Then there’s the price and value consideration. (The first Civic Si in 1986 weighed 1,944 pounds.) Power and mechanical litheness mask the weight from the driver’s seat, but not from the outside. The VW, Subaru, and Hyundai all weigh even more, which illustrates just how heavy cars are now. Real heft, as well, since the Type-R weighs 3,121 pounds. This would be more acceptable if all of these pieces were functional, but many of them are purely cosmetic: sham vents, intakes, and character lines meant to help mask visual heft. From the outside, it is an unfortunate jumble. From the inside, you can pretend this is a cozy sedan. What does draw attention are the myriad adhesive boomerangs, flares, diffusers, and strakes. The 2021 Honda Civic Type R may be fast and furious, but it’s also practical, boasting 25.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 46.2 cubic feet with them folded. The Type-R is boomier than an ordinary Civic, but it doesn’t howl or crackle. Nor does it draw the attention of non-immediate law enforcement. It also retains the Civic’s user-friendly infotainment system.īecause the exhaust note is not quite as raucous as one might imagine in a car like this, all of this joyriding does not come at the expense of the neighbors. Hondaīoth Type R trims offer only cosmetic interior and exterior options, but both come standard with all of the regular Civic’s safety features including a suite of driver assist tech including adaptive cruise control, forward collision and lane departure warning and enhanced emergency braking. It’s about 50 pounds lighter than the regular Type R, but much of the weight is saved in much lighter BBS wheels, which reduce unsprung weight. The Civic Type R Limited Edition comes only in Phoenix Yellow. Every on- and off-ramp becomes an opportunity to wring out this performance, to test the driver’s internal g-force-ometer.ĭespite many attempts, we were never able to really break the tires loose. Stoplights and stop signs become occasions for one-person drag races. We drove our tester on a crazy 400-mile triangle from New York City to the outer reaches of Connecticut to the border of New York and Pennsylvania, with a gaggle of old car parts, including a transmission, in the trunk and never once got fatigued.Īnd the best part is that, unlike other hotted-up cars, all of the Type R’s capability feels usable in everyday circumstances. It’s half track-day warrior and half commuter car.ĭespite its heartily-bolstered racing seats, its micron-thick 30-series sidewalls on 20-inch tires, and its ghost of Ayrton Senna suspension tuning, it is an extremely pleasant place to sit for extended periods of time. But if you close your eyes while you’re driving it (please don’t do this) it feels like a high-quality compact sedan. HondaĪnd that is the essence of the Type R. The Civic Type R’s interior is splashed with red, but if the stock interior isn’t red enough, there’s also a $1,112 interior package with red lighting and even more red accents. And the engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter, 306 horsepower, inline-four cylinder unique to the Type R, is a marvel of smoothness for something so seemingly high strung. The brakes are strong and steady, without fade. Gear changes feel like the opposite of Rube Goldberg: direct, precise, solid. Both are real performers, and that’s what buyers for this car are after. This year, there’s a new Limited Edition, priced at a towering $44,950. The Type R is so focused that until 2021, it came in just one trim, the Touring, which starts at $38,450, including destination fees. It takes a highly refined design like the Civic and relentlessly pursues improvements until everything feels like it’s perfectly connected to and working in concert with the driver. The Type R succeeds because it exemplifies Honda’s approach to vehicle engineering. It comes in five colors, including Boost Blue Pearl. The Type R is based on the regular five-door Civic Hatchback, but it’s big power and sporty mission are advertised with an armada of spoilers, scoops, and other aerodynamic aids. The Veloster also has one back door (on the passenger side) so it lacks practicality. It too doesn’t match the Type R’s speed and sophistication. Hyundai’s Veloster N is the closest direct challenger and indeed it’s a cleverly packaged hoot, but it’s slightly less expensive and is certainly less distinctive. The Subaru WRX, another aging all-wheel-drive beast, is down on power and sophistication. Volkswagen’s Golf R is on hiatus this year as we await the arrival of that car’s 2022 iteration. The Honda Civic Type-R doesn’t really have much competition in the sub-$40,000, high-test, hot-hatch category.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |