2018 Honda Civic Type R Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Last year marked an exciting introduction into the U.S. market for fans of the Type R Hondas. Aside from a limited run from the Integra, the only exposure Type R’s received here was from the entertainment industry. At last, though, Honda has brought a Civic Type R to America. For 2017 Honda delivered a one-two punch with an intriguing new Civic Si and, finally, a Type R. The new Civic is an absolute rocket: in 2017 it became the quickest front-drive car in the world around Germany’s famous Nurburgring. Since the model only just debuted for 2017, it goes into 2018 largely unchanged.
Unlike the rest of the Civic range, the Type R is a hot hatch that doesn’t have a dizzying amount of options to choose from. The engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a turbo VTEC that makes a whopping 306hp with torque to match, unlike previous hot Hondas which have been traditionally peaky with a narrow power band. The new Type R makes 295 lb-ft, and can get from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The power goes to the front wheels through a good-old-fashioned 6-speed manual gearbox topped by a handsome aluminum shift knob, getting 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Unlike the old VTEC screamers that redlined at 8,000 or even 9,000 rpm, the new Type R doesn’t sound quite as angry, only revving up to 7,000.
Despite weighing 3,100 pounds, the Type R is a sharp handler due to its standard 20-inch tires combined with stiffer springs, dampers, bushing, and sway bars. It will pull 1.02 g of lateral grip, and Honda’s dual-axis strut front suspension reportedly just about eliminates the torque steer that plagues front-drive performance cars. A helical limited-slip differential is also standard.
In addition to the Boy Racer spoiler, body kit, and hood scoop, the Civic Type R is pretty wild on the inside, too. Red accents line the familiar and practical space Civics share without passing the threshold of excessive. It has 25.7 cubic feet of cargo room in the back and 46 with the rear seat folded down. As for convenience features, the Type R essentially mimics the Civic Touring package trim with LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a navigation system, and an upgraded audio system and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The latest generation Civic has gotten top scores all the way around in both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing.
For decades, the appeal of hot Hondas has been that they make great all-arounders. Fun to drive, reliable, practical, fuel efficient and affordably priced, they do everything well without breaking the bank on a supercar. That seems to be the case once again with the Type R. While more expensive than some of the entry-level front-drive sport compacts, it’s quite a bit cheaper than the all-wheel drive performers that are arguably its true performance peers, not to mention a reasonably fuel efficient little car that makes for a great daily driver.
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2018 Honda Civic Type R Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Pandora internet radio · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 11 · Watts: 540
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 13.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Premium brakes: Brembo · Rear brake diameter: 12.0 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Dash trim: simulated alloy · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Shift knob trim: aluminum · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.11 · Limited slip differential: front
Engine
Oil cooler: auxiliary
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: triple tip · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: wing · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: suede
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 11.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.1
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 29 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 21 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: intermittent