honda says it no longer requires a smartphone app since it now combines the car's on-board computer and a new built in-vehicle app.

Ride and Drive

It's not my first rodeo with the Type R - I've reviewed a 2018 and 2020 model, but this is the most impressive Type R yet. It's more to fun to drive than ever, and it's easy to see why enthusiasts love it.  The enhanced ride and handling is exceptional.  The steering responsiveness in R+ mode is perfection. The front suspension suspension is tuned specifically for front-end performance.

 

 

You'll get Comfort, Sport and R+ drive modes and you can customize it with individual mode. An adaptive damper system automatically responds to your drive mode selection giving it a comfy ride too.

Safety

The Type R is equipped with Honda Sensing driver assistance technology that includes Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Collision Mitigating Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Auto High-Beam Headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Attention Monitor, and Traffic Sign Recognition. It's also equipped with Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

What You'll Pay

The only option on this vehicle is the Championship White paint for $395.  That brings the total MSRP with destination to roughly $44,000, which is a great value for a hot- hatch that brings this much to the table.

Verdict

Honda's Type R does more than just promise great performance with its attention-grabbing looks - it delivers.  You can be sure you're going to have an unforgettably fun time behind the wheel.