Car pictures of the week: Honda Civic Type R at eCoty 2023
The Honda Civic Type R is the undisputed king of hot hatchbacks, but can it take evo’s Car of the Year crown?
Can a hot hatchback possibly compare to a McLaren 750S or Alpine A110 R for pure driving thrills? When it’s as good as the Honda Civic Type R, it certainly can. The latest FL5-generation model is the most exciting, well-engineered hot hatch we’ve driven in years, and it’s stepping up to challenge for evo Car of the Year honours in 2023.
You can pick up a copy of evo issue 317 in-store or online to read the full test, where nine of this year’s best cars go head-to-head on some of the most stunning, technically demanding roads in the country. Hot hatches typically shine in these conditions, with a zeal and enthusiasm that even big-hitting supercars struggle to resist.
The FL5 Type R builds on the excellent foundations of its predecessor, the FK8. By refining familiar components rather than building an entirely new car, Honda has been able to spend more time honing and tweaking the Type R, which is evident from the first turn of the wheel.
Everything, from the feel of the steering, gear shift and pedals, is more akin to a sports car than a hot hatch. It all sets the tone for one of the most absorbing, richly rewarding driving experiences of 2023.
The Civic Type R costs £49,995 these days, and in that sense it isn’t the everyman performance car hero it once was. But that’s the price you pay for this kind of engineering depth, and the Honda runs rings around rivals from Mercedes-AMG and Audi RS that cost the same or more. This time around, the Civic also has a brilliant interior and a classier, more subtle design than its predecessor.
But are these qualities enough to topple the best purpose-built sports cars of 2023, including the latest from Porsche, Lamborghini and Aston Martin? Grab your copy of evo 317 to find out.
