Honda Civic Type R - long-term review

Honestly, I didn’t do enough. The Civic Type R took me to Spa Francorchamps, Le Mans and for a brilliant trackday at a Silverstone GP circuit baking beneath unrelenting sun. Even so, now that it’s gone there’s a nagging feeling that I should have enjoyed and exercised the Type R even more.

Because not only has Honda’s seminal hot hatch left my possession, but it’s disappearing from UK showrooms altogether. Honda recently released details of the ‘Ultimate Edition’, a swansong for the FL5 Type R and perhaps the very last of its kind.

This seems tragic. A focussed, lithe, highly-efficient performance car that’s being killed by legislation that rates a 2.5-ton plug-in hybrid with a V8 engine as a better solution than something compact, relatively light and using half the cylinders. How did we get here?

In fact, it is tragic. The Type R is a fantastic car. A throwback in some ways, but a reminder that a clear sense of purpose, finely honed dynamics and a six-speed manual gearbox add up to a timeless experience. Longer exposure to the car only heightened the Honda’s many qualities.

Shall we start with the bad stuff? Well, aside from the annoying ADAS afflicting all cars, there isn’t much to complain about. The ride is very stiff. So much so that the softest suspension mode is nearly always the preferred setting. There’s torque steer, too. But I think of this as a characteristic of a hardcore front-drive performance car rather than a ‘fault’, unless it’s properly unruly. The Type R isn’t.

The fuel tank is also tiny, which makes a car capable of decent economy feel thirsty simply as it requires a lot of fuel stops. I’d also love a third rear seat in place of the permanent cup holders.

All of that pales in the face of such a scintillating dynamic experience. The engine is hard-edged and revs so cleanly, the gearbox is outrageous and the front-end response, overall agility and body control is superb. The brakes can feel a little over-served at times, but they are strong and consistent.

Overall it has an ability to meld fluidity with an attacking, ruthless style to create a really physical, intense and deeply thrilling whole. Perhaps the reason I didn’t do more ‘special’ journeys is simply that the Type R makes every drive a real event. It will be deeply missed.