2018 Honda Civic Type R

The 2019 Honda Civic Type R is the high-performance version of Honda's compact. Based on the Civic hatch, the Type R ditches the turbo 1.5-liter inline-four for a 306 horsepower turbo 2.0-liter engine. Power is sent to the front wheels through a slick 6-speed manual. Standard equipment includes a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and adaptive dampers. Competitors include the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus RS. All that performance adds up, though it does include standard equipment like LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and an upgraded audio system. All in, this car stickered for $35,990. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: I like driving niche, halo cars. It's crystal clear what they are, what their purpose is and why they exist. There's no ambiguity. Their identity is without question. Such is the case with the Honda Civic Type R. You buy this car because you're an enthusiast and you love Honda Civics. It's that simple. No one else would pay a starting sticker of nearly 35 grand for a Honda Civic. No one else would want to summon this much performance out of their humble hatch. For those who want these things, nothing else will do. I'm not one of them. I wouldn't pay this much for a Civic, and I wouldn't enjoy driving it on a daily basis. But, I totally respect the Type R's performance chops. I would love to track it. It's precise and invigorating to drive. The chassis is tight, almost severe, and the steering has definition. I'm a big fan of the Type R's extreme, even polarizing looks. It's overdone, but in this segment, you're not looking for subtle. The pronounced wheel arches, the crazy wing, the black wheels with popping red calipers — all the details work to create the Type R's character. Even the grille is spot-on for this model. In a vacuum I think it's ridiculous, but on the Type R, yeah, you want to look like you're driving a Decepticon. I had a fairly calm night in this hot Honda. I put a rear-facing car seat in the back, which fit surprisingly fine. The clutch is heavy, but it's not hard to find the right rhythm. The six-speed requires quick, spot-on shifts, but they're easy to execute after a few minutes behind the wheel. The 2.0-liter turbo sounds growls without being comical, and you can't argue with 306 horsepower. It outguns nearly everything in this segment, save the Subaru WRX STI. Nestled into the racing-style seats with a metal plaque to your right indicating the Type R's build number, it's impossible not to feel like you're driving something special. It's not my flavor of brandy exactly, but I enjoy a good drink of Type R as much as the next guy. Performance cousins. Distant, anyway. @honda Civic Type R. @Acura NSX. @therealautoblog pic.twitter.com/ipWQjJbhmY — Greg Migliore (@GregMigliore) November 8, 2018 Associate Editor Reese Counts: I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best front-wheel drive …
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