2024 Honda Civic Type R Review: Type R For Race
After a redesign in 2023, the Honda Civic Type R catapulted into record books and raked in awards, which only serves to underscore what we've known all along: it's the best hot hatch in the USA. Some may suggest that the Volkswagen Golf GTI has more to offer, and the Toyota GR Corolla has certainly taken the market by storm, but the Type R has something its German competitor doesn't - a storied history and the expectation of undiluted excellence from its sole trim. It received a bump in power last year, with 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbo-four seeing it accelerate more briskly and steadily than ever before. More than just being quick, though, the Type R is a hoot to drive.
New for 2024
There's nothing new for 2024 and the Honda Civic Type R hatchback sprints into the new year with just a slight price increase.
2024 Honda Civic Type R Price: Which One to Buy
The starting price of the 2024 Honda Civic Type R is $44,795, which works out to $1,500 more than it was last year. This new MSRP doesn't include the $1,095 destination and handling fee.
There's only one model on the menu, and it comes fully stocked so there isn't much you can add on. There are five paint colors to choose from and a number of exterior accessories - including a carbon fiber wing spoiler and 19-inch forged alloy wheels that are a must - but not much else. Without unique add-ons like a roof box or bike rack, the Type R can cost as much as $52,795 all in.
Type R |
---|
The One and Only |
$ 44795 |
Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (315 hp/310 lb-ft) |
Six-speed manual transmission with FWD |
19-inch matte black wheels |
Suede-effect front sports seats |
Nine-inch infotainment touchscreen |
Interior and Features
Last year's redesign saw changes to the driver's position and the seats and upgraded tech, but the iconic red interior is still the only option you get.
The latest Honda Civic Type R benefits from a redesign for the 2023 model year, which included a refreshed interior with a new digital instrument cluster and a larger touchscreen. Software and tech also saw an upgrade. The setup is ideal for those who are going to use the Type R as intended: for spirited driving. That means sports seats with extra bolstering, a low driver's seating position, improved visibility, and technology that supports track antics. The latter is further underscored with red ambient lighting that pairs well with the red interior - although that won't be to everyone's liking. There are two seats in the back for passengers, which helps to make this hatchback a little more practical.
Space
Hatchbacks aren't designed for loads of interior space, but in classic configuration, there's usually at least space for five. The Type R shakes that up a little by switching out the middle seat on the rear bench for permanent cupholders, limiting the total occupancy to just four. Still, it's relatively spacious in all positions, with those up front getting the most head- and legroom. In the back, the Type R has far more space for passengers than its GR Corolla rival which can accommodate a third person at a push. We'd wager those in the back of the Honda would be much, much happier. It's an easy enough car to get inside, but it is a bit low so taller passengers my need to bend a knee.
Cargo
Cargo space comes in at 24.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which is quite a bit more than you'll find in the Golf GTI or GR Corolla. The rear seats in the Civic Type R also fold down to make more room, but Honda hasn't published the figure for this particular configuration.
For small items, the Type R offers up a regular-sized glovebox, door pockets in all four doors, and a center armrest up front with a bin for knick-knacks. Four cupholders are present - two up front and two in the rear middle seat position.
Honda Civic Type R | Volkswagen Golf GTI | Toyota GR Corolla | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 4 Seater | 5 Seater | 5 Seater |
Headroom | 39.3 in. front 37.1 in. rear | 38.5 in. front 38.1 in. rear | 38.4 in. front 37.6 in. rear |
Legroom | 42.3 in. front 37.4 in. rear | 41.2 in. front 35 in. rear | 42 in. front 29.9 in. rear |
Cargo space | 24.5 ft³ | 19.9 ft³ | 17.8 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
The classic red interior is the only choice buyers of the Civic Type R have, but it's worth noting that the in-your-face scarlet seats are only present in the front of the cabin. The red suede-effect fabric sport seats are accompanied by red carpeting on the floor, but the back seats are wrapped in black fabric accented by red seatbelts and stitching. There's black leather on the steering wheel, and the shift knob is made of aluminum to complement the sports pedals. A black leather option would've been nice for those who want something a little more understated, but those who love the Type R for what it represents won't be upset by the intense interior at all.
Features and Infotainment
Aiming for a fully loaded car, Honda has given the Type R as much as possible right off the bat. The features list includes dual-zone climate control, red ambient lighting, push-button start, and a 10.2-inch digital information cluster for the driver. The gauge cluster has a tachometer and +R drive mode meter showcasing engine RPM and the gear selection, and there's also the new Performance Datalogger that doesn't require a smartphone connection to keep track of your track data.
The infotainment lives on a nine-inch touchscreen that's got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, navigation, Sirius XM, and HD Radio as standard. It sends audio to a Bose Centrepoint sound system with 12 speakers (including a subwoofer). Wireless phone charging and Bluetooth are also present and accounted for.
