Honda Civic Type R 2024 Review

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is the most expensive variant of the latest Civic hatch range you can buy in Australia today, priced at $72,600 drive-away.

But pricing for the Japanese small-car range has risen exponentially in the last few years, and even the entry-level Civic VTi-LX is now priced at $47,200 (drive-away) and the fuel-savvy e:HEV LX costs $55K (drive-away).

For comparison, pricing for the previous-generation Civic started from just over $23K back in 2021 and the new Type R commands a whopping $13K price premium over the hot hatch it replaces.

It’s a good thing then that Honda’s latest-gen Civic range is better-equipped, smarter and more premium than before.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2024 Honda Civic Type R goes about its hot hatch duties with a slightly more conservative approach.

But while it might look more toned down on the outside, its highly-strung 2.0-litre turbo-four produces more poke than before and it’s matched with a host of new tech upgrades aimed at improving performance and driver engagement.

In terms of equipment, it gets all the standard hot-hatch prerequisites, including 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres, beefy Brembo brakes up front, adaptive dampers and loads of functional aerodynamic tweaks like a bonnet vent, aggressive side skirts and a sizable rear spoiler.

Inside, a suede-wrapped steering wheel is standard, while red carpet and sports seats make the cabin pop.

Exterior paint colours are limited to Rally Red, Sonic Grey, Crystal Black and Championship White, none of which you have to pay extra for.

In fact, the only optional extra is a carbon-fibre rear wing ($4500).

Honda Australia backs the Type R with it standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and the hot hatch requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000km.

The first five visits to the workshop are each capped at a competitive $199, which adds up to just $995 over the first five years.

Despite its focus on performance and speed, the 2024 Honda Civic Type R doesn’t miss out on the important safety gadgets expected in most modern vehicles, courtesy of Honda’s Sensing Suite.

As standard, you get autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane assist, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, automatic LED high-beam headlights and speed sign recognition.

Meanwhile, eight airbags cover both front and rear passengers, which should put even the most safety-conscious buyers at ease considering there’s no official ANCAP safety rating for the Type R.

There is, however, a five-star Euro NCAP rating for the regular Honda Civic, which is fundamentally the same vehicle once you strip back the Type R’s performance kit.

The 2024 Honda Civic Type R comes standard with a fully digital 10.2-inch instrument cluster as one of the tech highlights, while gearshift lights really up the ante on the racetrack… or just make that traffic light launch a little sweeter.

Other standard equipment includes a 9.0-inch infotainment touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, navigation, and Bluetooth.

A drive mode selector (Comfort and Sport) and +R button are placed within easy reach on the centre console next to the gearshifter, while a wireless phone charging pad, dual-zone climate control, voice assist and an eight-speaker sound system are also standard inclusions.

But Honda’s latest LogR 2.0 data logging system is a major drawcard for track-day fiends or just those interested in gathering vehicle data and learning about their car (and driving).

Improvements over the previous system allow you to view vehicle data, lap times and even ‘versus’ mode (in which you can overlay your lap with someone else’s) on the centre touch-screen as well as on a smartphone via the free Honda LogR 2.0 app.

It also provides auto scoring and can give the driver feedback on their driving style so they can get more out of their car.

You can use the app to store sessions and revisit them later, as well as take notes and record weather conditions, or mount your phone inside the car to record video that then links to your laps/session.

Meanwhile, there are 12 vehicle metrics (engine intake temperature, clutch pedal position, yaw rate, steering angle, brake pressure, vehicle condition and more), six of which you can display on the touch-screen or instrument cluster while driving.

It’s the serious kind of data-logging gear that some enthusiast pay thousands of dollars for, so getting it for free in your Type R feels like quite the bargain.

The 2024 Honda Civic Type R is powered by an upgraded version of the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol as before, now outputting 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque.

That’s a decent increase on the previous Type R’s outputs of 228kW/400Nm and comes courtesy of reworked internals, a revised turbocharger, improved air intake and a more efficient intercooler.

