Civic Type R is unapologetic
Honda’s new performance hatch is racing into 2020 and the Civic Type R is definitely a head-turner. It’s aggressively styled while having many small key additions. Honda hopes to give it a more dynamic drive and a nicer everyday car. 
This Civic looks like it belongs on the track
Put a couple of sponsor stickers and nets in the windows and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The Civic Type R has always been sporty but with sharper angles and bigger grills accompanied by a large wing at the back have made it not loved by everyone. The Type R isn’t going to say sorry.
“There is a common general feeling that it is a bit extreme in looks but I think that’s mainly shared by journalists,” says Honda’s UK managing director Dave Hodgetts.
The extreme look continues when you walk behind it. There are three exhaust
The insides are just as sporty
The sportiness is carried right over into the interior. The use of red highlights and some carbon fibre trim looks great. The centre console has great use of physical buttons and that goes over into the infotainment screen. For a performance car, it has a decent amount of room for the passengers. The sloped roof may be an issue for your tallest of friends but it’s certainly a lot nicer than its competition.
Infotainment system is standard. Its 7-inch touch screen is a good size and as mentioned above, doesn’t do away with physical buttons. There are also digital gauges in the driver’s display that are obviously red themed.
The Type R style is not all bark
Driving, even looking at, this car makes you want to go fast and through windy roads. But does it perform? It has a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged I4 engine that drives 228 kW and 400 Nm through the front wheels. That gets you to 100 km/h from standstill in 5.8 seconds.
So yes, it performs. It also gets a 6-speed manual transmission as the only option. It comes standard with Honda Sensing, a package of driver-assistance technology. So now, like every other Civic in 2020, the Type R will get cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights.
Additional enhancements to the performance include an updated adaptive damping system that, according to Honda, reacts 10 times faster. Wheels have been given two-piece front brake rotors with new pads for improved braking and the suspension has been changed to improve the driving feel. 
The price
If you aren’t scared of the style, for around R699 900 you could own one of these Civic Type Rs. It’s sure to be turning heads and, provided the traffic is right, feel like you’re on the track.
If it’s more the track you are wanting this car for and less the everyday utility, there will be a limited edition version in 2021 that is more track-focused.
Source: Car and Driver | CNET | Honda
All image credit: Honda
