2023 Honda Civic Type R

Overview

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R’s styling is dialed back compared with its wildly designed predecessor, but that doesn’t keep it from being more exciting to drive. Offered as a hatchback only, the Civic Type R is built from the more civilized 11th-generation Civic, which is reviewed separately. The new-generation Civic Type R uses the same turbocharged four-cylinder as the last model but with output dialed up to 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The front-wheel-drive Type R’s six-speed manual transmission has also been upgraded to handle the power increase, and Honda has improved brake cooling to help handle track-day punishment. The new CTR is built in Japan with a powertrain from Ohio, but it’s fun to drive everywhere in between. We were so impressed with the new Civic Type R that we named it to our 2023 10Best cars list.

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What’s New for 2023?

Honda’s hottest new hatch aims to provide the same entertainment the last car did but with more power and smoother looks this time around. The new CTR’s muscles have grown into a larger chassis, but it stands on smaller 19-inch wheels wrapped in wider Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The front and rear tracks are also wider with improved cooling for the brakes. The CTR’s output gains nine horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque from an upgraded 315-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission. The Type R’s onboard datalogger no longer requires a smartphone app, as its lap recording and performance instrumentation can now be accessed from the car’s 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Honda Civic Type R’s starting price is as competitive as its performance. With few options to tack on beyond its initial MSRP, the CTR is not only cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf R, but it’s also nearly at the price of the entry-level Toyota Supra. While personal preference will define if two seats are better than four, the most powerful Civic Type R is ultimately an affordable sports car with five doors.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The new Civic Type R is powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the previous-generation car, but a redesigned turbocharger with a more efficient exhaust system has increased power output to 315 horsepower at 6500 rpm with 310 pound-feet of torque at 2600 to 4000 rpm. The Civic Type R also benefits from additional improvements, such as a larger radiator and improved brake cooling. Honda has also increased the rpm at which the active exhaust valve opens to heighten the car’s four-cylinder symphony. A lighter flywheel paired with a revised rev-match system should further reward rowing at the new CTR’s six-speed manual transmission. The front-drive-only Honda uses an innovative dual-axis strut front suspension that does a terrific job of suppressing torque steer. While the new Civic Type R isn’t as visually extreme as the old one, it still sports a prominent rear wing and other aerodynamic addenda, as well as 19-inch wheels wrapped with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires. At our test track, the CTR bolted to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and eclipsed the quarter-mile marker in 13.5 seconds at 106 mph. More impressively, it circled our skidpad at 1.02 g’s.

More on the Civic Type R hatchback

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The new Civic Type R’s subtle horsepower bump isn’t at the sacrifice of fuel economy, at least according to the EPA. The hot hatch gets a cool EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. While that matches the all-wheel-drive Golf R’s EPA rating when optioned with a six-speed manual, the Golf R leads with an extra 2 mpg on the highway with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. We’ll update this space once we’ve evaluated the Type R’s real-world mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Although the new Civic Type R wears a more minimalist interior design than its predecessor, it has no shortage of racy visual cues. The latter includes red accents, faux carbon-fiber trim, and a familiar set of super comfy and supportive front seats. Just mind the ambient temperature before searing your palm on the aluminum shift knob. Atop the new digital cluster is a row of shift light indicators to help prevent slapping up against the redline between shifts. Passenger and cargo space are the same as the normal Civic hatchback, which should make the Civic Type R a great dual-purpose car.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Honda’s latest infotainment system runs through a 9.0-inch touchscreen mounted on the Civic Type R’s dashboard. It comes standard with popular features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2023 Civic Type R hasn’t been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We expect it’ll continue to come with a host of standard driver-assistance technology. Key safety features should include:

Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Honda provides an average limited and powertrain warranty and includes two years of complimentary maintenance. Those who want more comprehensive coverage will want to check out Hyundai’s plans, which are better in all three phases.

Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary maintenance covers two years or 24,000 milesArrow pointing downArrow pointing down

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $43,990/$44,385
Options: Championship White paint, $395

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 122 in3, 1996 cm3

Power: 315 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 2600 rpm 

TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink

Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/12.0-in disc

Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Size: 265/30ZR-19 (93Y) DT1

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 107.7 in

Length: 180.9 in

Width: 74.4 in
Height: 55.4 in

Passenger Volume: 99 ft3
Cargo Volume: 25 ft3
Curb Weight: 3183 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 4.9 sec

100 mph: 12.1 sec

1/4-Mile: 13.5 sec @ 106 mph

140 mph: 28.3 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 9.4 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.4 sec

Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 169 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 153 ft

Braking, 100–0 mph: 308 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft
Skidpad: 1.02 g 

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 20 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 30 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 370 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 24/22/28 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs