Hot hatch battle: Focus RS vs Civic Type R vs M140i vs RS 3 vs Golf R vs AMG A 45

Honda Civic Type-R GT

None of these cars is entirely subtle, but when the Civic Type-R rolls into the car park of the test track car where we base ourselves, everyone stops and stares. And giggles.

Buy a car like this and you had better be prepared for people to point and, in some cases, laugh openly. The Japanese creation might fit in a treat in downtown Shibuya, but in Surrey it looks a bit silly.

It’s not just that it has a big wing on the boot. There are spoilers and wind deflectors all over the front, side and rear of the car, and the wheels look lost in the widened arches. Heaven knows what the repair bill will be for a parking scrape. And three exhausts jut from the centre of the car like a brass section that’s been run over.

Look beyond that, though, and you’ll find a hot hatch with the vital ingredients. Uprated suspension, a powerful engine, big brakes and – uniquely in this company but once the norm – front-wheel drive. Can this old skool approach win over today’s hot hatch driver?

Driving enjoyment 8/10

The new Civic Type-R is the fifth-generation model, and looking back to the original gives a snapshot of how much the hot hatch has grown up – physically and metaphorically. This is a large car.

You feel that as you thread it along a winding country road. It’s almost as wide as a supercar, and takes up all of its side of the road.

A good job, then, that this is a precise machine. The steering, gearchange (with signature titanium top), throttle, brakes and handling all combine to inspire confidence. And that means the driver can make the most of the Honda’s stonking engine.

With 315bhp at 6,500rpm (the days of dizzying rpm from VTEC are long gone), only the Golf R is less powerful. But once you wake up the slightly sleepy turbo it sets off like a lurcher after a rabbit.

Whether it’s the aggressively short gearing, loudness of the engine and tyres, or the raw feel through the seat of the pants, the Civic Type-R feels fast — faster than its performance figures suggest.

This is further helped by a chassis that’s so planted it’s as though it’s grown roots into the road. But when it rains, even the combination of wide front tyres, electronic driver aids and a limited-slip differential can’t prevent the wheels spinning and revs flaring.

Of all our cars on test, this one felt the most serious, like a Touring Car that had escaped from a racing circuit. The centre of gravity feels low, there’s not much body movement and the brakes— and feedback through the pedal — are terrific.

You can work it extremely hard around a track and it doesn’t wilt. But that stability brings an unexpected downside: it’s not as playful as the Focus RS or A45. And at times we found the gearbox could be obstructive when trying to select fourth gear.

The only other annoying thing about the Civic is that the driver can’t configure the steering weighting, damper stiffness and throttle response individually of one another; you can in some of the other cars here.

Interior and practicality 7/10

You can’t fault the Honda’s wide cabin or 460-litre boot for a lack of space. But what was the reasoning for only offering two seatbelts in the back, despite there being a bench that would sit three people comfortably? Honda says it’s the way the Civic Type-R has always done things, but it’s the only hatchback here that’s less practical than the regular model it’s based on.

The cabin looks like it was created by an arcade game designer. Subtlety and sophistication go out of the window. In their place come digital graphics galore (G-meter, anyone?), numbered plaques and glow-at-night red inserts on the dashboard.

Still, do you care? After all, the driving position is the best, with excellent pedal positioning and the delightful, short-throw gearshift. And the seats are fantastic. You’re braced for action. And the Civic Type-R delivers plenty of that.

Value for money 8/10

Costing £32,995, for the GT model, the driving experience may be worth every penny in some drivers’ eyes. But the fact that the car does without four-wheel drive means others may view the Focus RS and Golf R as offering better value for money.

Verdict ★★★★☆

Fast and furious, a hot hatch for extroverts.

Second opinion

Will Dron says: “Let’s be honest: it looks like a regurgitated dog’s dinner. Drive this around Surrey and you’ll get a good idea of the level of embarrassment felt by Honda’s current F1 engineers. It’s also full of cheap-looking materials, like carbon-fibre effect (but not real carbon fibre) driver and passenger seatbacks; really naff. But start the engine and hit the road and all that is forgotten — for me this is the sweetest-handling of the bunch, and the grippiest. Around a tight, twisty track, I’d say this has the edge over any of its rivals here. It’s also got a lovely, snicky, short-throw six-speed gearbox, a decent amount of tech and the most space for rear passengers (all two of them). If you’re not concerned with what others may think of you, this is a truly phenomenal driver’s car.”

2017 Honda Civic Type-R GT specifications

• Price from £32,995
• Engine 1996cc, 4-cylinder turbo
• Power 316bhp @ 6500rpm
• Torque 295lb ft @ 2500rpm
• Transmission 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
• Acceleration 0-62mph: 5.8sec
• Top speed 169mph
• Fuel / CO2 36.7mpg / 176g/km