2021 Honda Civic Type-R

The Touring and Limited trims of the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R are quite a case with their august features that can cost you as high as $44,000 exclusive of packages. The Honda Civic Type-R faces a thwarting competition this year from the Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn, Mazda 3 Premium Plus, and the Hyundai Veloster N. Therefore, it will be an interesting analysis to have a gauge where it stands against them.

The 2021 Honda Civic Type-R comes with two variants, Touring and Limited. The Limited edition has been introduced this year and resembles the Touring in its powertrain and other matrices except for some exterior trims. It gets the new pairs of 20-inch Forged Aluminum BBS Wheels along with Phoenix Yellow coat exclusively. The Touring has been kept consistent in the rear with its diffuser and roof-mounted vortex generator for airflow management. The Limited gets an underbody spoiler kit along with red-stripping after spending some extra bucks. Moreover, the Touring has been enriched with a Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock System.

As it has been mentioned, both the trims are mirror images of each other in many departments. The Honda LogRTM Datalogger System, 3-Mode Drive System, Active Sound Control, and HondaLink are among the tech-ends that cement their twinness. Additional packages like Carbon Fiber Kit and All-Season Protection Package II have added benefits with relatively affordable price tags in both trims. 

Which Trim should you buy in the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R?

Both the trims are twin to each other in their offerings. The difference between the features is not very significant. Not just that, but in the practicality scale, both are on the leveled meter with the same spacing, cargo volume, and economy. The safety features like the Collision Mitigation Braking System and the Lane Departure Warning have been added in the base Touring trim as well. Therefore, the Touring trim is a better buy that offers the same performance curve and features with a gap of as much as $6,000.

The 2021 Honda Civic Type-R gets a roaring powertrain under the hood. With a 2.0L Turbo I-4 VTEC engine, it has 306 hp of power @ 6500 RPMs and 295 lb-ft of torque @ 2500 RPMs at its service. This keeps it on the track to go from 0-60 mph in just 5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds. The powertrain delivers the power surge to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. The Turbo hitches with the Electric Wastegate and is in conjunction with the triple-outlet exhaust that keeps the exceptional figures in performance in line.

As it is evident that, the Civic Type-R is the segment leader, but the Hyundai Veloster N is right at its tail and can even get it if they are driven more than a mile with a better top-speed of 155 mph. The Mazda 3 Premium Plus comes in AWD, unlike others but still is underperforming in all parameters. One key takeaway from this analysis is that the Hyundai Veloster N offers a comparable finish at a relatively lower price.

How well does the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R handle?

The Honda Civic Type-R is quite easy to handle and responsive. The reasons can be attributed to the merging of EPAS, Adaptive Suspensions, and Brembo high-performance brakes that are self-sufficient in tackling the undulations. The lower wheelbase is a blessing in disguise that one gets with its design limits, which ensures the cornering stability. 

In addition to that, the hatchbacks are prone to “dirty air” at the rear because of the high terminating curve that creates a backward pull and poor aerodynamics. As a result, it drives the brainstorming workforce towards a triplet of the diffusers, vortex generator, and the wing spoiler as an extension that adds charm to its streamlined body airflow. Hence, it can be given a thumbs-up for its high-speed maneuverability.

2021 Honda Civic Type-R Braking Performance

The 2021 Honda Civic Type-R is engaging in its braking prowess as it is capable of coming to a halt from 60 mph within 107 ft, which is the least among its competitors. It has 4-wheel ventilated discs with improved cooling. It gets 4-Piston Aluminum Brembo Front Brake Calipers along with 2-piece rotors in the front which are 13.8” in measure. The brake unit is collectively an amalgamation of the ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, and the Emergency Brake Assist. 

Swaying away from the Honda Civic Type-R, the Hyundai Veloster N has the biggest rotors while being the lightest among the rivals yet has an underwhelming braking distance of 115 ft. The Mazda 3 is even more disappointing with a braking distance of more than 120 ft. Therefore, one can easily conclude the Type-R offers a justified braking system at a higher price tag.

It is generally an accepted norm that one has to give up the economy for the betterment of performance. But rarity exists, and the Honda Civic Type-R is its cornerstone. It has an impeccable acceleration with impressive fuel mileage of 25 mpg on average. The fuel tank capacity of 12.4 gallons keeps it going for up to 347 miles. The lightweight aluminum and reinforced chassis let it achieve one of the best returns of as much as 28 mpg on the highways.

There is no disagreement that the Mazda 3 is slightly ahead with 31 mpg on the highway and 23 in the city, but a bigger fuel tank gives the Golf GTI better range accessibility. The Veloster N is parallel to the Type-R in its returns. On the whole, there is no such supremacy that can be concluded in this specific segment. A little downshift in the torque rev-band may put the Type-R in the leaderboard, but that may question the consequences of its performance curve.

