Fast four-door FWD hatchbacks may not be very common in the States these days, but the Honda Civic Type R is a name that demands attention. In fact, with its over-the-top styling, it does actually grab more than a few eyeballs. That said, the Civic Type R has always been about the go rather than show. To that extent, it’s regarded as one of the finest front-wheel drive hot hatchbacks in the world.
Although the 2022 Honda Civic is now out, currently you can only buy the Type R as a 2021 version in the U.S. So, in case you’re planning to buy a hot hatchback that can set your daily commute on fire, the 2021 Civic Type R is one among the handful of options (Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai Veloster N) that are available in this segment.
2021 Civic Type R Engine And Gearbox
For 2021, the Civic Type R is available in two variants – standard Type R and Type R Limited Edition. We’ll tell you the differences between the two later. Both the variants feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline VTEC motor that develops 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Since it’s a hatchback meant purely for fun, Honda exclusively ships the Type R variants with a six-speed manual transmission that comes with rev-match control as standard. The drive from the engine is furiously directed to the front wheels.
The performance will be brisk, you bet. Honda claims a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds. The top speed is 169 mph (claimed) but, unofficially, we’ve seen the Type R hit 180 mph, too! Honda says that the Type R can return a fuel efficiency of 22 mpg (city) / 28 mpg (highway).
If you thought the Type R is all about straight-line performance, then you couldn’t be more wrong. For decades, the Civic Type R has cemented its name as one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars. And the current-gen model does full justice to its forefathers.
As standard, the Civic Type R comes with adaptive dampers, a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, and 20-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires. The Limited Edition, which is limited to 1,000 units worldwide with 600 allotted to the U.S. market, gets some tastier bits in addition. First up, it comes in a special Phoenix Yellow color along with gloss black exterior detailing, meaning you can’t mistake it for the standard version. Additionally, it also comes with 20-inch BBS alloy wheels and Michelin Sport 2 Cup tires. Honda claims that they’ve also changed the suspension tuning for an even grippier drive. The Limited Edition is also lighter by around 38 pounds over the standard car. If these numbers aren’t convincing enough for you, here’s another thing – the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition is currently the fastest FWD car around the Suzuka circuit!
2021 Civic Type R Interior: Red, Racy, And R-Rated
The 2021 Civic Type R is unashamedly sporty on the inside and out. Just like the shouty exterior, the interior of this R-rated Honda is quite racy. The standard and only interior trim available has loud red accents along with black upholstery. In case you think the interior isn’t red enough, you can always tick the $1,112 worth Interior Package option that will get you a red gear lever, red interior illumination, Type R floor mats, illuminated door sills, and more. You can even add carbon-fiber interior panel trim for $852. Quite steep, we think.
There’s faux suede leather material in places, and the steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara. The gear lever and pedals are finished in aluminum, and you do also get sport front seats. Standard features include 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control, a 12-speaker sound system, in-built navigation, a Honda datalogger system, and push-button start. If you wish to have an automatic dimming inside the rear-view mirror, you need to pay $461 extra. Similarly, a wireless phone charger can be installed for $326.
The Driver Assistance package, which is standard, gets adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation warning, multi-angle rear-view camera, and lane-keeping assist.
For a hot hatch that’s meant solely for driving thrills, the 2021 Civic Type R is surprisingly spacious and practical. Four passengers can sit in comfort. In fact, with a cargo volume of 25.7 cubic feet, the luggage space is quite impressive for a car of this segment.
2021 Honda Civic Type R Costs, And Options
The base price of the 2021 Honda Civic Type R is $37,895, while the Limited Edition will cost you $43,995.
There are five colors to choose from in the standard version – Crystal Black Pearl, Rallye Red, Boost Blue Pearl, Championship White, and Sonic Gray Pearl. The first two are no-cost options, while the remaining three are a $395 option.
There are a lot of packages and accessories on offer, including a carbon-fiber wing spoiler for $1,280. If you want even more carbon fiber stuff, you can get the optional Carbon Fiber Kit (which includes the carbon fiber spoiler, carbon fiber hood scoop, carbon fiber wing mirrors, and carbon-fiber interior panel cover).
For the kind of money that the Honda Civic Type R demands, there are a lot of other performance cars available in a similar price bracket. However, if you want a purebred FWD racer, the Type R is in a class of its own.