The current-generation FK8 Honda Civic Type R has established itself as the finest front-wheel drive hot hatch of them all but with the Golf GTI Clubsport 45, VW thinks it has cooked up a proper rival to the Japanese model.
To see if the Golf GTI Clubsport 45 can compete with the Civic Type R, Autocar hit the road in the two cars but it didn’t just bring along any Civic Type R and opted for the Limited Edition variant.
Read Also: Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 Starts At £39,980 In The UK
Powering the Honda is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 316 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque in UK guise. By comparison, the GTI Clubsport 45 has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 296 hp and the same 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). However, whereas the VW has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels, the Honda is sold exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, immediately adding something to the driving experience that the VW simply cannot match.
Compared to the standard Civic Type R, the Limited Edition weighs 20.96 kg (46 lbs) less and has lightweight BBS wheels wrapped in Michelin Cup 2 tires. The reviewers in this video note that it has superior handling to the VW and feels more poised and precise, thanks in part to those sticky tires.
The VW does have some things going for it, though, such as being easier to drive on a daily basis than the Honda. Ultimately, however, Autocar concludes that the Civic Type R is still the better hot hatch of the pair and says it is hard to justify the £39,980 asking price of the Golf GTI Clubsport 45.