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- Highs Impeccable turbocharged powertrain, razor-sharp handling, surprisingly comfortable ride.
- Lows Less than thrilling exhaust note, no mobile hotspot, hard to look mature in the thing.
- Verdict The Civic Type R looks wild, drives great, and can be driven every day.
Overview
The 2020 Honda Civic Type R begs the question: How in your face is too in your face? The bewinged hatchback's exaggerated bodywork isn't easy for everyone to love, but its incredible chassis and terrific turbocharged engine certainly are. With 306 horsepower and a monogamous manual transmission, Honda's four-cylinder powertrain is powerful and engaging. While we wish it sounded as menacing as the Hyundai Veloster N, the super Civic proves there's no substitute for massive cornering grip and gobs of driver feedback. The front-drive hot hatch is also saved from the dreaded torque steer, and its ride doesn't have the rock-hard tendencies that the old Ford Focus RS had. In fact, the Honda could even be called civil if it weren't for its gratuitous styling. Still, the 2020 Civic Type R is a generational talent that is affordable, fun, and practical.
What's New for 2020?
For 2020, Honda sprinkles some updates into the Civic Type R recipe. The most noteworthy upgrades include new brake rotors and pads that aim to inhibit fade during hard braking, revisions to the front suspension that Honda says improves steering feel, and other suspension changes such as retuned dampers. The 2020 Type R also adds synthetic engine noise that is said to alter intensity with the different drive modes. There are also superficial updates that include a larger front grille opening that's supposed to aid engine cooling and a new Boost Blue paint color. Its interior receives a steering wheel wrapped in faux suede instead of leather; the shifter has been redesigned and given shorter throws. Oh, and in case anyone wished the Type R had driver assists (we sure didn't) the 2020 model year gets a suite of them courtesy of the newly standard Honda Sensing package. Honda unveiled a lightweight, Limited Edition Type R that will go one sale as a 2021 model; a redesigned Civic Type R is expected to bow for the 2022 model year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The 2020 Civic Type R costs $720 more than the 2019 model, which is a bargain for the myriad improvements the latest version receives. The Honda also has few hot hatches with similar performance now that the Focus RS is dead and the next-gen Volkswagen Golf R is in limbo. The two most similar alternatives are the Veloster N and Subaru WRX STI, but the Type R has proven it's really in a class of its own. And Honda supplies every version with a host of enticing standard features that include adaptive dampers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, built-in navigation, front sport seats, passive entry, and more. The Type R also can be personalized with a handful of exterior and interior accessories should shoppers want to add cargo organizers, a wireless phone charger, etc.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Civic Type R looks like something the devil himself spat on the asphalt, and it goes like a bat out of hell, too. Its exclusive turbocharged four-cylinder makes 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The eager engine always feels alive with a responsive throttle and imperceptible turbo lag. A short-throw six-speed manual is also on hand and the only transmission choice. The Honda's easy clutch action and precise shifter are as perfectly synchronized as a pair of figure skaters. Too bad the triple-pipe, center-exit exhaust isn't as loud as the exterior styling. Sure, its innocuous note is appreciated on long trips, but we want more roar in a car that looks and drives like this one. The Type R is that rare type of car with terrific track ability and amicable road manners. It sticks to the road like bionic Velcro, with steering telepathy that would embarrass Miss Cleo and a chassis seemingly tuned by a Formula 1 engineer. Although its suspension is stiffer than the sporty Civic Si's, the R-rated version is still surprisingly comfortable—especially compared with the hard-riding Focus RS. It's only slightly impolite on rough roads or over harsh bumps, where the 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires yield loud impacts. The Honda's immense grip was exhibited on our skidpad, where it pulled 1.02 g's—an impressive feat for any car, let alone one with front-wheel drive. The Type R set the bar even higher with its astonishing emergency-braking distance (70 mph to zero) of 142 feet, which equals that of the $200,000 Acura NSX supercar we tested.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Civic Type R boasts above-average EPA fuel-economy ratings and does equally well in the real world. The government estimates it'll earn 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Honda and its competitors all matched or exceeded their EPA highway figure on our 200-mile fuel-economy loop. Honda's hot hatchback rang in at 29 mpg, beating its rating by 1 mpg—though still trailing the Golf R's 31 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Type R's interior is rated R for scenes involving gratuitous red accents and obscenely comfy racing seats. Although the styling isn't subtle, the interior relies on Type R trademarks and racy materials to highlight its sufficient passenger space. The 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster has a red theme—obviously—and a distinct appearance for each drive mode. The Civic Type R may be equal parts track star and daily driver, but it's also a very practical travel companion. In our testing, it accommodated significantly more ping-pong balls than its rivals and tied the WRX STI for the greatest carry-on-luggage capacity.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The addition of a volume knob and physical buttons has alleviated some of our frustrations with the infotainment system's touchscreen interface. Otherwise, the infotainment system has standard features such as integrated navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a rockin' stereo.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2020 Civic Type R hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Unlike the previous model year, Honda has added a host of standard driver-assistance technology—not that anyone who loved the Type R's decidedly analog personality asked for such equipment. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure alert and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda covers the Civic Type R with a competitive limited and powertrain warranty. However, it lacks complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
