Honda Civic Type R Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

Written by Lawrence Allan
Quick overview
Pros
- Probably the most thrilling hot hatch on sale
- Epic performance but easy to live with
- Less divisive design and nicer cabin than old car
Cons
- A four-wheel drive rival is much more capable in bad weather
- It's pretty long and wide for a hot hatch
- Expensive, and limited availability
Overall verdict on the Honda Civic Type R
"The Honda Civic Type R is a hot hatch legend that's back for what could be its last battle with the affordable performance car elite. Fast, properly exciting and more usable than you might think, it's also no longer an acquired taste to look at and nicer to sit in. But there's now some big obstacles to buying one, which we'll explore in this Honda Civic Type R review."

'Subtle', 'under-the-radar', 'discreet': these are words and phrases that absolutely nobody used when describing the last two or three generations of Honda Civic Type R.
These earlier Type Rs were hot hatchbacks that weren't afraid to shout about it. And while that grew a dedicated fanbase, many people were put off by the 'in-your-face' design and associated image that goes with shouty, aggressive-looking cars. It reminded us of cars like the old Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Evos - loved and hated in near-equal measure.
Honda obviously thought it was time the silliness was dialled down a bit for a more mature, universally appealing look, like the standard (and rather excellent) new Civic on which it's based. This new 'FL5' generation is still recognisably a Type R, but with a softer and more rounded design that should draw in a wider audience. Shouldn't it?
Well, no it won't. Partly because it now starts at an eyebrow-raising £50,000, but mainly because production numbers have been severely restricted. You can blame emissions rules and supply issues for this, with Honda admitting individual European markets will only see a few hundred examples at best. The same problem applies to the fantastic, but doomed to be rare, Toyota GR86 sports car.
But hey, at least there actually is a Honda Civic Type R. The brand could've easily just killed it to focus its resources on electric cars and hybrids, and probably will do after this one. Meanwhile, the recipe under the skin hasn't changed that much either.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that powers the hot Civic is familiar, but there's been loads of little mechanical tweaks to improve power, efficiency and response. Now putting out 329PS, it's the most powerful front-wheel drive production car on sale. Mated to one of the sweetest manual gearboxes around (with tweaks to make it even better), it rips through gears and delivers plenty of potency across the rev range.
But there's more to the new Civic Type R than just the engine. The old car was already a sublime handling car, but Honda has improved it in lots of areas. We could bore you to death with the detail but highlights include a more rigid body, sharper and more direct steering, suspension fettling to make it more stable at high speeds, new ducts to keep the brakes cool on track, and improved aerodynamics. Oh, and you get more configurable drive modes, too.
All of this results in something that feels like a mini touring car racer, particularly on track where the way you can build cornering speed and confidence in the car is uncanny. And while it's less playful and grown-up than something like a Ford Fiesta ST, these initial impressions show immense capability and engagement. However, with no all-wheel drive it still really struggles to put its power down in the wet, so if you want crushing all-weather pace a Volkswagen Golf R is far superior.
Happily, the new Honda Civic Type R is still pretty easy to live with, with adaptive dampers taking the edge off the ride around town, decent (if not class-leading) refinement and a spacious, high-quality cabin. Just like the regular Civic it's well-made and logically laid out, while the new infotainment system is much better than the old car. You even get a massive boot.
Is this the hot hatch of the moment? Or are its talents outshone by the price and difficulty in buying one? Read on to find out.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Honda Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Honda Civic Type R cars for sale. Looking for the older model? You'll want our Honda Civic Type R (2017-2021) Review.
Is the Honda Civic Type R right for you?
What’s the best Honda Civic Type R model/engine to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Honda Civic Type R?
Comfort and design: Honda Type R interior
"The last Honda Civic Type R had a decent cabin but woeful infotainment. This new one has an even better cabin and much more user-friendly infotainment. It also remains one of the most spacious hot hatchbacks money can buy."

The standard Honda Civic already has a pretty low-slung driving position, but that's enhanced even further in the Type R thanks to a pair of brilliant sports seats up front. Nicely trimmed in red Alcantara suede, they look great, are really supportive and should be comfortable for big motorway journeys.
The wider and lower-set driving position than before is near-perfect, too. While there's no electric adjustment or heating (a pity) the manual adjustment in the seats and wheel is plentiful, and the pedals are perfectly placed. Special mention to the steering wheel, which can also be trimmed in Alcantara and has a lovely thin rim that's great to hold.
You'll also find details that you don't get in the regular Civic, such as an aluminium gear lever top and pedals. Of course, there is only a manual gearbox and we'd question why anyone would want an automatic Type R because the gearshift is just about as slick as it gets at any price point.
Elsewhere, it's familiar Civic fare bar a few new digital dial and touchscreen graphics, plus a drive mode selector on the centre console. Oh, and you also have a numbered plaque with the car's build number on it, just like the old model. Sharing much with the standard Civic means a logical (if unexciting) dash layout with the right mix of physical buttons and tech, as well as a solid feel to everything you touch.
Forward visibility is pretty good, and thanks to Honda doing away with the fussy two-part rear wing of the old car, so you get a noticeably better view out the back. It's still not as easy to park as a Golf R with its flat rear-end and much smaller dimensions, but at least rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard kit.
Quality and finish
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Honda Civic Type R
Space and practicality: Honda Civic Type R boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Honda Civic Type R like to drive?
"Nowhere more than on the road does the Honda Civic Type R's depth of engineering shine. Razor-sharp, engaging handling combines with a firm, controlled ride and a simply stonking engine and gearbox combo. You get what you pay for."

