If looks could kill. The 315-hp 2023 Honda Civic Type R is a purpose-engineered track star with manners
With 315 turbocharged horsepower, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R is the most powerful model in Type R’s 30-year history. (Photography courtesy of American Honda)
Table of Contents
Engineered Durability
Pricing
Performance
Roll on the Power
Datalogger
Ride and Handling
A Couple of Considerations
Interior Function
Why Buy the Honda Civic Type R?
Specifications
BY MARK MAYNARD
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is exciting to look at and just as exciting to drive when its 315-horsepower turbo four is whipped for more, more, more. In between those runs of fury, the Type R settles into its Civic roots as a polite and squeaky-clean compact hatchback.
This segment of high-performance compacts is a storied gathering that includes the Hyundai Elantra N, Subaru WRX, Toyota GR Corolla, VW Golf R, and the Civic Type R.
The Elantra N and the Civic Type R are front-wheel drive, while the other competing models have all-wheel drive. Some are available with an automatic transmission, but the Type R has a six-speed manual only.
Honda’s skill at race-spec engineering transforms one of the top-selling compacts in the U.S. into a purpose-engineered track athlete. And Honda has been at it for 26 years. The Civic Type R has evolved through five different variants globally since it debuted as a 1997 model in Japan and Europe. North America got its first Civic Type R as the fifth-gen model from 2017 to 2021.
Type R interior features include a serial-number plate, high-bolstered front sport seats in red-and-black microsuede fabric, and red floor mats.
The Type R’s Engineered Durability
Built on Honda’s new 11th-generation Civic Hatchback, the sixth-gen 2023 Type R is basically an all-new model from its predecessor. The new hatchback, Honda says, uses 3.8 times more structural adhesive than the previous generation model. Gluing the spot welds doubles the strength and stiffness of the joint. All the better from which to hang the suspension to set performance standards, from the tires to the steering.
To fit the wide Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the new Type R has a 1-inch wider front track and 0.75-inch wider rear track (64/63.5 inches front/rear). There also are significant reinforcements for durability under pressure. For one, the Type R’s transmission has a more rigid exterior case, a high-strength bearing system, and high-strength gears.
Pop the hood, and you’ll find a minimalist red Honda dress-up shroud and a carbon fiber plate over the air induction unit. Look closely for the downspout-sized air intake duct. It takes a lot of fresh air to supply combustion for 315 horsepower.
Honda pushed for speed and control in developing the new 2023 Civic Type R. It set a new production-car, front-wheel drive track record at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan . Home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, the new Civic Type R lapped the Suzuka’s 3.6-mile figure-8 in 2 minutes 23.120 seconds. That blistering attack secured its legacy as the best-performing Civic Type R — ever.
According to ZeroTo60Times.com, the 2023 Type R will launch to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The fifth generation Type R is a click quicker at 5 seconds.
2023 Honda Civic Type R Pricing
The Honda Civic Type R is a one-spec choice for engine, manual transmission, and equipment. The 2023 model went on sale in the U.S. about a year ago (Oct. 7, 2022), and already there has been a $900 price bump; the Championship white paint option went up $60, from $395 to $455.
A six-speed stick only for the Type R.
Manufacturer pricing for the Civic Type R starts at $44,890, including the $1,095 freight charge from Yorii-Machi, Zaitama, Japan. (However, the Type R engine is built in Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Sidney, Ohio, and shipped to Japan.) Check here for current Honda and Type R pricing.
My tester was $45,345 with one option for Championship White paint, $455.
Unique Type R interior features include a serial-number plate, high-bolstered front sport seats in red-and-black microsuede fabric with double red stitching, red floor mats, red ambient LED interior lighting, metal-trimmed sport pedals, aluminum shift knob, red illuminated front door panels.
On the outside, look for the Brembo four-piston aluminum front brake calipers, 19-inch matte black alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, gloss black side sills and wing spoiler, center-mounted, and the car’s signature triple outlet exhaust.
More Type R features are listed below in the specifications chart.
But Try To Find One …
Finding a new Civic Type R takes resolve, and fans at a car show told me that some dealers are asking $20,000 over sticker. A recent online search for a Civic Type R returned just four cars within 100 miles of my address in San Diego and just one Type R at a San Diego dealership (Pacific Honda). The other four Honda dealers in San Diego County included with their post, “We can still help you find it.”
Almost-new 2023 Type Rs, with very low miles, are being sold at dealerships for $50,000 to $56,000, according to Carfax.com. Because there are few factory options, just several accessories, these new-used Type R listings appear to include a dealer add-on “market value.”
315 turbocharged horsepower from the K20C 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.
Type R Performance
Honda’s legion of Type R enthusiasts can be fanatical about their brand loyalty. Speak with any of these followers and they can recite stats for the Type R’s K20C engine. The VTEC turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder has 315 hp at 6,500 rpm, and a redline of 7,000 rpm. Peak torque of 310 foot-pounds runs from 2,600 to 4,000 rpm.
A new turbocharger has an increased air intake flow rate, and boost pressure is up to 25 psi.
