Yahoo Autos 2023 Honda Civic Type R Review: All That and a Bag of Chips
I'm often that "weird guy" at the office in the sense that I don't share the same taste in cars or car opinions as most of The Drive's staff. I'm not really into old cars, I actually enjoy most SUVs, and I don't lose sleep over the manual transmission's gradual extinction. When it comes to the 2023 Honda Civic Type R, however, I not only agree with most of them, but I'm actively hunting down others who think otherwise just so I can try to convert them into a Civic cultist—or trip them from behind at the very least.
With that kind of introduction, you may be wondering why you should even bother reading any further. You might think this will be some cheesy review where I wax poetic about the red badge's significance in the JDM world or how the Type R is one of those cars that you can't help but turn around and look at after you park.
Not at all. As I previously said, I'm the odd one who focuses on practicality and other tangible aspects that impact a car's ownership experience. Yes, even in something as sporty as the Type R. So I'm going to tell you why my seven days, 600-plus miles, and track time in this pocket rocket solidified the newest Honda Civic Type R as one of the all-time greats.
2023 Honda Civic Type R Specs | |
|---|---|
The Basics
One of the best things about the Type R is that, at the end of the day, it's just a Civic Hatchback on steroids. Nothing more and nothing less. The Type R sits at the top of the Civic range, followed by the Civic Si in terms of performance—though the Si is a sedan and not a hatch—and then the vanilla Civics offered in both body styles.
Despite its likeness to the regular hatch, every single body panel from the A-Pillar to the rear end is exclusive to the Type R. This translates into a car that's 0.8 inches longer, 0.5 inches lower, and 0.6 inches wider thanks to its flared fenders, wider track, and 20-mm-wider 19-inch wheels. Even with its GT3-style rear wing, the result is an athletic and very mature-looking Type R that's an enormous departure from its boyish predecessor.
This carries over inside, as the cabin is more streamlined and pleasing to the eye, though it's all very red, so I hope you love red. A thin row of buttons controls all the HVAC functions, while everything else is relegated to the nine-inch touchscreen mounted atop the dash. A volume knob, home, and return hard buttons remain, making it easy to quickly navigate through system menus. There's a small cluster of buttons left of the shifter, which is dedicated to four driving modes: Comfort, Sport, +R, and my favorite, Individual (more on this later). Lastly, there's a wireless charging pad above the shifter, as well as two USB charging ports and one 12-volt outlet.
Onto the good stuff: Honda's K20C1 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 315 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600 to 4,000 rpm. This translates into an amazing 157.8 hp per liter and represents an increase of 9 hp and 15 lb-ft from the previous Type R. The six-speed manual transmission remains one of the highlights of the car, providing endless enjoyment and a mechanical connection that I can only describe as lovely. (Not bad from the guy who doesn't care about the manual's demise, huh?)
