Honda Civic Type R (FL5) – performance and 0-60mph time
Looks average on paper only due to the limits of front-drive traction. In the real world there’s plenty of performance
Perhaps the most impressive element of the Type R this time around is the small but very impactful changes that have been made to the engine. Like few, if any, turbocharged four-cylinder engines of the modern era, the Honda’s K20C1 engine responds almost like a naturally aspirated unit, building torque in a linear fashion alongside engine speeds.
The response of the engine is razor-sharp, and the new turbocharger internals help get that spinning with what feels like no lag of any kind. Despite the lack of the expected turbo whoosh in the mid-range, torque really is abundant right across the engine’s operating speeds, and the Honda feels quicker even than the figures might suggest.
Japanese and European-specification Type Rs feature the full-fat tune, producing 324bhp at 6500rpm. Models sold in American and Australian markets make do with a 316bhp version for the sake of the lower-octane fuels sold there. Torque is the same 310lb ft in both markets, produced between 2200 and 4000rpm. Its 0-62mph time is rated at 5.4sec, but unless the tyres are toasty warm and tarmac bone-dry, it’s a tricky figure to extract. Top speed is rated at 170mph.
Compared to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, Audi RS3 and Toyota GR Yaris, the Civic doesn't have the ability to consistently nail off the line or out of low-speed corners in damp or wet conditions. Get greedy and the front diff locks up with a sudden loss of traction, spinning both front tyres, but if you're measured with the throttle it's possible to find decent drive. Just don't expect all the performance to be readily accessible no matter the weather.
