Pricey, but this firecracker delivers in spades

By Bill McCarthy

Where fire-breathing performance meets everyday practicality, Honda’s new Type R stands as a legendary contender.Subscribe to our daily newsletter!

The latest version is the fastest and sleekest to date and its launch marked 25 years of the iconic high-performance hatchback.

It has been engineered to deliver a stonking 329bhp from the two litre engine.

It also delivers everyday hatchback practicality with a total stowage space of 1,212 litres available.

That is a bonus to the rip-roaring performance delivered through a combination of lightweight components and increased power making it one of the highest power-to-weight ratios in its class, says Honda.

Here are some key highlights:

• Performance and Handling: The Type R is features a powerful 329bhp, 1,996cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which delivers blistering performance and excellent handling. It has a rigid body, performance-oriented suspension, and wide, low-profile 19-inch tyres for exceptional grip. It can achieve a top speed of 171mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 5.4 seconds, making it a fast and exhilarating car to drive. The car offers three drive modes: Comfort, Sport, and a track-focused +R mode for maximum performance.
• High Price Tag: The Type R comes with a hefty price tag of £49,090, making it a relatively expensive choice.
• Exterior Design: It features an aggressive and stylish exterior design with angular edges, red accents, a prominent spoiler, and the signature triple exhaust.
• Interior Features: Inside, the car boasts a sporty cockpit with a flat-bottomed, multifunction sports steering wheel, red stitching on black leather seats, and a seven-inch Honda CONNECT touchscreen for controlling various functions like sat nav, infotainment and smartphone connectivity.
• Practicality: Despite its high-performance capabilities, the Type R offers practicality with a total stowage space of 1,212 litres, which is quite impressive for a hatchback and can swallow a fair amount of luggage.
• Fuel Efficiency: Despite its performance capabilities, it maintains reasonable fuel efficiency with a claimed 34.4mpg and relatively low emissions of 186g/km.
• Safety: The car comes equipped with comprehensive safety features, including traction and stability control, multiple airbags, and various active and passive safety measures.

The Type R offers a combination of rip roaring performance, practicality, and a stylish design. However, its high price tag may be a limiting factor for some buyers.

Without doubt the best yet, but then again, so were the previous versions.

Factfile

Honda Civic Type R

Price: £49,090

Engine: 329bhp, 1,996cc, 4cyl turbocharged petrol engine, driving front wheels, via a 6-speed manual gearbox

Max Speed: 171mph

0-60mph: 5.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 34.4

Insurance Group: 38

CO2 Emissions: 186g/km

Warranty: 3 years/90,000 miles