You know how it is when people hate the object that caused an unpleasant argument. Is it going too far if we say many people took offense with the FN2 Civic Type R for no concrete reason other than the fact that it is the bone of contention? We’re not at all suggesting there’s nothing wrong with the Honda Civic FN2 Type R. We’re just saying this model caused deep-cutting division in the automotive world, iconic yet polarizing, leaving bystanders unsure of what side of the fence they should jump.

If you’re considering buying this car, this article will show you what’s wrong and why it might be okay to go ahead (as long as there aren’t too many potholes on your daily routes, that is). We get your dilemma. The FN2 Civic Type R is an attractive hatchback, but you’ve heard an earful about how bad it is, leaving you with that burning question in your guts; “how bad can such a beautiful thing be?”

Interestingly, all the hate inadvertently gives the model an interesting personality that’s simply too unique to ignore. It’s like P.T. Barnum said, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Let's see what the ruckus about the FN2 Civic Type R is about.

Related: Honda's Type R Models Ranked By Speed

The Honda Civic Type R

2007,_Honda_Civic_TypeR
Francesco Gasparetti via Wikimedia

First, a refresher course to retrace where the Civic Type R is coming from. As for the regular Civic, Honda made the subcompact 2-door coupe and 3-door hatchback cars from 1972 until the year 2000 when it got re-categorized as a compact car. Currently, the Honda Civic straddles the Honda Fit (also known as Honda City in some markets) and Honda Accord in the company’s global car lineup.

Having been around for five decades, the Civic nameplate is the longest-running in the Japanese automaker’s history and, according to Honda, one of the top three best-selling cars in America, with more than 12 million Civics sold in the country. The Civic has sold 27 million units globally as of 2021. Whew. To wit, it's almost unfair to call Honda a Japanese automaker, not with the production of Honda cars for the U.S. market increasingly shifting to Honda's 12 plants across North America.

Anyway, the Civic nameplate was rebadged multiple times in various markets outside Japan. It has also spurned several nameplates, including the 1st-gen Prelude, Honda CR-X del Sol, Civic Shuttle (the Orthia), Concerto, Honda CR-X, and the CR-V (which, by extension, served as the basis for the Honda FR-V). Introduced in September 1997, the Honda Civic Type R was the third Honda to get the “Type R” badge after the NSX and Integra.

The Type R was originally conceived for the racetrack before transitioning into performance editions of Honda model lines. So, the Type R Civic is a high-performance sedan and hatchback model of the Honda Civic, which means a lightened and stiffened body, a specially tuned engine with a 5- or 6-speed manual transmission, and upgraded brakes and chassis. If nothing else, you can tell them apart from regular Civics by the red background of the Honda logo.

The Third Generation Civic Type R FN2 In Focus

2007 Honda Civic Type R
Snark via Wikimedia

The Type R-badged Civic entered its third generation in 2007 and was based on the 8th-gen Honda Civic. So, when you hear the FN2 or FD2 Civic Type R, it refers to two distinct models of the 8th-gen Honda Civic-based Type R. Not as confusing as it sounds, we hope.

So, what are these two distinct models we speak of? They are the FN2 and FD2; the latter developed for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) and the former for the UK and global markets. The JDM got the FD2 as a 4-door sedan, naturally chunkier, wider, and heavier than the previous generation dubbed EP3 Type R. The European and international market, on the other hand, got their FN2 as a 3-door hatchback but with different chassis and internal layout.

Honda swapped the erstwhile double wishbone suspension system for a simpler torsion beam axle for the rear suspension, although the drivetrain remained largely unchanged. It weighed 2,910 lbs and got its power from a 2.0-liter K20Z4 inline-4 (16-valve) engine that made 198 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 142 lb-ft of torque at 5,600 rpm, with 90% of peak torque at 2,500 rpm.

A 6-speed manual transmission delivered that power to the front wheels running on 225/40 R18 Y88 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires. An optional 19-inch Rage alloy wheels clothed with Yokohama Advan Sport 225/35 ZR19 88Y tires were also available.

Related: The 2023 Honda Civic Type R Might Be The Best Type R Ever

Why The FN2 Honda Civic Type R Isn’t All That Bad

2007 Honda Civic Type-R GT i-VTEC 2.0 - Front Quarter
Vauxford/Wikimedia

They say the internet never forgets, so it's all out there, the disparaging names they've called the FN2 Civic Type R. Critics and outright haters of the model have used words like “absolutely awful,” “worst Type R ever made,” and “a bloated econobox that collided with an AutoZone.” It is, indeed, an unloved Type R Civic, but the FN2 is a classic case of not judging based on what you’ve heard.

You might be pleasantly surprised if you let the car speak for itself – and not just immediately – give it time to actually ‘speak.’ We are not suggesting the criticisms are empty by any means. We're just saying it's not as bad as they say. It is lagging by at least 20 to 30 horsepower and does look like a bloated econobox.

We’re pretty sure its looks wouldn’t matter that much if it hadn’t carried over the 2.0-liter K20 VTEC engine from the previous EP3, leaving it just as fast as its predecessor. This is FN2's biggest problem. You can take it all the way to the 8000 rpm red line, and all you'll get is a self-induced increased heart rate. The gear change lags in responsiveness compared to the 4th-gen FK2 Type R Civic.

It also seemed that Honda didn't care for this model very much, so, it swapped the more sophisticated independent suspension for a simpler independent front, torsion beam/trailing arm rear setup. The interior is beautiful, but feels very familiar because it is, in fact, in the same territory as its predecessor. At least, the steering is superior to the EP3’s slow, somewhat indecisive setup.

Apparently, the hate comes from a deep recess of love that says, ‘we loved you and expected more from you.’ But here’s the thing. The power delivery and power curve are tantalizingly smooth, but not with the immediacy we’ve gotten used to. Instead, the power builds linearly and gently to the top end, allowing you to keep it at the red line without the engine begging for relief like most cars.

The FN2 Type R is a screamer if you can be patient enough to let it speak. It demands the driver's engagement for every drop of performance it has to offer, but you can always spice things up with an aftermarket suspension and a power boost. We’ve seen a naturally breathing powerplant upgrade that raised the FN2’s horsepower to 230.