The Honda Civic Type-R is a 4-seater that has high-bolstered sport front seats in its cabin. For a sports enthusiast, the touch has been taken care of as one has aluminum race-inspired pedals and an Alcantara trim on the steering wheel. One can have a carbon fiber interior accent as per wish. As far as functionality is concerned, it gets an all-season floor mat with an automatic-dimming rearview mirror for some extra bucks. A wireless charger also adds up in the descriptive note. 

The 2021 Honda Civic Type-R is exemplary just like other domains. It offers decent cargo volume and ergonomics. The first row is well managed in its spacing. Even the second row is more comfortable than its counterparts. The Golf GTI has an exceptional cargo volume of 53.7 cubic feet and is fairly comfortable as well. Among all, the Veloster N feels compromised, specifically with its headroom in the second row. Some of the interior features are:

• Alcantara-trim Steering 
• High-Bolstered Sport Front Seats
• Carbon Fiber Interior Accent 
• Underseat Ducts
• Suede-Effect Fabric Seating

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R?

The 2021 Honda Civic Type-R gets one of the best-in-class engineered entertainment features with a 7” Display Audio touchscreen and Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation. The HondaLink, SiriusXM Radio, and a 540-Watt 12-speakers premium audio system including subwoofer are the other major upgrades in this package. One has access to the 3D rendered images of terrains and buildings at the display which helps in better follow through. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make up for the common standard tech-ends.

The list includes the Honda HD Digital Traffic and the Voice-Command gestures that further extend your ease within the cabin. The highlights in this section are:

• 7”-Display Audio Touch Screen
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• 540-Watt 12-Speakers Premium Audio System
• SiriusXM Radio
• HD Radio

If you spot a contrasting phoenix yellow or a sonic gray or a crystal black pearl, you might be looking at one of the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R trims. The overall exterior is designed to aid engine cooling, be it its fender or grilles. The gloss black accent on the grilles with Honda “H” and “Type-R” badges take a striking appearance on the front. The additional kits like the wing spoiler and underbody spoiler make it appear sportier. The vortex generators at the roof are not just functional but enhance the silhouette outlook as well.

As per data, the Honda Civic Type-R seems to be a lengthy one when compared to the Veloster N and Golf GTI. If one exudes this specific dimension, then there is hardly a major variation in their design approach. The hatchbacks are prone to poor aerodynamics but are entitled to handling at the same time. Therefore, if judged on the dimension scale, one can’t come to a conclusion over any model’s inferiority. Few standout exterior features include:

• H & Type-R badges
• Underbody Spoiler Kit
• Vortex Generators
• Triple Outlet Exhaust

If one admits that the 2021Honda Civic Type-R is expensive, then he/she is equally responsible to gauge through the parameters and offerings to enforce that. It is one oasis of a package in terms of safety hacks and technology. Armed with all the standard and advanced aids, it fairly justifies the price tag. Right from the Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation Braking System to the Lane Keeping Assist System, one gets high-assurance with it.

Apart from this high-fi artillery, it has baggage of standard ones like ABS, Traction Control, and Multi-Angle Rearview Camera. This is further improved with an all-aluminum hood and reinforced chassis that is a lightweight frame with extreme impact resilience. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering Body Structure is very much capable of distributing the force throughout and dissipating the crash energy. Few salient safety features include:

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering Body Structure
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera

2021 Honda Civic Type-R VS. 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn

The Honda Civic Type-R seems to have better performance, but the Golf GTI is one step ahead in its fuel economy. The Golf GTI is spacious with a more compact design, which is simply inspiring for smooth handling and desirable ergonomics. But one can’t overlook the safety package that comes innately in the Civic Type-R. Therefore, both of them fairly gel with the needs that are expected from the segment.

2021 Honda Civic Type-R VS. 2021 Mazda 3 Premium Plus

The all-new Civic Type-R is a better performer than the Mazda 3. Higher top-speed and better acceleration with decent fuel economy seem to overshadow the amaze of the Mazda 3. But they are parallel in terms of their spaciousness, boundary dimensions, and available seating headroom and legroom. All in all, one would definitely prefer the Civic Type-R over the Mazda 3 for its practicality and extra power surge.

2021 Honda Civic Type-R VS. 2021 Hyundai Veloster N

They have the same engine configuration, drive layout, and transmission, so they are destined to have close figures in almost all departments. It is evident with their slight difference in acceleration and same fuel economy. Furthermore, both have comparable space inside, but the Civic Type-R is a monster in its braking efficiency. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Veloster N can give some hard time to it with a higher top speed.

The price tag may seem to be a little more to someone, but it is only the half picture. As it is rightly said that the moon has both dark and bright sides. The safety features, braking dominance, and additional packages are certainly the brighter aspects. However, it would be simply inappropriate to invest such a huge chunk in the higher trim. Therefore, the 2021 Honda Civic Type-R definitely makes up for the buying option but with the Touring option.