There are four drive modes: Comfort, Sport, +R, and Individual. I used Comfort mode for daily driving, and it gave excellent performance without a jarring ride. Sport mode is exponentially stiffer and becomes quite monotonous at interstate speeds. Individual mode, however, allows specific dial-ins for engine response, steering assist, suspension damping, engine sound, rev-match speed, and the red design of the gauge cluster.
The six-speed stick separates the pretenders from the proficient. Each gear slots with absolute engagement, which is the charm of a six-speed box vs. a crowded seven-speed. There’s little chance of accidental jamming when making fast shifts. And hill-start assist gives added relief as it brakes the car for a couple of seconds when starting on an incline.
Another electronic aid is rev-matching downshifts, which, fortunately, is a driver-selectable choice. To those who can heel-toe shift, this electronic enabler is more of an intrusion. It seems sissy when there are so many how-to heel-toe YouTube videos.
The 9-inch driver gauge screen in Sport mode.
Fuel Economy Ratings
Official EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2023 Type R are 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 mpg combined. Using premium fuel provides the most power, but engine electronics will adjust to run on 87 octane.
I saw a highway mileage reading of 26.8 mpg, beating the EPA estimates. But I’m sure my around-town mileage was sacrificed by too much revving fun.
And keep an eye on the fuel gauge. It does not take long to use up the 12.4-gallon capacity. But a fill-up doesn’t hurt much when gas costs nearly $6 a gallon.
Safety Features
Type R safety features include 10 air bags and a complete set of driving-assist technologies (listed below in the specs box). The Level 2 semi-autonomous driving assist felt a little skitzy — insistent — at the steering wheel. Lane-centering, however, was accurate and reassuring in heavy traffic.
One of my most appreciated technologies is the Traffic Sign Recognition system. It is essential to know the speed limits in this speed-capable Type R.
Honda’s LogR Datalogger
Any sports car with tires this wide, a wing this big, and race seats demands a Performance Datalogger. And Honda complied with an enhanced version of its LogR Performance Datalogger. The datalogger helps drivers monitor and record various performance parameters, whether in real-time on the road, track, or other closed courses. Users can also share their lap times and other data with other Type R owners.
Key Honda LogR features include:
- Stopwatch to record lap times;
- Tire friction circle. The 3D motion indicator displays the tire force the vehicle achieves;
- Scoring function, to help drivers improve their track driving.
19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires have a “contact patch” that is 10.7 inches wide. (Mark Maynard photo)
Power-To-Weight Ratio
The Type R is among the lightest of the current pocket rockets, weighing just 3,188 pounds, two pounds more than the front-drive Elantra N (also front-drive). Lightweighting measures include a vented aluminum hood (same as before) and a new lightweight resin hatch and a resin front bulkhead.
But saving weight also means paring back the budget for soundproofing, and the Type R’s interior noise level is at “Maelstrom” at highway speeds. At 65 mph, the engine revs at 2,500 rpm in sixth gear, and the wind and road harshness only increase with speed.
Type R Ride and Handling
Laying down 310 foot-pounds of torque to the front wheels can be a fury of dreaded “torque steer.” Hard acceleration in an FWD setup can make the tires pull from side to side as they seek traction. That is one reason some of these hot hatches are all-wheel drive, which helps displace torque steer by routing the force to all tires.
Honda has neatly solved the torque steer matter with a couple of engineering enhancements. One is what Honda calls a “dual axis suspension system with adaptive dampers.” The setup “greatly reduces torque steer, primarily through a 0.75-inch reduction in steering axis offset.”
The second piece of magic is the helical-type limited-slip differential, which minimizes wheel spin and puts more power to the pavement. The LSD enables harder acceleration on surfaces with uneven traction and reduces wheel spin when exiting corners.
By the way, Honda says a helical-type LSD describes how the differential’s gear teeth are cut at an angle to the gear shaft. Helical gears are quieter and can channel more torque than straight-cut (or spur) gears.
Roll On the Power
The revs have a sweet rise and fall as gears are neatly engaged. With the engine’s wide-spread of peak torque, shifts do not have to be rushed. Hustling along at 4,000 rpm through a second-gear turn is inspiring. Exit the apex and slot the shifter for third, and roll on the power — then smile at the reassuring pushback in the seat. That’s when these sport seats are in their element.
And that is also when the 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires (265/30) are in their playground. These 10.7-inch-wide rollers bring an attack attitude to performance driving.
The tires have an asymmetric tread pattern and a treadwear rating (UTQG, or Uniform Tire Quality Grade) of 300. Honda advises that these three-season “summer” tires have a life that “may be less than 10,000 miles, depending on how you drive.”
Replacing a tire will run close to $400 — and do not cheap out when it’s time for replacements, or risk a compromise to handling performance.
The Type R’s signature triple round exhaust outlets are centered by the larger boom tube. In Sport mode, the exhaust note is one of determined grit under brisk acceleration, but the tone falls off quickly for quiet cruising.
Honda should have released the booming beast at all levels to remind owners why they paid $50,000 or $60,000 for a compact hatchback. Pull out a couple of baffles and let loose the snap, crackle, and pop.