Is this Honda Civic Type R in a completely different league to the previous car when it comes to ride and handling? No, not really, but all the little changes add up to a seriously capable car that is discernibly better.
It's clear that lots of under-the-skin work has gone in to make everything a little bit better, and it's noticeable.
On track, driven back-to-back with the old car, two things are apparent: firstly, the old car is still so good Honda could've just updated the styling and still lead the class. And secondly: the new car is even more enjoyable to drive.
With a stiffer body along with a wider track and lower centre of gravity the current FL5 generation of Civic Type R sets new standards for body control. Put simply: there's barely any roll or dive under braking, and it feels so locked in to the line you choose and stable at high speed that you'd swear it had been set up purely for track driving. The steering is a joy, too; super precise, direct and full of feel.
Front-end grip has increased, too - certainly in the wet at least - meaning when you want it to carve a faster line through the bend it will. Yet if you want the back-end to swing round and tighten your line (or just make you feel like an oversteer hero) it will readily oblige. In short: baulk at the price all you want, there are performance cars costing twice as much that are nowhere near as fun to drive.
Perhaps the biggest advance over the old car is the (finally) configurable drive modes. This means that, alongside the already defined 'Comfort', 'Sport' and '+R' modes for the engine, steering, suspension and engine sound, you can individually tweak each category to have, say, the comfiest ride and raciest engine mode for example. It was a bugbear in the old car that's now fixed.
But is it too compromised for the road? Nope - if anything it's actually more grown-up than before. Sure, stick everything into +R and it's way too stiff for a busy, bumpy country lane, but with the suspension in Comfort or Sport there's a decent level of compliance that means you notice the bumps but don't wince at them.
However, while the Civic Type R might be more engaging and less one-dimensional than four-wheel drive alternatives, it's definitely more challenging, too. It's pointless flooring it in first and second when it's really wet because it'll just spin most of that power away, and stamping on the throttle on the exit of a bend just causes you to wash wide. On a dry road, though, not much will stay with the Honda.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Honda Civic Type R?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the Honda Civic Type R?
MPG and fuel costs: What does the Honda Civic Type R cost to run?
"A hot hatch with a highly-tuned engine is never going to be super frugal, but the Honda Civic Type R's efficiency is decent on paper."

It's improved a little over the old model, managing 34.4mpg on the official WLTP combined cycle. That's not quite as impressive as a VW Golf R, but we reckon it's a small price to pay for a more characterful and exciting engine.
Real MPG economy numbers show the previous Honda Civic Type R actually beat its average figure at 37.2mpg. It also means you should see around 370 miles from a full tank without the risk of running dry.
How reliable is the Honda Civic Type R?
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Honda Civic Type R?
How much should you be paying for a used Honda Civic Type R?
"Forget any notion of a deal on a new Honda Civic Type R - limited supply blows that out of the water. However, a year-old car offers a decent saving."

Find a one-year old Honda Civic Type R - there aren't many around - and you should pay £44,000 for a car with 5000 miles on the dials or less.
The upside to the cost of the Type R is it also holds its value tremendously well thanks to a loyal following for the car. So, at least when you sell you'll see back a decent chunk of your original cost.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
How much is the Honda Civic Type R?
Is the Civic Type R worth buying?
Is the Honda Civic Type R fast?
Honda Civic Type R cars for sale on heycar
Honda Civic Type R2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R 5dr
20244,681 milesPetrol£646 mo£43,950
Fair priceRH108JGHonda Civic Type R2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R 5dr
20245,148 milesPetrol£640 mo£42,950
Good priceGU102JAHonda Civic Type R2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R 5dr
20245,800 milesPetrol£658 mo£40,500
Great priceAB123JGHonda Civic Type R2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R GT 5dr
202032,791 milesPetrol£478 mo£29,990
OX144FPHonda Civic Type R2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R 5dr
202414,339 milesPetrol£598 mo£40,200
Great priceRG20JZ
Honda Civic Type R Alternatives
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