Civic Type R

Make
Honda
Segment
Hatchback

Even right at the end of its life, the outgoing Honda Civic Type R remained the benchmark for front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks in America. The Volkswagen Golf GTI might have something to say about that, but the Type R had a more visceral driving character that endeared it to enthusiasts. Now, it's time for the new model to raise the bar once more. The 2023 Civic Type R comes with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 315 horsepower, and it's paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. That makes it the most powerful production vehicle Honda has ever sold in the US. It may have a toned-down exterior design compared to the previous model, but the same is unlikely to apply to the driving experience. With Toyota bringing the GR Corolla to America, the new Type R will have to be ready for an almighty battle.

When Is The 2023 Honda Civic Type R Coming Out?

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R's release date is scheduled for fall 2022. As for its rivals, the Toyota GR Corolla is said to be coming out around the same time, although the Circuit Edition will only arrive in early 2023. Potentially bad news for Honda fans is that it looks like production of the new Type R will be quite limited.

What’s The Price Of The 2023 Honda Civic Type R?

The price of the Honda Civic Type R hasn't been revealed yet but, for reference, the previous Type R began at around $38,000 just before it was discontinued. Based on this, we expect the new one to cost around $40,000 MSRP in the USA.

New Honda Civic Type R Exterior And Colors

Drawing inspiration from the rather conservative Civic hatchback, the new Honda Civic Type R's exterior has a less brash design than before. It's still obviously a performance-oriented model, though, thanks to a beefier body and lightweight 19-inch wheels wrapped in wider Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Honda says that these new wheels have a "reverse rim" design that enhances stability of the tire contact patch under load.

There are larger front fender grilles, new side sills, and wider rear doors that are exclusive to the Type R. The grille has a honeycomb mesh design that looks great, but the most aggressive angle is from the rear where the triple exhaust outlets and large rear spoiler compete for one's attention. As usual, the badging is red in the Type R tradition, and the black wheels have red Brembo calipers behind them. The wing spoiler, side mirrors, and fin-type antenna on the roof all have a gloss black finish.

The Honda Civic Type R's colors includes the brand's iconic Championship White. Sonic Gray Pearl and Boost Blue Pearl are two more premium colors, while the standard shades are Rallye Red and Crystal Black Pearl.

Honda Civic Type R Dimensions

With its unique aerodynamic touches, Honda says that the new Type R is 0.8 inches longer, 0.5 inches lower, and 0.6 inches wider than before. These changes give the new Type R a particularly aggressive, sporty stance, even if the details are smoother than on the outgoing car. The hot hatch now measures 180.9 inches in length, 55.4 inches in height, and 74.4 inches in width. Other key Honda Civic Type R dimensions include a 107.7-inch wheelbase which is 1.4 inches longer than before. The front and rear tracks have been widened by an inch and 0.75 inches, respectively, further contributing to straight-line stability and steering feel.

The previous Civic Type R weighed just over 3,100 pounds, so unless Honda has been able to dramatically lower the curb weight of the new one in some way, it shouldn't be far off this figure. The brand has yet to publish this figure, though.

Honda Civic Type R Engine And Performance

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R's engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, codenamed K20C1. It is more powerful and responsive than before, now producing 315 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque between 2,600 and 4,000 rpm. These changes are as a result of alterations like a redesigned turbocharger, a more efficient exhaust system, and an increased air intake flow rate. Compared to the previous Civic Type R, the new model makes nine hp and 15 lb-ft more, and the specific output has gone up from 153.3 hp/liter to 157.8 hp/liter.

Sending power to the front wheels as before, the improved 2.0-liter is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Honda promises even more precise shifts, and the new Type R also comes with a lighter flywheel and a new rev-match system. To put the power down optimally, there is a helical-type limited-slip differential.

While we don't know what the 0-60 mph time is yet, the new Type R will be capable of a 170-mph top speed. For reference, the outgoing model took about 5.5 seconds to get from 0-60. The specs suggest that it will be an exceptionally close battle between this and the GR Corolla (300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque) which will have a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbo engine and all-wheel drive.

Besides Comfort, Sport, and +R modes, the new Civic Type R includes a new Individual Mode to further tailor the driving experience. New two-piece front brake rotors are said to lower unsprung weight, and brake cooling is better than before. In front, there are Brembo four-piston calipers.

Despite powering the front wheels only, the new Honda Civic Type R hatchback has already shown itself to be an immensely capable track toy. It posted a 2:23.120 time at the Suzuka circuit, a new FWD record and one that beats the previous Type R Limited Edition. We believe a Nurburgring attempt will be made soon, too.

Gas Mileage

Unsurprisingly, no EPA gas mileage figures have yet been published for the 2023 Honda Civic Type R hatchback. The previous Type R managed 22/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined and a range of about 310 miles when its tank was full.

Honda Civic Type R Interior And Cargo

The Honda Civic Type R's interior should be excellent if the base Civic Hatchback is anything to go by. We found the latter's cabin to be spacious, solidly constructed, and without a steep learning curve. Legroom in the second row is great for a car in this segment. Mercifully, there are still physical controls inside for things like the ventilation system, and the honeycomb strip that conceals the ventilation outlets is a cool touch.

The first thing you notice in the cabin is the abundance of red trim; regardless of the exterior color, the interior can only be finished in this black/red color scheme with red in front - right down to the carpets - and black in the rear. The Honda Civic Type R's seats are finished in a suede-like upholstery that the company claims grips you tightly in high-G driving scenarios, and the seating position is lower than before. It's important to note that the new Type R seats four, not five, with cupholders in the center rear position.

Enthusiasts have many extra performance features to play with. There is a new +R driving mode exclusive meter design that includes a graphic engine rpm display and a gear position indicator. The Honda LogR datalogger records and displays real-time information on vehicle behavior, and there is a stopwatch to record lap times. You can even share driving videos easily. The central touchscreen measures nine inches and provides access to wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, while the Type R comes with a Bose Centerpoint sound system as standard.

Other standard features include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning.

The new Honda Civic Type R's trunk space measures a generous 24.5 cubic feet, and the rear seats can be folded in a 60/40 split, so it will be practical enough for daily use, too. If you need more cargo space than that, get a CR-V.