One of few current models offering manual transmission, the Honda Civic Type R delivers a race car experience in a practical daily use vehicle.
The enduring success of a brand such as Honda stems from its ability to provide dependable products tailored to various driver types consistently over time. Introducing the 2024 Honda Civic Type R – a vehicle that fulfills the dreams of driving enthusiasts. It garners admiration in parking lots. While suitable for daily use, this car truly excels on the racetrack.
EXTERIOR
The Civic Type R comes in three exterior colours: Championship White, Sonic Grey Pearl. But once you set your eyes on the Rallye Red, you may forget the other two. Walk around this ultra-sleek Civic Type R and take in the performance inspired details.
Features include aggressive LED lights, a low front spoiler, a diamond mesh grill including a bright red R, a hood vent, lower side, front and rear air intakes, low profile Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires mounted on 19″ aluminum alloy wheels showcasing ventilated Brembo 4-piston callipers, triple rear centered exhaust, hatch mounted rear spoiler plus a shark fin antenna above the rear hatch. ROWR!
The 2024 Honda Civic Type R is offered exclusively in a hatchback configuration unlike its Civic SI sibling. Its wide-opening rear hatch provides easy access to a generous cargo area, offering 24.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats — ranking alongside its hatch competitors.
The rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split, allowing for expanded storage versatility. Whether you’re hauling gear for a track day or heading out for a large grocery shop, Honda has you covered. They also reinforced the rear structure to maintain chassis rigidity despite the large hatch opening, ensuring performance is never compromised.
This hatch design supports the Type R’s dual personality: thrilling on the road yet functional and flexible for daily life.
INTERIOR
The Civic Type R boasts a refined and driver-focused interior that exudes a sporty yet sophisticated ambiance. Premium materials, including soft-touch surfaces and high-quality upholstery, create a comfortable and upscale environment. The cockpit features a modern layout with intuitive controls, a digital instrument cluster, and a responsive touchscreen infotainment system, all designed to enhance the driving experience. Ergonomically designed sport seats provide excellent support, while the spacious cabin offers ample legroom and cargo capacity, making the Civic Type R a versatile and enjoyable companion for both daily commutes and spirited driving.
At 5’11”, the seat felt customized just for me (although entering and exiting the cabin is not easy with the hip-hugging sides). My drive through the mountains had me delightfully twisting and turning for four and a half hours, through just about every weather system imaginable, without discomfort.
The center console does not offer an extended armrest which initially had me puzzled. However, once you start driving and shifting gears, you soon realize the armrest is minimal because it would simply get in the way.
Sporty detailing continues with a brushed-aluminum shift knob and aluminum sporty foot pedals. Shifting through the six-speed transmission is smooth, but the position of the shifter threw me off. When in the odd numbered (or upper) gear position, the shifter feels like it is in the even numbered (or lower) gear position. More than once, I tried to shift up from the upper position thinking I was in a lower gear due to the position of the shifter.
TECHNOLOGY
Inside the cockpit of the Civic Type R are various tech options available via the 9″ touch screen. With added Smart Phone connectivity, Apple Play, or Android, the tech HQ is at your fingertips. Stream music from Apple, Spotify, and in some areas, enjoy a complimentary 3-month subscription to Sirius satellite radio, plus other apps through the 12-Speaker, premium Bose sound system. Flip to your favorites using illuminated steering wheel controls. As you accelerate, so does the volume and vice versa.
You can also charge your phone wirelessly with the charge plate located ahead of the shifter. I have never had much luck with this feature in any vehicle that offers it. Dependent upon the phone case you have, you may need to disassemble it to get the charger to connect, and then the charging is intermittent at best. The phone usually gives an alert as it gets too hot, so you may as well just take advantage of the USB charge port and plug in a cable.
The 2024 Civic Type R is equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera featuring dynamic guidelines, allowing drivers to switch between wide, normal, and top-down views when reversed. Honda clearly put thoughtful engineering into even the smallest details of the Civic Type R. Guide lines follow your steering trajectory for precision parking. Some drivers have reported that the back up camera is unusable in the rain due to drops on the lens, but in my opinion, that is not the fault of the camera. A driver ought to be able to operate a vehicle in reverse without solely relying on a backup camera. Ability is within the driver’s control not the weather.
Driving in the rain, the rear wiper’s automatic activation when the front wipers are in use is a smart touch. This enhances visibility when reversing. The windshield washer jets integrated directly into the wiper arms are a notable upgrade over traditional nozzles. Distribution of washer fluid is more even, reduces waste, and assists in maintaining clear vision more effectively when driving. It’s these subtle, user-focused refinements that elevate the driving experience beyond expectation.
POWER
The 2024 Honda Civic Type R punches well above its light-weight classification with a turbocharged 2.0‑liter inline‑4 VTEC engine delivering 315 HP (6,500 rpm) and 310 lb‑ft of torque —an upgrade over the previous generation thanks to a revised turbocharger and freer-flowing exhaust system.
Refine the power of the Honda Civic Type R with rev-matching for the 6-speed manual transmission. The experience is all about precise shifts and instant throttle, especially in the mid-range, where torque is the strongest. Control of the experience is enhanced with front wheel drive and multiple drive modes – Comfort, Sport, +R and Individual, enabling drivers to tailer steering weight, throttle response, suspension firmness and more on command. Overall, this is a vehicle with track-tuned capability partnered with everyday usability.
What holds it all together? The chassis of the Honda Civic Type R is built for precision. Its dual-axis MacPherson front suspension and multi-link rear setup, paired with adaptive dampers and a helical limited-slip differential, work in harmony to minimize torque steer and offer razor-sharp control through corners.
CONCLUSION
While its firm ride and bold design may not suit everyone, those seeking a raw, responsive, and deeply engaging hot hatch will find the Honda Civic Type R to be one of the most rewarding performance vehicles in its class. It’s a car built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts—and it shows in every gearshift, corner, and straightaway. MSRP $51,330 (price before taxes and applicable fees.