Honda Civic Type-R
Type-R Hondas are not among the fastest or the most powerful cars in the world, but they are between those that provide some of the most exciting driving experience and racing car feel. The ‘hot hatch’ sector is about to be shaken up by a new Japanese member with Type-R philosophy, the new Honda Civic Type-R.
Unlike most other Hondas imported into Australia, it does not come from Thailand but from Honda’s UK plant in Swindon, and it looks nothing like its Civic four door siblings. The look is edgy and the lines are clean, with the bonnet line flowing from the steep sloping front window and a rounded backside adorned with rear boot fin that may help with the wind dynamics of the vehicle but considerably hampers your rear vision.
Honda’s Type-R philosophy is focused around offering a driving experience similar to that given by racing cars and making the driver part of the machine by giving you high levels of feedback from the vehicle through sound, steering response and handling. So if you are looking for a car which gives you a smooth ride and softens every bump in the road, this is not the car for you.
Type-R cars are not just known for being fast, they also offer great performance in gear changing, braking, steering and handling and this Civic is no exception. Another goal of Type-Rs is that they offer an authentic driving experience, undiminished by driving assisting systems or features such as sound proofing that can reduce the driving involvement. For the very same reason a Type-R Honda is not generally equipped with luxuries such as sat-nav, hands-free telephones or leather interiors as it is meant to look and feel more like a racing car.
Step inside the Civic Type-R and it’s like stepping into the main control room of a spaceship. The red illuminated dials are strategically placed over the double layered dash board which sweeps around either side of the steering wheel. The futuristic feel is further accentuated with the red start button, the digital speedometer and the large dial in the centre with tacho on the perimeter and other meaningful info glowing red, in the centre.
The coupe styling does not compromise the cabin space. The interior provides a high degree of flexibility and passenger accommodation. The Civic Type R features Honda’s “magic seat†system, allowing the rear seats to fold to create a fully flat rear cargo floor. Folding the rear seats flat increases the usable boot space from 485 litres to 1352 litres.
Under the bonnet you will find a 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine with 148kW of power and 193Nm of torque, though to get any real surge in power out of the engine it has to revving up past 7000rpm.
With all the opposition packing high power and high torque turbo engines, Honda’s naturally-aspirated Civic Type R will win you over with involvement and an 8,000rpm redline. It’s an appealing package with loads of character – and keenly priced – but may not provide the instant adrenaline rush many are looking for.
Honda Civic SI
To complement the Type-R and complete the Australian Civic lineup, Honda’s British-built five-door Civic hatchback is now in Australia. The stylish Civic Si model is a luxuriously appointed five-door hatchback that has expanded the Civic line up to six models, four sedans and two hatchbacks.
At first glance the Civic Si has the appearance of a three-door hatch thanks to the clever placement of its rear door handles in the C-pillar, giving it an elegant sporty appearance. Added to this are the futuristic translucent grille, rocket-shaped front door handles and vast glass area giving the Civic hatch a striking look that’s guaranteed to stand out. For a sporty touch it has a push-button starter just like the Civic Type R.
The Civic Si provides customers with new levels of elegance and refinement, rarely seen in a small hatchback and compliments the sporty Civic Type R hot-hatch introduced into the Australian market in 2007.
And, as expected for the price, the Si comes with plenty of kit and is lavishly appointed with sumptuous leather seats, dual zone climate-controlled air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors and a tilt-telescopic steering column for a comfortable driving position. Also included are many more niceties such as heated front seats, auto on/off headlights, auto wipers, dual-zone climate control, sports pedals and footrest, perforated leather trim throughout, luggage net and like the Type-R Hondas ‘magic seat system’ 60:40 split-fold rear seat. Not just your usual split-folds either.
Besides tipping conventionally flat, these rear cushions (like the Jazz’s) can easily be latched vertically against the upright backrest/s to create a very deep floor-to-roof cargo space behind the front seats. Good thinking.
For design brilliance though, the Si’s seemingly invisible rear doors are a masterpiece. The slim shut-line and the unorthodox but entirely functional frame-mounted door handle are so easily overlooked that the Si is easily mistaken for a three-door. The illusion is so effective is that we had (different) intending rear passengers who instinctively opened the front door, expecting to slide/tip the front seat to access the rear bench.
The Civic Si features a powerful and economical 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine that is Euro 4 compliant, runs on 91 RON fuel and sips as little as 5.7L/100km*. Coupled to the 103kW, 174 Nm engine is a choice of either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission, the automatic also receives Grade-Logic control.
The Si’s cruise control can’t be depended upon for sticking to a speed limit. On the flat it’s fine, but the car’s speed increases significantly on descents. Your preset number is also exceeded on climbs when the automatic downshifts and accelerates too enthusiastically.
The five-door Civic Si will appeal to those wanting driving enjoyment, flexibility and every luxury in an ultra-stylish package.
Andrew Koch
