SHARPEST TYPE FACE(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 34

With the sixth generation Civic Type R, Honda re-imagined what kind of car its famous hot hatch could be. But now it's leaving us. And there'll never be a car quite like this again.

Background word count: 222

Honda has now been making high performance Type R models for over a quarter of a century. And when it launched the sixth generation model in 2022, it wanted to reward itself with the quickest, the most focused and the most thrilling car ever to bear this famous badge. This was designed to be the very fastest front-driven production car you could choose, but with this MK6 design, the extreme looks of the old 'FK8' model were dialled back a little. A smokescreen as it turned out. At launch, Honda described this 'FL5' design as 'the fastest, most addictive yet secure and rewarding to drive model in Type R history'. This was officially the sixth generation version of this design, but Honda has actually used its famous Type R badge eleven times since it first appeared back in 1992, six times on the Civic. The engine of the previous MK5 'FK8' model (a car launched in 2017) reappeared again here because combustion powerplants are no longer developed from scratch in this new EV era. But for the FL5 model, it was heavily evolved to fittingly close the chapter on Honda fossil fuel engine design. In 2025, Honda announced that the Civic Type R would be discontinued in early 2026 and not replaced, at the same time announcing a final 'Ultimate Edition' version.

Driving Experience word count: 345

If you owned an old MK5 Civic Type R, everything at first glance might seem familiar here but on closer inspection, everything is also quite different. Yes, the basic four cylinder 2.0-litre VTEC engine is essentially the same as that previous model, but it was thoroughly re-worked for the MK6, primarily with a more compact turbo featuring stronger, lighter blades. This reacts faster and builds up boost pressure quicker. Honda claimed an improved power-to-weight ratio, more torque and a higher top speed from what has always been one of the most powerful engine-per-litre packages in the class. All good. So you can expect plenty of performance; think 5.4s for the 0-62mph sprint and a top speed of 171mph. Output is 329PS, with 420Nm of torque. Rivals think you need 4WD to deal with this sort of performance, but the Civic Type-R has always been defiantly front-driven. From this car's launch, Honda told us that the biggest gains over the previous model lay with chassis rigidity and handling performance - namely the updates made to steering and suspension. They were aimed at making the car more engaging and the driver feel more confident. Camber rigidity, which enhances front-end response, was up by 16% courtesy of significantly revised suspension geometry. Also crucial are the wider 265-section 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. The Brembo brakes were also upgraded - mainly in terms of cooling, so they would last longer on track days. An added duct in the front wheel arch and a set of vents behind it work together to push cooling air towards the discs - and pull hot air out. The MK6 also got an upgraded exhaust, with improved back pressure to help with the faster turbo response. This Type R offers richer aural fireworks too, thanks to a sound synthesiser which activates with the fieriest 'R+' drive mode. Or you can enhance the sound in the 'Individual' drive mode menu, where the steering, adaptive dampers, rev match system and engine response can all be adjusted separately. The result is still an addoctive driving experience.