Type R | |
---|---|
Dual-zone climate control | S |
10.2-inch digital information cluster | S |
Nine-inch touchscreen infotainment display | S |
12-speaker Bose Centerpoint sound system | S |
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | S |
Performance
Impressive outputs and a manual gearbox combine with a sublime chassis to make one of the most fun-to-drive cars on the road today.
Last year saw Honda making a fuss about the new Civic Type R hatch being the most powerful production vehicle from the brand, and that's still the case. The excellent 2.0-liter V-TEC four-cylinder engine is turbocharged and makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft, which goes exclusively to the front wheels. A six-speed manual transmission and a helical limited-slip differential are standard.
With a 0-60 time of under five seconds in independent tests (which is on par with the claimed benchmark sprint for the GR Corolla), the Type R also set a lap record in 2023 for the fastest front-wheel drive car around the Nurburgring. It can hit a top speed of 170 mph. But more than just being rapid, the Type R is also fun to drive. The recipe for driver enjoyment also includes an intuitive transmission with rev-matching technology and a chassis that is perfectly tuned for agility, and the result is, not surprisingly, one of the best hot hatchbacks on the road.
Fuel Efficiency
Gas mileage isn't the reason you'd buy the Type R, but that said, it's not overly atrocious considering its performance focus. Where the regular 2.0-liter Civic hatch manages 26/36/29 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle with the stick shift, the Civic Type R gets gas mileage figures of 22/28/24 mpg, according to the EPA.
With a fuel tank capacity of 12.4 gallons, range is theoretically around 297 miles, but if it were ours, we'd be driving it so hard that we couldn't get nearly that much.
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 6-Speed Manual FWD | |
---|---|
Power | 315 hp |
Top speed | 170 mph |
MPG | 22/28/24 mpg |
0-60 | Est. 5 seconds |
Safety
Another of the Type R's strong suits is its safety review, thanks to a long list of driver assists and ten airbags.
The data from the IIHS and NHTSA for the regular Civic hatchback applies to the safety review of the Honda Civic Type R - and it's overwhelmingly positive. The NHTSA awarded an overall rating of five stars, and only the frontal crash returned a less-than-perfect score. From the IIHS, all evaluations got top marks, barring the updated side crash test, which scored Acceptable. It was still good enough to award the spicy hatchback a Top Safety Pick award for 2023.
These results are courtesy of generous safety specifications, which start with ten airbags and the prerequisite traction and stability control systems. Added as standard are collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and blind spot with cross-traffic monitoring. Lane departure and lane keeping assist are also included alongside a driver attention monitor and a multi-angle rearview camera.
Type R | |
---|---|
Forward collision warning | S |
Traffic sign recognition | S |
Lane departure and lane keep | S |
Driver attention monitor | S |
Multi-angle rearview camera | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Rollover Rating |
---|
5/5 |
Reliability
When it comes to dependability, the Civic range as a whole has consistently scored highly over the last couple of years. For 2024, the quality and reliability rating for the Honda Civic and Type R from JD Power are 82 out of 100, with an overall score of 83. This is underscored by a low number of recalls, with one listed for the latest model year for an incorrectly assembled steering rack (although it's not clear whether that applies to the Type R). For 2023, an improperly welded driver's seat frame is listed as problematic on the Type R.
For peace of mind, there's a three-year/36,000-mile warranty on the 2024 Honda Civic Type R, which includes coverage for the powertrain for an additional two years (up to 60,000 miles).
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
Design
We have lots to say about the exterior design of the Honda Civic Type R; we were fans long before this new, more understated Type R debuted last year, and while the older model had a much more in-your-face aesthetic, the updated version marries sporty and stylish in a much more cohesive way that we think works particularly well. The large air intake underneath the blacked-out grille, the red Honda badge alongside the Type R logo, and the angular LED headlights up front give it a racy look, which is further emphasized by the big gloss black wing spoiler at the back, the triple-outlet exhaust system, and the diffuser that houses it. 19-inch matte black wheels are standard, but you can opt for forged alloy versions instead. On either option, Michelin Pilot 4S tires are standard.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Honda Civic Type R A Good car?
If you're a driving enthusiast - and particularly if you're interested in JDM cars - you're likely to already have strong opinions of the Civic Type R. But even if you're not biased toward it for those reasons, it's hard to fault the car on anything more than it's red-or-bust interior and slightly elevated price tag. It drives incredibly well, it's quick, and it's no longer alien-looking for those who don't necessarily want to snap necks. Sure, options like the Acura Integra Type S exist, which offers a tad more horsepower (a negligible five hp) and a softer drive experience, but for those who want to get a foot in the performance-car world, there's not much that compares to the Type R. It's affordable and easy to drive, but more importantly, it's easy to drive enthusiastically. There's a reason it has the reputation it does; better hot hatches are hard to find.