Skip advert
Advertisement

Watch - Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R vs Honda Civic Type R | evo DEADLY RIVALS

Which is the fastest of the hottest hatches?

On the evidence of their Nurburgring lap times, these are the fastest front-wheel drive production cars of all time. In issue 215 of the magazine we explore that in a little more detail, but this video sets out to determine which of the Honda Civic Type R and the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R is faster in an independent test.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Megane set an impressive time of 7min 54secs around the 13-mile Nordschleife. It usurped the Seat Leon Cupra Sub8 as the fastest front-wheel drive car and became only the second front-driven production car to lap the ‘Ring in under eight minutes. To give that lap time some context, a Ferrari F430 set a time of 7min 55secs in 2006.

Remarkably, the Civic knocked a further four seconds off the Megane’s time to set a new record of 7min 50secs. That always struck us at evo as being slightly odd – the Megane uses a much gripper Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre than the Civic’s Continental Sport Contact 6 and whenever we’ve driven these stripped-out, track-ready Renaultsport machines on circuit they’ve shown up much more exotic and expensive sports cars.

Read > Honda Civic Type-R review

So just how did the Civic go four seconds quicker than the Megane? Sure, it does have 306bhp to the Renault’s 272bhp, but it also carries an additional 80kg. It could be that the Nurburgring’s straight, fast sections played into the Honda’s hands, or perhaps the unnamed driver had just arrived from another planet. Or maybe, as some have suggested, the Civic wasn’t wearing the same tyres that customer cars are being supplied on…

As we very well know, the Nurburgring lap time race is a flawed comparison. By getting the Megane and Civic together at the Bedford Autodrome we can compare them in consistent and fair conditions and work out which one really is the fastest.

It is worth noting that on price alone the £29,995 Civic Type R is a closer rival for the £28,930 Megane 275 Trophy – the one that still has air conditioning and rear seats. We’ve put the Honda up against the more extreme version of the Renault simply because it’s the car that set the Nurburgring lap time. 

These two cars, then, are the fastest front-wheel drive production cars around the Nordschleife. But which one is quicker around our test track?

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Honda Civic Type R (FL5) review: the undisputed king of hot hatches
Honda Civic Type R – front
In-depth reviews

Honda Civic Type R (FL5) review: the undisputed king of hot hatches

It’s the most exciting, capable and well engineered hot hatchback we’ve ever driven, but has lost some of the fluency that made the last Type R truly …
18 Dec 2023
Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3
Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3
Group tests

Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3

The all-new FL5-gen Civic Type R is here, and expectations are sky-high. Waiting for it are the rapid and capable Golf R and Audi RS3 and the brillian…
30 Apr 2023
Honda Civic Type R sets FWD Nürburgring record (again)
Honda Civic Type R FL5 Nurburgring record
News

Honda Civic Type R sets FWD Nürburgring record (again)

Not only is the FL5 Civic Type R the most engaging hot hatch on the market, it’s also now the fastest in its class around the Green Hell
21 Apr 2023
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8
Mercedes-AMG G63
News

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8

Some of Affalterbach’s range-toppers are swapping eight cylinders for four, but the AMG G-class retains its V8 for 2024
26 Mar 2024
Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader
Land Rover Defender OCTA – front
News

Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader

The OCTA promises to be the fastest, toughest and most capable Defender yet when it launches later this year
26 Mar 2024
The Mercedes-AMG GT 43 is a four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive Porsche 911 rival
Mercedes-AMG GT 43 – front
News

The Mercedes-AMG GT 43 is a four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive Porsche 911 rival

The AMG GT has gained a 415bhp four-cylinder engine with F1-derived turbocharger tech, but it won't be sold in the UK
19 Mar 2024