Even though it tips the scales at 1429kg (almost 40kg more than its predecessor), the new Type R is claimed to hit 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds – 0.3sec quicker than the previous R and a pretty impressive figure for a four-pot front-driver.

The Civic Type R is a driver’s car through and through, however, as evidenced by its lack of an automatic transmission option. This puppy comes with a six-speed manual only.

We didn’t get a chance to drive the 2024 Honda Civic Type R on road during this test, but our previous tests show the latest Type R is a relatively fuel-efficient machine, given the performance on offer here.

Officially, Honda Australia says it uses 8.9L/100km on the combined cycle, but fuel consumption wasn’t really a concern at the racetrack…

Chugging down pit lane at The Bend for the first time, the 2024 Honda Civic Type R feels tightly wound and ready to rumble.

The compact steering wheel is beautifully weighted, throttle response is sharp and it only takes a few corners to reveal the Civic Type R’s supremely balanced chassis.

In terms of outright speed, it’s really not all that quick in a straight line, but the top-shelf Civic’s ability to get the power down through its front wheels via a helical limited-slip differential and carry that speed through and out of corners has to be experienced to be believed.

Throw in wide and super grippy 265/30R19 Michelin tyres and the latest Type R is a genuine weapon on track – a real point-and-shoot machine that makes even the most average driver feel like a superstar.

The Type R’s brakes – 350mm rotors clamped by four-piston aluminium Brembo callipers up front and 305mm discs with single-piston callipers at the rear – are wickedly powerful and easy to modulate.

Lap after gruelling lap – and even after they were pummelled in the morning session – there was no sign of reduction in stopping power or feel.

No, it doesn’t offer the same raucous pops and crackles that you get from any of Hyundai’s N performance cars and that’s both a good and a bad thing. Some will enjoy the Civic Type R’s more subtle – yet still plenty loud enough – exhaust, while others will probably get an aftermarket exhaust.

As for how much difference the onboard data-logging system will make to your track-day success, that largely comes down to your ability to use and understand it.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be a data engineer to get your head around most of the information presented (although it’d be easier if you are), because it can break down your sessions and offer succinct advice such as ‘be smoother on the throttle’.

In the absence of a professional driver coach, it certainly comes in handy, even if used for the sole purpose of saving your fastest lap times to brag to your mates.

Hop in the 2024 Honda Civic Type R and it feels like a race car that happens to be street-legal.

Those big, red, bolstered sports seats up front are not only figure-hugging but super comfortable. Unlike the race-inspired seats found in other cars, the Type R’s feel wonderfully plush and padded.

Of course, a big detractor for some will be the lack of five seats. But the two pews in the second row are spacious enough for a pair of adults, offering plenty of head and legroom.

Another potential sore point, however, is that those in the back miss out on the amenities you’d really expect when you’re paying $70K-plus for a car. There are no air-vents, arm rests or power outlets –
just a pair of cup holders permanently mounted where the middle seat should’ve been.

Boot space is rated at 410 litres (or 1212L with the rear seats folded), but there’s no spare tyre – not even a space-saver.

If you’re in the market for a hot hatch, there are few better off-the-shelf options than the 2024 Honda Civic Type R when it comes to performance and pure driver enjoyment.

Its versatility makes the Type R just as capable and comfortable lurking around suburbia as it is when tackling a racetrack. It’s properly quick, incredibly well poised and extremely rewarding to push to its (extensive) limits.

When it was first released early this year, limited stocks led to lengthy wait times for the 2024 Honda Civic Type R – despite its whopping $70K-plus price tag.

The good news is that Honda says wait times have since reduced to around three months, so if you order one before Christmas you should get yours in March 2024.

That would make it a late Christmas present, but one you certainly won’t regret.

2024 Honda Civic Type R at a glance:
Price: $72,600 drive away
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 235kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 8.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 203g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested