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2023 Honda Civic Type R.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R wastes no time letting drivers know what it’s all about, so neither will we. The all-new Type R is an instant classic, a hot hatch of the highest order. What is perhaps more surprising is that this economy hatchback turned racer’s delight is entering a crowded marketplace.

When it arrives in dealerships this month, the Type R will be pitted against Toyota’s new all-wheel-drive GR Corolla, the Hyundai Elantra N, the evergreen Volkswagen Golf R, the Subaru WRX STI and even the Mercedes-AMG A 35 and Audi S3.

In this, the era of boring SUVs and cars that wish they were smartphones, it’s encouraging to see that bean counters in Japan, South Korea and Germany have clearly all come to the same conclusion: There’s a healthy market for fast, fun, compact cars.

Opening the Type R’s door, drivers are greeted by blood-red carpets and matching cloth bucket seats. Sinking into them, you’ll find they’re not nearly as uncomfortable as they look. In fact, they’re so snug, you may never want to get out of them.

Palming the cold metal of the car’s six-speed shifter every morning works like a jolt of caffeine. The precise, weighty, pleasantly notchy shift action is probably the best there is this side of a Porsche GT3. The clutch pedal has plenty of feel too, which makes rowing gears easy. This is Honda, the same people who gave the world the sweetest-ever six-speed in the original Acura NSX supercar, and as it turns out, the company can still make fun cars when it wants to.

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The front bucket seats on the 2023 Honda Civic Type R are bright red and really comfortable.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

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Red carpets match the seats.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

The everyday Civic is a good car, no doubt, but Honda engineers tore it up to make the Type R. They lengthened the wheelbase and widened the track front and rear, giving the car an overall larger footprint. The body structure is stiffer, too. It’s boring stuff, but the results aren’t.

When I grabbed the keys, frigid rain had made the roads slick. Far from a disaster, it helped showcase just how beautifully balanced this chassis really is.

Pitch the car at a corner and the front end resists understeer freakishly well, while the rear tires start to slide wide ever-so-slightly. (You expect that behaviour in a sporty rear-drive car, but not a front-wheel-drive one like this.) The initial whiff of oversteer helps point the car toward a corner’s apex, but more importantly, it makes the Type R feel extremely responsive and ready to entertain.

The frisky handling continues on the way out of corners too. Cleverly designed suspension geometry and a helical limited-slip differential mean it can accelerate hard while still staying planted and going where the wheels are pointed. The R will understeer eventually if you’re truly lead-footed, but there’s enough feedback through the steering and seat for drivers to enjoy trying to keep it just under that threshold.

The more work a driver puts into the Type R, the better it gets. What’s more, it’s enjoyable at legal speeds, where many more expensive sports cars demand a racetrack before they’ll put a smile on anyone’s face.

What hasn’t changed much for 2023 is the engine, which is largely the same two-litre four-cylinder as in its 2017 predecessor, albeit with a new turbocharger and improved airflow. Headline figures are 315 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600 to 4,000 revolutions per minute. Those numbers won’t wow anyone, but in a front-wheel-drive car that weighs about 1,450 kilograms, this is all the power anyone could ever want.

So it’s the perfect car, then? No. The central touch screen can lag and the graphics already look dated. The voice control is hopeless, even compared to the low bar set by rivals. Personally, I wish the steering wheel could be adjusted further aft and up. And, because I’m not a track rat, I’d argue the dampers could be a little softer in all modes, too – although they’re quite good as is.

And, then there’s the price. Yikes. The old 2017 Civic Type R was $40,890, so even adjusting for inflation, this new one is expensive. It’ll cost you more than the all-wheel drive GR Corolla and as much as a Mercedes-AMG A 35.

Brace yourself. The new 2023 Civic Type R costs $50,050, and given the limited supply and all the hype, I imagine the chances of finding a dealer who’ll sell one at its suggested retail price are slim to none.

It’s frustrating that Honda Canada wouldn’t give any indication of how many Type Rs will be built, or how many will land in this country. Even a rough estimate will help calm the nerves of anxious enthusiasts.

Thomas Holland from Throttle House tests the 315-horsepower 2023 Honda Civic Type R - the last piece of the manual hot-hatch puzzle - with a little help from Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez.

The Globe and Mail

Tech specs

2023 Honda Civic Type R

  • Base price/as tested: $50,050
  • Engine: Two-litre turbo
  • Transmission/drive: Six-speed manual/front-wheel drive
  • Fuel consumption (litres/100 kilometres): 10.8 city, 8.3 highway
  • Alternatives: Toyota GR Corolla, Volkswagen Golf R, Hyundai Elantra N, Mercedes-AMG A 35 sedan or hatchback, Subaru WRX STI, Audi S3

Looks

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Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

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The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has an enormous Fast and Furious-style wing.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

The last Type R looked spiky, like an angry anime character. This new one is more subdued, albeit still with an enormous Fast and Furious-style wing on the back that looks ridiculous to anyone who isn’t a total gearhead.

Interior

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Inside the 2023 Honda Civic Type R.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

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The back seats on the 2023 Honda Civic Type R will have enough space for most adults.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

Largely the same as the standard Civic, so, excellent. The red seats and carpets look amazing, but it’ll take work to keep the fabric bright red for years to come.

Performance

This is the best-handling front-wheel-drive car I’ve ever driven. Many rivals have all-wheel drive, but that doesn’t necessarily make them better. Far from it. As competent as the VW Golf R is, it feels tame in comparison, with controls that lack feel and precision compared with the Honda.

Technology

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The gauge cluster behind the steering wheel of the 2023 Honda Civic Type R.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in infotainment and navigation, don’t buy this car. Use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though, and you’ll be happy enough. Also, if you can’t drive stick, you should learn, because the new Type R is only offered with three pedals.

Cargo

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The trunk on the 2023 Honda Civic Type R has 696 litres of space, which adds a dash of practicality.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

It’s huge for a compact car. Most adults in the rear won’t have their knees pressed against the front seats. The hatchback trunk with 696 litres of space adds a dash of practicality.

Verdict

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The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.Matt Bubbers/The Globe and Mail

An instant classic.

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