2023 Honda CivicType R | First Drive

For the latest Honda Civic Type R pricing and information:

This is Honda’s most powerful Civic Type R to make it to the US ever. It comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 315 horsepower and 310 pound ft of torque.

In order to keep all those horses and torques cool the Type R gets a larger grille opening up front, a bigger radiator and fan. Better cooling means improved and sustained performance while you’re out whipping this thing around twisties. Please note that not all the intakes are functioning. But most of them are.

The Type R mates to a 6-speed manual transmission with a rev matching system that you can turn off if you want to heel toe yourself.

The chassis is the same that’s on the regular Civic and Civic Si, which if you watch those videos you’ll know how much we enjoyed driving them. This chassis is more rigid that the outgoing one, which was also sublime on the Type R, and you really do feel a ridiculous sense of control.

You get a longer wheelbase on this new model which adds to your feeling of stability. You also get wider tracks, just slightly in the front and rear. It’s an inch up front and 3/4s of an inch in the rear, but like ground clearance on an off-road vehicle, every centimeter helps.

The suspension gets some aluminum components to make it lighter and there are adaptive dampers up front. Honda’s also re-engineered knuckles on the front suspension and that has virtually eliminated torque steer. The rear suspension gets a higher spring rate for better adaptability.

Just a note, if you decide to put it in R mode, things get stiff quick. If you’re not on a smooth track you can feel every crack in the asphalt. It’s aggressive. As it should be.

Sitting in the cockpit of the new Type R, I like it. The seats are bolstered for support and comfort. They also sit lower in the cockpit, though for me I have to bump them up a bit because I’m shorter.

The shifter feels good in my hand. You get all the goodies you’d get in the regular Civic, like wireless smartphone connectivity on a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, a Bose sound system and Honda Sensing, Honda’s suite of safety features that come with.

The gauge cluster gets a clear redline indicator similar to an F1 version and things are easy to see if you’re checking lap speeds. There’s an updated data logger that’s exclusive to the Type R. This tracks numbers like lap times, tire friction, and the g-force you’re pulling around turns. This one no longer requires a Smartphone app either though you can use it to share info with your other Type R driving buddies.

I want to talk about design for a hot hatch second. While I adored driving the previous generation Type R, the exterior didn’t speak to me. This one though, feels like it might have gone too far to the other end of the spectrum.

VO: You still get sporty cues with badging, stitching, trim and the red seats, which are 7% lighter, and trim. the vented hood, which to me could be a bit more dramatic, matte black 19-inch wheels, which were special designed for the Type R and have a reverse rim design that improves stability under load. They also look boss. All the body panels forward of the A-pillar are exclusive to the Type R including the front bumper design and vented hood.

Pricing on this Type R starts at $43,990 including destination. That’s not taking into account what will likely be big dealer markups. That part smarts. For the best price out there click on the link in the description below and find your Fair Purchase Price for a Civic Type R through Kelley Blue Book.

Rock solid driving dynamics, a ton of performance fun and now wrapped in a more subdued package. Good grief, things just keep getting better and better. The only thing left to do now is drive one. It’s on sale already, so go do it.

00:00 2023 Honda Civic Type R
0:40 Engine
1:04 Driving Impressions
7:30 Interior
8:49 Exterior
11:16 Competitors

[dfk]

This is the most exciting class in the automobile industry!! No boring SUV's. C'mon Lyn & Micah!?! Make it happen!! Asking for a friend. Lol

[NCLme]

Yes 🙌🏿 love the new Style the fk8 was made for me but this new look has taken it for me, I’m in 😊🙌🏿

[mc.charleymusic]

Bro Honda should really make a Type R for the the new 2023 Honda Accord like asap so that it can compete with the Acura TLX A-spec who agrees with me.

[jamespaul]

First thing I did on my 2021 is remove the 20” wheels and put on 18”. It still handles amazing but with less unsprung weight and a better ride.

[woocoheed]

If you’re in the US, Honda’s lack of supply is a bigger issue/causing the dealer markups. 500 units is nothing

[mathieucossette]

We don't care about sounds from the outside while driving a Type R... they have to keep the weight down so less insulation materials

[gluejlv]

Great video. Would love to see comparisons and dealer shaming for overcharging on these cars.

[cedricjackson]

It would nice if Honda offered the type r awd as a option

[rydgevilla]

Dealerships know this thing will sell even with a whopping markup price. I think manufacturers should put a cap on how much they can sell it for.

[woutersijtsma]

Dealer markup? Good reason to avoid that dealer forever.

[ligmike]

You should not downplay the insane markup on these cars. Signal hill Long Beach ca wants an additional 25k above msrp.

[adampaulsen]

Are those seats the reddest red that has ever been red?! Also, hi from Northern Sonoma County!

[prasvasu]

Lyn, This or the GR Corolla and Why? Really really looking forward to the comparison.

[antoinelee-thomas]

Cool car, but I plan on waiting for the official announcement and full reveal of the Acura Integra Type S. As long as the Integra Type S gets all of the goodies the FL5 Civic Type R doesn't for it to stay lightweight and the Integra Type S gets the 6-speed manual (because let's get real, Acura isn't spending any money to recertify and rework the 8-speed DCT from the old ILX and there isn't going to be a CVT in a +315hp and +310lb-ft of tq) and there's going to be a cool gimmick like a fully digital DC2 Integra Type R gauge cluster and/or DC5 RSX Type S gauge cluster (if those gauge clusters weren't the same), or DC2 Drive Mode and DC5 Drive Mode, and instead of a red interior like the Type R, we get an Apex Blue or Double Apex Blue interior in full leather sport bucket seats styled like the new Type R with heated and cooled functionality, and Brembo calipers in the rear just like on the Integra Prototype, I'm definitely getting one ASAP.

If anyone at Acura is reading this: "I saw the spy shots of the Integra Type S. Skip the triple exhausts and leave the triple exhausts for the new Civic Type R and stay true to the Type S exhaust philosophy with quad tip exhausts for the Integra Type S."

[blue_lancer_es]

Damn. The world needs another lancer evo asap.

[midengineZ]

If only they put this engine on the Honda Accord

[stephenwinter]

Greetings from southern Ontario Canada I saw this on way to work in black thanks for the presentation

[kevinmcd]

The trouble with the Civic (like the Integra) is, it's known for its road noise. If given the option, I'd take the Type-R simply because you'll get roughly the same car for roughly the same price with more power but without the huge depreciation. With that, you looked low key uncomfortable shifting around those bolsters. That could be a dealbreaker.

[Just-a-guy]

The aluminum shifter is nice but I would get the leather wrapped accessory.

[antonroux]

high levels of road noise? nothing more irritating - thanks for the insight and to save me wasting my time 👍

please always include comments on road noise in your reviews...

how does the road noise compare to GR Corolla and Subaru WRX? similar? or do they have quieter cabins?