2024 Honda Civic Type R

　　

2024 Honda Civic Type R Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　, rating written byDan FrioNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　The Honda Civic Type R is at the top of its game. For 2024, there are no changes, which is just fine by us. This hot hatchback still offers one of the most well-rounded performance driving experiences on sale today. Its front-wheel-drive configuration is a bit of a detriment for off-the-line acceleration but that's about it. The Type R is outlandishly grippy through turns, and its 315-horsepower turbo engine has plenty of grunt once you're rolling. That it only comes paired with a six-speed manual transmission is either a bonus (exclusivity!) or a drawback (driving in traffic) depending on your viewpoint.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Practicality doesn't suffer because of performance

Compared to the standard Civic, the Type R's major interior changes are centered around the seats, red upholstery and, of course, a teardrop-style aluminum gear lever. There is also a special gauge cluster for the Type R that is customizable and features info that isn't available on other manually shifted Civics. The rest of the interior is just like a regular Civic hatchback's, however. That means there's plenty of legroom room for rear passengers and a substantial 24.5 cubic feet of available cargo space.

　　

Competitors to consider

Volkswagen's Golf R is a prime alternative to the Type R. Its all-wheel-drive system provides superior traction for acceleration as well as winter weather conditions. But the Civic wins out for ultimate driver involvement and ease of use. Another is the Toyota GR Corolla. A Corolla dialed up to 11, the GR version features all-wheel drive and a fizzy turbocharged three-cylinder engine good for 300 hp. Read our test team's Expert Rating to help you decide which of these hot hatches is best for you.

　　

What’s it like to live with?

Not only did we name the Honda Civic our zzdcar Top Rated Sedan for 2022, but we also added one to our long-term review fleet. We opted for the Civic Si so that we could row through the manual transmission's gears for 20,000 miles and 12 months and learn what we like and dislike about one of our top picks. Check out all of our experiences with the 2022 Honda Civic Si.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Civic Type R drive? The Civic Type R is impressively capable. At our test track, it sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. That's nearly a second quicker than a manual-equipped Elantra N's 6.4-second sprint to 60 mph, but all-wheel-drive rivals like the Volkswagen Golf R and Toyota GR Corolla can both do the same deed in 5 seconds or less.

　　Hauling it down from 60 mph took just 108 feet, a standout number for a hatchback even on a relatively chilly testing day. It also bested the previous model with its 1.07 g of grip on our skidpad, which is a number cars costing twice as much can struggle to achieve.

　　Numbers aside, the new Type R is a joy to get behind the wheel of. It handles with a confidence and planted nature that few cars can match. Its combination of chuckability and face-warping grip makes it a joy to drive at any speed. All the input points are sharp and direct, too, and the steering, shift action and throttle calibration all have a coat of polish on them.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Civic Type R? Big wheels, a stiff suspension and a stiff body should make for an awful ride, but the Type R's ride is more than acceptable given this car's sporting pretenses. It'll jostle you around a bit over rutted roads and expansion joints, but the Type R's Comfort setting helps keep things relatively supple while maintaining excellent body control.

　　The seats are the real highlight. They are at once both comfortable and incredibly supportive. But the most jarring part of the Type R experience is the amount of tire roar that makes its way into the cabin. It's noticeable at almost any speed and forces you to speak up if you want to have an in-car conversation.

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