Car review: Honda Civic Type R (2017)

Future classic

The chances are that this car won’t end its days as a neglected wheezing hack with its body kit all tattered and torn and the glove box rattling away to the beat of the bass in the boot (Photography by Honda)

It looks, I grant you, like like it’s been involved in some horrific experiment down at the Halfords R&D centre. Those spoilers! The whale-tail! The mock honeycomb diffusers! The triple exhaust! The red seat belts! Who’d be seen in a car such as this?

I’m not sure to be honest. This is a Golf GTI chaser that set a new front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring, so one answer to that that question might be “someone who wants to set a new front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring” (or, more likely, the M25), but that might not be you. So let me persuade you that you might just like a Type R to liven up your life.

(Honda)

Yes, the styling is loud, and, as far as I can see, there is no “understated” option in the sales brochure. It is almost as if the Honda designers said to themselves, “we know this is going to end up getting thrashed, modded and molested one day, the body kit costing more than the car’s value, so we’ll just save the Civic Type R owner in about the year 2030 the bother and stick all the stuff on now.” Far-sighted, you might think.

Yet the Honda Civic is a much more couth character than it appears, fast as it undoubtedly is. Compared to the last version, it actually looks more car-like, and rather less like Matilda the house robot from TV’s Robot Wars. The overstatement of yobbish intent is, unfortunately, still all too evident, and it’s not really a great look. Gradually I came to realise why women were looking at me with a look that mixed pity, contempt and amusement in equal measure. It was the outlandish car. Or at least I hope that’s what it was.

(Honda)

Anyway, I can reassure you that not only has it all the acceleration, grip and stopping power you’ll ever desire, it is, in the way of all Hondas, perfectly civilised, and you’ll equally enjoy the roomy interior and practicality of everything but the bucket seats (not suitable for anyone with mobility issues). There’s also a “comfort” setting which makes it an even more docile companion, though one capable of outperforming most things on the road. Even in switchable “Sport” or “+R” mode it stays calm, applying all its extraordinary torque through the front wheels alone but with no undue fuss or mess. It will make you a better driver, or give you and others that impression. Somehow Honda’s engineers have endowed their traditionally high-revving engine with a more tractable response at low revs, which I guess is what a generation of drivers used to turbo-diesels demand.

(Honda)

If you care about this sort of thing, the Type R is made in Britain too, at the global manufacturing hub for the Civic at Swindon. How far this will outlast Brexit is a matter for debate (as we all know) but the more Civics sold, the better the chances of hanging on to the jobs.

The spec

Honda Civic Type R

Price: £29,485

Engine capacity: 2-litre petrol 4cyl, 6-speed manual

Power output (PS @ rpm): 320@6,500

Top speed (mph): 169

0-60mph (seconds): 5.7

Fuel economy (mpg): 36.7

Co2 emissions (g/km):  176

In fact, the chances are that this car won’t end its days as a neglected wheezing hack with its body kit all tattered and torn and the glove box rattling away to the beat of the bass in the boot. It may well go through such a phase, but, like some of its distinguished Type R predecessors it may well become collectible and as bit of a classic. This is what has happened with the very first Civic Type Rs (1997-2000 with the manufacturers development EK9, that is the Mark 10 Civic). These can go for anything from £3,000 to £8,000 now, and, should you be interested, the preferred shade is bright yellow.

Honda has for many years struggled with the supposed burden of its relatively old customer base, being impelled to go a bit mental on the styling and performance and, as a result, rather overcompensating. My message is that it’s older drivers who can afford to buy or insure such a vehicle and give it the cherished status it deserves. In due course they will also be the only ones able to afford to buy a “classic” Type R once they’ve been discovered for the little gems they are.

(Honda)

In case I didn’t mention it, the Type R is a great drive, with none of the harsh ride you get on the German stuff (thrilling as they are), or the boisterousness of the Ford Focus RS. Plus it probably won’t break down and, one day, it will be worth much more than its scrap value. Whether you’ll still be around to enjoy that depends on other things, let us say.