The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has officially landed on Australian shores and while it comes at a significant premium over its predecessor, it has already proven itself to be a hugely capable performance car in overseas markets.
Powering the latest and greatest Civic Type R conceived to date is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 235 kW (315 hp) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque. This engine features a lightweight die-cast aluminum block with reinforced main bearing caps. It also has a super lightweight forged-steel crankshaft and pistons cooled by oil jets as well as an improved i-VTEC system that continuously adjusts the intake and exhaust camshaft phase.
Read: 2023 Honda Civic Type R Costs As Much As The VW Golf R In Australia
Mated exclusively to this engine is a six-speed manual transmission with an automatic rev-matching feature and sending power through the front wheels. Helping to put the power to the ground effectively is a helical-type limited-slip differential. Sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires measuring 265/30 R19 at all four corners also come standard, as do forged wheels.
Aussie shoppers can order the new Civic Type R in either Rally Red, Crystal Black, Championship White, or Sonic Grey. The interior is less configurable and all examples come complete with red seats and carpets, as well as a red Honda badge on the steering wheel, a Type R plate on the dashboard, and a lovely aluminum shift knob. The hot hatch also comes standard with a 9-inch infotainment display with Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, BlueBooth, satellite navigation, USB connectivity, and a data logger.
Just a single trim level of the Civic Type R is available. Key features include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, traffic sign recognition system, intelligent speed limiter, driver attention monitor, an acoustic windshield, and auto-retractable door mirrors.
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is priced from AU$72,600 ($48,387) drive away. That puts it at a significant premium over the $50,825 ($33,874) Hyundai i30 N, the $61,375 ($40,906) VW Golf GTI, and the Toyota GR Corolla that starts at AU$62,300 ($41,522) before on-road costs or approximately AU$68,000 ($45,322) drive away.