A Couple of Considerations
With the hatchback’s 1.7-inch longer wheelbase(107.7 inches) and the wide Michelins, the Type R turning circle is an unwieldy 40 feet (39.9 inches). The low ride height is also a chin scraper, requiring some caution at dips in the street and some driveways.
The 9-inch color infotainment touchscreen adds a volume knob, customizable feature settings, and smart shortcuts
Interior Function
This generation of Civic Hatchback is a solid base for performance. It has thinner windshield pillars, a lower hood, and the side mirrors mounted on the doors — not the pillar — creating a wide look-around.
Sightlines are open across the hood and out the back, even with that big wing on the decklid. The designers cleverly shaped the wing with an arc that matches the surround of the back glass.
The cabin ergonomics are Honda simple and direct. There’s nothing wrong with the leather-wrapped three-point steering wheel that a flat bottom wouldn’t improve for thigh space. Honda offers an Alcantara-wrapped upgrade with red baseball stitching for $408, but it does not have a flat bottom.
The big, winged race seats, ready for a three-point harness, are a one-size-fits-most.
A short throw shifter with a red shift knob is a $230 accessory, and it might be a worthwhile addition. The aluminum shift knob gets hot when the car has been sitting in the sun; the smooth finish of the knob can mean a missed shift if it slips in the hand. The accessory shifter has a metallic disc top with the lower portion wrapped in red leather.
The hatchback Type R has a 60/40 folding back seat and 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space.
Why Buy the Honda Civic Type R?
The Civic Type R is a street-able track car that looks like trouble. It is actually quite harmless but best enjoyed at high volume in competitive driving. The suspension gives stunning control, but as a Monday-Friday commuter, Comfort mode will be the way to go; Sport is just too rough.
As one enthusiast said of the Type R: “Hey, it has four doors; the spouse would approve.”
You can’t miss the Type R’s big wing, decklid spoiler, and triple exhaust tips.
2023 Honda Civic Type R Specifications
Body style: Compact 4-seat, 5-door front-wheel-drive high-performance hatchback
Engine: K20C 315 hp, VTEC turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; 310 lb.-ft. of torque from 2,600 to 4,000 rpm; 7,000 rpm redline
Boost pressure: 25psi
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching, and hill-start assist
Fuel economy: 22/28/24 mpg city/hwy/combined; premium fuel recommended for max performance
BY THE NUMBERS
Fuel tank: 12.4 gallons
Cargo space: 24.5 cubic feet
Front head/leg room: 39.3/42.3 inches
Rear head/leg room: 37.1/37.4 inches
Length/wheelbase: 180.9/107.7 inches
Height/width: 55.4/74.4 inches
Curb weight: 3,188 pounds; 62/38 weight distribution
Turning circle: 39.9 feet
FEATURES
Standard equipment includes: Smartkey entry with push-button start, multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, 10.2-inch driver info screen, 12-speaker Bose sound System with subwoofer, 9-inch color touchscreen (with volume knob, customizable feature settings, and smart shortcuts), electric parking brake, Bluetooth phone and audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 2.5-amp USB smartphone-audio port (front), 2.5-amp USB charging port, 12-volt power outlet (front), wireless charging pad, sliding sun visors, LED map lights, cargo area cover,
Type R features, interior: Type R serial-number plate, high-Bolstered front sport seats with red-black microsuede fabric with double red stitching, red floor mats, red ambient LED interior lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, metal-trimmed sport pedals, aluminum shift knob, red illuminated front door panels, active sound control
Type R features, exterior: Brembo 4-piston aluminum front brake calipers, 19-inch matte black alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, aluminum hood, red Honda badges, Type R badges front and rear, gloss black side sills, gloss black wing spoiler, center-mounted, triple outlet exhaust with active exhaust valve, gloss black side mirrors with LED turn signals
Safety features include: 10 air bags, stability and traction controls, brake distribution, brake assist, and hill-start assist.
Driving-Assistance Technologies
Collision Mitigation Braking; Road Departure Mitigation; Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Keeping Assist; Forward Collision Warning; Lane Departure Warning; Traffic Sign Recognition System; Auto High-Beam Headlights; Driver Attention Monitor; Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor;
CHASSIS COMPONENTS
Suspension: Adaptive damper system; dual-axis MacPherson front struts, rear multi-link; stabilizer bars front (tubular) and rear (solid);
Steering: Dual-pinion, variable-ratio electric power steering; 2.1 turns lock to lock;
Brakes: Power-assisted and ventilated 2-piece front discs, solid rear; 13.8-inch rotors front, 12 inches rear; Brembo 4-piston aluminum front calipers;
Tires-Wheels: 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (265/30); 19-inch matte black alloy wheels; tire-repair kit.
PRICING
Base price: $44,890, including $1,095 freight charge; price as tested $45,345
Options on test vehicle: Championship White paint $455
Where assembled: Yorii-Machii, Saitama, Japan
Warranties: 3-years/36,000-miles bumper to bumper with 24-hour roadside assistance; 5-years/60,000-miles powertrain
