Honda Civic Type R 1.5 VTEC Turbo Sport 5dr Review
Category: Hot hatch
Section: Version review

The model
Read full reviewThe Honda Civic Type R offers awesome performance and supreme handling. In fact, it is right up there with the very best hot hatches on sale, including the equally brilliant Toyota GR Yaris, and feels just at home on the track as it does on the road. That's not something that can be said of its less dynamically accomplished rivals, like the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Yet the Type R is also a practical and comfortable everyday car, which is why it's such a consummate all-round package.
The trim
See full equipmentSport trim is the only trim that's available with the 1.5 VTEC Turbo engine. It is based on the SR trim but adds red seat stitching, a rear spoiler and diffuser plus black 17in alloy wheels.
The engine
See full engine specsNaturally, with 180bhp, the 1.5 VTEC Turbo is even quicker than the 1.0 VTEC Turbo (0-62mph takes 8.2sec) and it has more low-down shove. However, it's available only in the Sport trim and doesn’t actually feel dramatically quicker on the road until you really rev it out. It will officially return an average of 46.3mpg, which is competitive with a Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo 150.