From Meetings to the Track - Civic Type R is the Perfect Car

It’s not often that $35,700 will get you a car that goes 0-60 in 4.9 seconds while still achieving 25+ MPG, and toting 46.2 ft³ of cargo space. But the Civic Type R delivers just that. With its wild “Boy Racer” aesthetic, I have to say I was skeptical of the Civic Type R, but after driving it, I was thoroughly impressed.

Driving Experience

What Torque Steer?

Being an avid RWD driver, I was skeptical of the Type R’s FWD platform. I presumed that the Type R would suffer from the torque steer that has plagued so many Honda’s from years past. That was not the case with the Type R at all. With its dual-axis strut front suspension, front & rear stabilizer bars, and multi-link rear suspension; the Type R gave a driving experience that felt like the car was on rails. The car would dive nose first into turns, with almost 0 body roll while pulling  you through them at speeds that I couldn’t have done in my 2004 STi.

The car is powerful as well. With 306 HP, and 295 lb-ft of torque, the Type R delivers 0-60 times around the 5 second mark and is able to run a quarter mile in roughly 13.5 seconds. I did note that the car had a lot of difficulty delivering that power to the front wheels in the rain without spinning the tires. Turbo-lag though, is virtually non-existent, with smooth power delivered through precise throttle control. The Type R is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission with a short-shifter that made banging gears feel like flipping a light switch. Not to mention the Type R has an auto-rev matching feature that makes you seem like a better driver then you really are when downshifting (no need to heel and toe!).

Overall, the vehicle was responsive, handling was impressive, and driving the car was pure bliss. I would absolutely say that the driving experience is the biggest selling point of the Type R.

Aesthetic

Exterior

The Type R has a very, “in your face” aesthetic. With a gigantic wing, and lots of aero features. The Type R looks a bit like a hot hatch that just came out of The Fast and the Furious. I wasn’t a huge fan of the look, and would prefer it a little more muted (like the Si). The market seems to either love of hate the style, so you’ll have to see for yourself.

Interior

The interior of the Type R though, was high quality. The racing seats hug you firmly, but are comfortable over long distances. The dashboard, is borrowed from other Civic trims and features a 7-inch infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrations. In previous years, Honda had received complaints about the user experience, so I was happy to see they took quick action and added a physical volume control knob and buttons. This served to make the infotainment system much less glitchy and easier to use than my friends 2016 Civic.

The interior is also spacious for a small car. I comfortably seated 4 adults, with the 42.3 inches of leg room in the front, and 35.9 inches in the rear. Being a hatchback, cargo space was also excellent. You have 25.7 ft³ to work with with the rear seats up and 46.2 ft³ with them down. Plenty enough space for Costco runs or moving medium-sized pieces of furniture.

Red is obviously associated with sportiness for Honda. There is red everywhere in the interior. The instrument cluster, the seats, even the seat belts are red! I personally, was a fan, but if you hate the color red you may run into some issues.

Takeaway

The Civic Type R is the perfect car if you’re looking for a reliable, fast car to daily drive in the city while still being a contender on the track. The hatchback stature makes this car highly functional while also achieving great fuel economy numbers. It’s not often you find a vehicle that is a jack of all trades but the Type R seems to check all the boxes.

So, if you’re a yuppie that lives in the city and want a functional vehicle that still puts a smile on your face like me, be sure to check on the 2019 Civic Type R.