The outgoing Honda Civic Type R has been the king of front-wheel drive hot hatches from the moment it was launched and last year, it was updated with a facelift and a new Limited Edition variant.
Honda is building just 600 examples of the Civic Type R Limited Edition for the U.S. market, each priced at $43,995, a cool $6,500 more than the standard model.
For the extra money, shoppers get a Phoenix Yellow paint job with contrasting gloss black paint on the roof, mirrors, and hood vent. The car also comes equipped with lightweight forged BBS wheels wrapped in Michelin Cup 2 tires, has less sound deadening material, and also ditches the cargo cover, rear heated ducts, and rear wiper mechanism. Power continues to come courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 306 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque.
Read More: Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition Arriving Stateside With Nearly $45,000 Price Tag
The Smoking Tire recently had the opportunity to test the car through the canyon roads near Los Angeles and both Matt Farah and his co-host Zack were left very impressed with the car. The two agree that this is the best hot hatch on sale, commending it on things like the direct steering, the phenomenal grip, and the confidence that the car gives you as a driver. Farah also adds that the six-speed manual transmission is the best stick shift on the market, other than what you’ll find in a Porsche Cayman GT4 or Porsche 911 GT3.
The reviewers think the car is well worth the $43,995 MSRP. However, lots of dealerships are actually asking upwards of $70,000 for the Civic Type R Limited Edition. While it is good, it isn’t worth that much, they say.