| Year
(of specifications) |
2010 |
| Engine(s) |
2.0
litre, 4 cylinder |
| Transmission |
6
speed manual FWD |
| Max
speed |
146
mph |
| 0-60 |
6.6
seconds |
| Horsepower |
198
hp |
| weight |
1,267
kgs / 2,720 lbs |
Where the old Civic Type R was let down by its looks, the new
shape Type R looks great both inside and out. From the outside
the wide and low stance, mesh grill, deep side skirts, spoilers
and big wheels makes this car look the business.
It's mean looking on the inside too, with supportive bucket
seats in black and red cloth and a sporty looking black dashboard
with menacing red lighting for the instruments. The dash is
well laid out with everything nicely placed and pointing towards
the driver - giving you the feeling that you're sat in the cockpit
of a race car. It's also very well equipped as standard with
the GT-specced cars coming with cruse control, dual climate
control, auto lights, auto wipers, front fogs and panoramic
glass roof as standard.
When it comes to driving this Type R, it soon becomes apparent
that the first impressions were deceiving. It might look the
part, but doesn't back it up with the performance or handling
you'd expect. You might think it's a big improvement on the
last Civic Type R. It isn't. Compared to a boring bog standard
grocery-getter it drives amazingly, but as a drivers car it's
disappointing. When driving it steady-away the suspension feels
washboard firm and shakes you to bits. When you start to push
it on a winding road you lose that sensation and start to want
it to return. When you want to dip the nose towards the apex
of a corner it would rather understeer away from it. It feels
a bit numb compared with the old car. When you ease-off to correct
the line, the back end doesn't want to do anything. It's not
too impressive at higher speeds either and I found if it was
close to the limit the back end would get very twitchy. With
the old Type R it would lift a back wheel, but thanks to its
independent rear suspension it wouldn't get too twitchy. The
new Type R, with its torsion beam rear suspension, can at times
give you the impression that the back end just wants to jump
all over the road.
To sum up. The new shape Civic Type R looks great and is fast
on motorways and dual carriageways, but it's a poser's car,
not a driver's car.
Words by Colin Fowler
Similar and related vehicles:
Honda Civic Type R (2001-2005)
Honda Civic Type S (2010)
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