What is it?
Do you have a problem with the way the Civic Type R looks?
Honda thinks you might, which is why it has added this Sport Line version. It exists chiefly to tone down the warzone aesthetic of what is surely the finest senior hot hatch of the current crop.
The big casualty is the high-level rear wing – that see-it-a-mile-away identifier of Type R-ness. It has been replaced by something subtler, even if, should you inspect the undersides at its extremities, the new part still features vortex-generating fins.
The wheels are downsized, too, from 20in on the Type R GT to 19in, although space remains for the full-fat car’s 350mm MMC brake discs. Those wheels wear what’s now the third different tyre Honda has fitted to its Ford Focus ST rival, after using Continental Sport Contact 6 rubber on the original and semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s for the hardcore Limited Edition launched last year. It’s Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 S rubber that has been called up for duty this time – in our experience, just about the best road-focused tyre around, with soft sidewalls yet also plenty of precision and support.
Finally, the red exterior pinstriping of the regular Type R has disappeared, as has the red cloth of the otherwise unchanged bucket seats, and some of the ordinary Civic’s soundproofing, removed from the regular Type R to save weight, has been put back in.
That said, the Sport Line’s kerb weight is the same as before, at 1380kg – a class-leading figure.
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For my sins I actually went and bought a Sportline Type R after my previous VW group retirement product proved a bit of a let down..(not a Skoda which have always been excellent).
At the age of 60years I've always thought the Civic Type R with the big wing and wheels and Red seats has probably looked 30 years too young for me. I've always admired the Type R and knew there was a good very well engineered car underneath all the razzle dazzle......so when the Sportline came on the scene with it's "toned down" looks I thought...."Thats the fella"......time to say good bye to the VW...........colour choice was limited....but Red seemed a good choice with the Black highlights.
As well as the Civic I test drove the Focus ST and Yaris GR....both were good cars...the Focus didn't quite feel as special as the Civic and looked to my eyes a bit bland.....and the Yaris whilst being a hoot to drive was hopelessly impractical and I got the feeling that 5 months down the line, maybe you'd get tired of it's "cartoonish" ways.......decent car but personally just not for me.The long delivery time from December would also have meant that I would still be waiting now for it to arrive.
The test drive in the Civic was a revelation, the feeling being straight away that it really was a "proper tool" and yet it could be bumbled around as regular daily driver with plenty of space in it for when you just wanted to be....."normal"....a real pussycat......great build quality.It passed the much spoken of 50 metre driving test with flying colours.
The dealer threw in the 5year no charge service agreement without any hassle and also agreed to pay me for a Spare wheel.Not sure if it's true but I heard somewhere that the Type R engine only requires Fluids and Filters for the first 100,000miles...extraordinary. (maybe explaining why the Service agreement was an "easy ask".)
Within 2 weeks of the car being stood on the drive,EVERY one of the neighbours young and old had commented positively on the looks of the car........in 20 years of living at the same address this is the first time ANY of my cars has provoked any comment, it was a little embarassing for the right reasons.
If you want exclusivity, I haven't seen another Sportline on the road yet,performance wise its thousands of pound cheaper than most of the "German Iron" and most of the others,its a joy to get in and drive and certainly makes the eyeballs pop when you want to "go somewhere".
Yes agreed the fuel tank capacity could be bigger....but 300 miles is easy and bumbling along the motorway at 65mph (if you want to) will get you 40mpg.....34-36mpg being the norm.
I know even in this "toned down" version it still might not be to everyones taste but it certainly is a very very good car underneath and being the first ever brand new car I've ever bought with my own money........I'm really pleased with it.
Hope this entry is of use to someone.
Hi LP – we use a weighbridge for the full road tests. With so many new cars to review every week, it's not practical to put every 'first drive' car onto the scales ourselves. MY2017 Civic Type R GT came in at exactly 1400kg with full tank (road test #5343, 25/10/17). Any manufacturer claim we use for first drives will be DIN. Thanks, Richard