The latest incarnation of the Honda Civic Type R is the most performance-focused yet, but it still manages to be both a practical and comfortable daily driver. The car has long been hailed as one of the best hot hatches around, but Honda has really stepped their game up this year and produced something that's pushed the boundaries yet again.
One key area that's often overlooked by manufacturers making performance cars is the interior, but Honda has done a brilliant job of making the inside of the car work as well as the outside. Everything in the Type R is focused on going fast, but it's all done in a way that still works for just driving around town or ferrying passengers about. As far as interiors go, this is one of the best performance cars around within its price bracket, and here's why.
8 Racing-Style Sports Seats
One of the most important aspects of interior design is always the seats, as having uncomfortable ones will spoil the experience of driving even the fastest cars. The Type R's are shaped to hug both driver and passengers, but not to the point of discomfort.
They'll keep occupants firmly in place through hard cornering, but they're surprisingly good for long journeys too, a rarity with 'sporty' seats. In fact, they're so good that Top Gear even claimed they're the best seats below $100,000.
7 Alcantara Steering Wheel
Freshly upgraded for the latest iteration of the car, the Type R's steering wheel has been redesigned to better match the performance credentials of the car. It's now fully wrapped in Alcantara, which means better grip and comfort.
It's designed like a racing wheel, which helps add to the feel that this is a serious performance machine. It's quite a loud look, with contrasting red and black accents to match the rest of the car.
6 Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
There are some car features that just make everyday life that much easier, and good phone connectivity is one of them. That's why it's a relief that both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.
It means no matter what the device, owners can connect to their car for calls, messages, and music. Traditional Bluetooth and USB connections are also still available for drivers who prefer to do things the old-school way.
5 CONNECT 7" Touchscreen
Cars in the performance segment tend to go one of two ways when it comes to touchscreens and buttons: either they'll just have a big touchscreen, like Tesla, or end up with copious amounts of switches and buttons, like Lamborghini.
Honda has taken the very sensible middle path, with a 7" touchscreen that controls most of the car's interactive features, but buttons and dials for the most popular features like the volume adjuster. It's only a small difference in design choice but it makes a big difference for everyday driving, as it means owners will be able to acclimatize to where things are in their new Type R much quicker than in many other models.
4 Tear Drop Gear Shifter
One of the main goals of the mid-life refresh that Honda just gave the Type R was to improve on performance focus without compromising practicality. That goes right down to the smallest of details, like the gear shifter.
It's now a teardrop shape, as Honda's research has suggested that that's the best option for feel and accuracy. Attention to the small things like this is really what sets the car apart from other rival hot hatches.
3 Multiple Driving Modes
As fun as it is to use R+ mode, many drivers don't want to have a racing setup when they're stuck in traffic or cruising the highway. Honda has included 3 modes for the Type R to solve this: Comfort, Sport, and R+.
It means no matter what the situation, the driver can adjust the car to the optimal setting. Changing the settings affects a whole suite of components, including throttle response, steering force, and adaptive dampers. It's enough to change the entire characteristics of the car with just the push of a button.
2 Individual Numbering
Honda is only producing the Type R in a limited run, and each example is individually numbered. The car's individual chassis number is displayed on a small plaque just below the gear shifter.
It's a feature most commonly found on limited-edition supercars, so it's pretty cool that Honda has added it into the Type R. Mostly, it'll just remind owners that not only is the car they're in fast, it's rare too.
1 Racing-Focused Driving Position
Staying with the ethos of performance-focused design, the car's driving position has been reworked during the car's recent facelift too. Everything from the position of the pedals to the new lower seating has been tweaked for optimal performance.
That's an unusually precise set of changes, especially considering this is a four-seater hatch that starts under $40,000. For that price, it's hard to find a better combination of power and practicality, both in the interior and every other aspect of the car.