2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition review: Sharper on the track, but still great on the street

The Civic Type R Minimal Edition is a screamin’ little sizzling hatch that’s a serious track weapon. Lighter and sharper than a normal Type R, this modest-batch Honda can outrun sports activities vehicles costing 2 times as a great deal, and most effective of all, none of this added efficiency arrives at the cost of day-to-day-driving convenience.

A swift record lesson: Right after the Type R launched in 2017, Honda applied it to set a blistering 7-moment, 43.eight-second lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, creating this Civic the speediest entrance-wheel-push output auto to run the notorious German course. But then the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R arrived alongside and trounced the Type R’s report, beating the Civic by four whole seconds. When the Type R Minimal Edition debuted in the before-occasions of early 2020, a Honda executive explained to me it was born out of the desire to reclaim that FWD sizzling lap title. And following the Type R LE’s current report lap at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan — where by it defeat the Megane Trophy-R, by the way — Honda’s assured the ‘Ring crown will shortly belong to the Civic the moment once more. 

In buy to shed time although shredding laps, Honda opted to reduce bodyweight fairly than raise ability. The Minimal Edition’s two.-liter turbo I4 carries more than from the base Type R unchanged, producing 306 horsepower at six,five hundred rpm and 295 pound-ft of torque at two,five hundred rpm. The 2021 LE’s six-pace manual transmission, restricted-slip differential, suspension components and Brembo entrance brakes are all identical to those people on the 2020 Type R, also.

Alternatively, Honda reduce fifty pounds out of the US-spec Civic Type R by deleting the rear wiper, getting rid of the cargo address, fitting lighter-bodyweight BBS wheels and getting rid of a whole bunch of sound-deadening content — 28 pounds well worth, in fact. That “US-spec” qualification is critical, by the way Minimal Edition products sold in other markets fall an supplemental 30 pounds thanks to the elimination of the audio process and air conditioning.

Now, before you bitch about the US not finding the full Minimal Edition lightweight practical experience, here is yet another record lesson: When Honda launched the track-all set S2000 CR in 2007, the radio and air conditioning were optional, but only a super-duper-modest proportion of People purchased the CR this way. So until you might be scheduling to use your personalized CTRLE to set a lap report, which you are not, probably just crank some tunes and delight in the amazing breeze of your AC. People always believe they want a stripped-out auto right until they really have to reside with it.

Mainly because it really is lighter, the Minimal Edition has somewhat different adaptive damping and digital steering calibrations than a normal Type R. The dampers maintain the Civic managed although accounting for the trimmer system, and soon after driving a Minimal Edition again to again with a Type R Touring on track, the steering tweaks are really obvious. Turn-in is a great deal sharper with more rapidly reaction, but there’s still tons of really feel and opinions by means of the wheel. I’m into it.

Off the track, the changes are less noticeable, but even so appreciated. You can expect to really feel the sharper transform-in, but the retuned adaptive damper configurations never really alter (study: wreck) the Type R’s ride excellent in the city or on the freeway. Truthfully, the Minimal Edition just will help boost what tends to make the Civic Type R so terrific to commence with: Lots of turbo ability, a slick-shifting six-pace adhere and an unbelievably capable entrance-wheel-push setup. This all tends to make for a very seriously chuckable little sizzling hatch. The Type R has always been a big-slayer — you can chase down Porsche 911s on mountain roadways all working day extended — and the Minimal Edition is no different.

The lack of sound-deadening content does result in a great deal much more cabin sound, but it really is not that large of a offer. Snug and nicely appointed as it may perhaps be, the normal Civic Type R isn’t particularly a serene freeway cruiser, so I never believe most folks will detect the added roar from the wind and tires.

As much as creature comforts are anxious, the Minimal Edition has everything you can uncover on the standard Type R Touring. The activity seats are as supportive as they are soft and a 7-inch central touchscreen has embedded navigation as properly as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. You get a whole mess of driver-guidance attributes, also, like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-maintaining help and adaptive cruise manage. The only thing that’s missing? Heated seats. However. Sigh.

Honda will make 1,000 illustrations of the Civic Type R Minimal Edition for world distribution, with 600 readily available in the US. They’re all painted Phoenix Yellow and will have a serialized plaque on the dash.

With a $44,950 price tag tag (like $955 for vacation spot), the Minimal Edition expenditures $six,five hundred much more than the 2021 Type R Touring. That’s probably uncomplicated ample for a serious fanboy, collector or track rat to swing, and as is the scenario with all Type R-badged Hondas
, the 600 US-spec vehicles will undoubtedly be sold in limited buy. Thankfully, the Type R Touring features ninety eight{d11068cee6a5c14bc1230e191cd2ec553067ecb641ed9b4e647acef6cc316fdd} of the practical experience, so if you can’t snag a person of the Minimal Editions, there’s still a lot of sizzling hatch greatness to go all over.