Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 vs Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition | Autocar Review

It's the battle of the long names, as the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45, a new 2021 limited edition Golf GTI, takes on our favourite big hot hatchback of recent years, the 2020 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition.

The Golf 45 edition celebrates, as the name suggests, the GTI's 45th anniversary. As such, this special model gets a power boost over the regular Golf GTI to 296bhp, which is good for 0-62mph in 5.6sec, and a top speed of some 166mph. The special Golf costs £39,380 in the UK.

That puts in on a par with the very rare 2020 Civic Type R Limited Edition, just 20 of which came to the UK, shorn of air conditioning and a stereo to make them lighter. It cost £39,995 and has a little more power than the Golf, at 316bhp, which gave it a 5.7sec 0-62mph time and a top speed of 169mph.

Which, though, is the nicer car to drive? Limited Golf, or Limited Civic? Our testers Richard Lane and Matt Prior take to the roads to find out.



Autocar, the world's leading motoring magazine and website, delivers industry-leading news, the most in-depth car reviews and opinion from our team of experts. Our presenters include some of the world's top motoring journalists who have unrivalled access to the world's fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world's best roads and race tracks.

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[philippebeinaerts]

For me, a hot hatch is a more or less affordable daily car that suits most practical needs AND invites you to take the long way home in all conditions. So what is the point of a special edition with no air con, no stereo, dry weather only tyres and carbon bits that cost a fortune to replace when scratched? The regular versions of both cars make a lot more sense to me

[malcolmar]

Great video and I really appreciate the analysis. Honda Civic Type R all the way! What Honda was able to accomplish in that car is simply AMAZING! That car is already a legend. I truly believe the FK8 Honda Civic Type R has that special something that will lead to people singing its praises long into the future and will also lead to a sense of regret for those who had an opportunity to get one but did not. All I can say is that I am so glad I was able to get one and I am never selling it :) Keep up the great work!

[joshgraham]

never mentions the transmission in the entire VW review ? how can you do a review without discussing the transmission.

[steveco]

The Golf just looks so dull, who cares if the Civic is a bit OTT - I think that's kind of the point, enjoy it.

[rootsmanuva]

No chance in hell you'd ever notice the weight savings of a infotainment delete unless you're Ayrton Senna. Why stop there? It should have crank windows, manual locks, no rear defroster, no intermittent wipers, dome light delete, fog light delete, cruise control delete, console delete, glove box delete, door-pocket storage delete, map light delete, no floor mats, remote trunk release delete... and charge $5, 765 extra for it.

[swanblake]

Really loved the addition of Richard Lane. Great work sir!

[IvanBosnjak]

Wut... The Civic is not the "better hot hatchback", it's the better performance car/track car obviously, but the best hot hatchbacks are about all-around excellence and usability. It's practical, but the Type R freebases fuel, the tires last 10k km's, and the insurance is bananas. Styling is subjective, so I won't get in to that here.

It's probably the best chassis tuning and performing front wheel drive car ever made, but that does not make it a great daily. I do not want the Golf to be that hardcore, I don't live at a track, or anywhere near one really. I want it to be a car that makes my daily commute a pleasure, and to be good at almost everything.

[miamigt]

I own both a Type R and a Cayman GT4. There is a lot of Group-Think about cars in general, but for the Type R is its looks, the GT4 for its long gearing. I happen to LOVE the Type R’s in-your-face looks and the GT4s tall 2nd and 3rd gears.

[clintalexander]

No way I could live with the looks of the Civic... The creature comforts of the CS GTI, plus the fact that it is still a great car for every eventuality means that is the one that I would have. Not everyone takes their cars to the track, and even those that do spend 99% of their time going to the shops, work, out with mates etc...

[kienfung]

Honda Civic Type-R, All day every day!

[snobmob]

Part of me wishes/thinks Honda should have gone the whole hog with the limited edition, their version of a Megane R26.R. If you’re going to do away with creature comforts to market it as very much track focussed then you may as well do the job properly and strip/cage it!

[guyhants]

I know journalists don't comment on aesthetics, but come on the honda has all the charm of a baboons bottom, even your guide dog would take the Mickey.

[bartoski-ag]

6:00 bucket seats in VAG are getting worse and worse, there was a time the golf R used to have the same buckets as the R8, TTRS, etc :)

[volkswizard]

Edition 45's biggest rival is the normal Clubsport which you can (or could before the chip shortages) get for £32k brand new down from £37k RRP

[njs]

Please increase the jumper budget on your productions.

[jamiep]

I enjoyed watching the Video Comparison

[rootsmanuva]

I disagree that VW released the Clubsport early because the GTI was only half baked. VW is following the new BMW business model of reserving the really good stuff for the 'specials' ($$$); BMW M2---> M2 Competition---> M2 CS; M5---> M5 Competition---> M5 CS. Get it?

[AmjadJDM]

Is this test even relevant when the FK8 LE is sold out?

[JMB]

My local dealer has a new Type R GT at £48k….. The prices of cars in this segment have become crazy expensive 😮

[victorcankaya]

You show everything about the cars except the most important for this type of car. THE EXHAUST SOUND !!!