Honda Civic Type R FK2 long-term test: final report

This wasn’t everyone’s experience. Having waited patiently to borrow the Civic for a long weekend, colleague Hemal Mistry handed the key back after just one day because he didn’t get on with the car, citing discomfort as the reason.

The high-sided sports seats were problematic for a few, er, larger-boned colleagues, too. Mind you, I’m not exactly snake-hipped and I found them pretty comfortable. I had no problem with the driving position or view out, either.

4. The Civic Type R is absolutely ferocious on track, and this is where the +R mode comes into its own.

Picture editor Ben Summerell-Youde participated in a Civic Type R Owners Club track day and loved every minute of it. He came back raving about the levels of grip that enabled him to push harder as he gained more confidence.

Ben’s day of hoonery did, however, destroy the car’s first set of tyres, and Honda’s post-track day checks led to the replacement of the front brakes and other components totalling more than £1500, which contributed to the higherthan-usual running costs.

5. The +R button, which turns the engine responsiveness, steering and adaptive damping up to 11, is pointless, on British roads, at least. I found it far too harsh to be enjoyable. 

6. The dashboard layout is confusing.

I found the scattering of information across several dials and screens distracting. For example, when the tyre pressure monitor alarm went off, the warning was displayed in three places on the dashboard. You might say better safe than sorry, or you might wonder what you’re looking at.

Honda’s infotainment system is ripe for an overhaul and could be more intuitive. Hooking up my smartphone to the system was simple, but I could never remember how to access my contacts, a function that appeared to be buried in a sub-menu for no sensible reason.

We had no major issues with build quality. The only problem was the sliding cover on the cupholder in the centre console jamming shut because it fouled on the removable divider under it.

7. I will miss it terribly.

My time with the Civic Type R bore out the conclusion our road test team came to last August. “Living with it involves sacrifices that not all will be willing to make,” they said. Somewhat unexpectedly, I found myself willing to make those sacrifices because it was so much fun.

In my opening report on the car, I wondered if I might feel too old for it, in particular that in-yer-face styling and my concerns over comfort, but I soon received reassuring emails from owners of a similar vintage who initially thought along the same lines but, like me, were convinced otherwise.

There are more rounded hot hatches on the market, and ones that offer more technology for a broadly similar price, but few possess the cultish charm that Honda has cultivated over generations of Type Rs. This one may not be subtle, but it sure is a lot of fun. 

HONDA Civic 2.0 Type R GT

Read our previous reports:

Road trip

Taking the Civic Type R to the track 

Better than the previous gen?

Mileage at start 1581

Mileage at end 16,024

PRICES

List price new £32,295 List price now £32,300 As tested £32,820 Dealer value now £24,777 Private value now £24,020 Trade value now £22,768