2017 Honda Civic Type-R

“The 2017 model is an entirely different car than what enthusiasts lusted for these many years. You wouldn’t know that from looking at it, though. ” – Car and Driver

For this 10th-generation Civic, and the fifth iteration of the Civic Type R, Honda changed almost everything. The biggest change is that it's a four-door hatchback. While the eighth-generation Civic Type R was a four-door sedan, and even before that it was a two-door hatch. The new 2017 Civic Type R comes with a refined version of the 2.0-liter, the turbocharged inline-four motor posting an under 6 second 0-60 mph time with standard FWD.

It'll also do 28 mpg on the highway, 25 mpg combined. The 2017 model is an entirely different car than previous models. From the look, Honda adds functional exterior equipment while the interior is race-ready and filled with Touring trim amenities. The safety and reliability quotient of Honda is on point, there is a lot of standard equipment needed for daily driving and race-track events.

“There’s an unbridled honesty to the Civic Type R absent in the others, but it maintains its European roots, driving character, and composure at the same time. ” – Motor Trend

The 2017 Honda Civic Type R is a single unique trim, starting at an MSRP of $33,900. The hot hatch comes with a performance-oriented design and technology, including 20-inch alloy wheels. It also comes with lots of standard technology, like satellite-linked navigation and smartphone compatibility: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s available exclusively with the 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. It comes in five available exterior colors, with the red and black track-oriented interior color scheme.

Trim	Type-R
MSRP	$33,900
Key Feature	Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
	20-inch wheels
	Type-R-specific suspension
	Adaptive dampers
	Manually adjusted sport seats
	12-speaker premium audio system
	Dual-zone automatic climate control.
	Redesigned exterior

The list features a standard 540-Watt 12-speaker premium sound system and a glossy 7-inch infotainment touchscreen and a standard satellite-linked navigation system. The Type R comes with everything from HondaLink to a backup camera. The Type R also comes with standard dual-zone automatic climate control and illuminated front vanity mirrors. Every Type R has cruise control, a 12-volt power outlet, push-button start, and sport pedals for vibrant shifting. There are two USB ports for easy charging.

"Honda’s 2017 Civic Type R is one of those rare cars that lives up to the hype of being equally adept at the daily commute and a racetrack." - KBB

The Civic Type R uses a hot-rodded version of the new Honda Accord's 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, making a class-competitive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a slick six-speed manual driving the front wheels and mechanical limited-slip front diff. Between the two is a lightweight, single-mass flywheel. And this transaxle features Honda’s first application of automatic rev-matching for downshifts. Shifter feel is precisely what we’ve come to expect of Honda: absolute precision.

 There’s no waiting for the VTEC to kick in, and there is no turbo lag at all. The Type R' trademark odd center-exit exhaust is not just for styling. Each of the three pipes does something. The fat outer two are the primary exhaust routing while the smaller center pipe connects to a resonator tucked just behind the bumper cover to add to the engine note. 

Models	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
MSRP	$33,900	$36,120	$35,195	$35,655
Engine	2.0L turbo 4-cylinder	2.3L GTDI 4-cylinder	2.5L turbocharged BOXER 4-cylinder	2.0L Inline-4
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	6-speed manual
Horsepower	306hp	350hp	305hp	292hp
Torque	295 lb-ft	350 lb-ft	290 lb-ft	280 lb-ft

However, when you take a peek at other cars in the segments, the 350 hp Focus RS tops the table as it is the most powerful hot rod in the segment. The Type R is the only Front Wheel Drive (FWD) car among the all-wheel-drive Focus, WRX STI, and Golf R. Honda applies a mechanical solution to avoid torque steer.

2017 Civic Type R 0-60 mph and Quarter mile Acceleration

At roughly 3,100 pounds, the 306-hp Type R accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. That's less than a second slower than the 350-hp all-wheel-drive Focus RS' 4.5-second time but quicker than both a 305-hp 2017 WRX STI and a 292-hp Golf R, both of which benefit from grippy all-wheel-drive launches and need 5.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph.

The Civic Type R maintains second place through the quarter-mile, too. Its 14.0-second run at 102.5 mph trails the Focus RS' 13.3-second run at 103.3 mph, but the Civic still just beats out the WRX STI (14.1 seconds) and the Golf R (14.1 seconds). 

Models	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
0-60 MPH	5.3 sec	4.5 sec	5.7 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter mile	13.5 sec	13.3 sec	14.1 sec	14.1 sec
Engine	2.0L	2.3L	2.5L	2.0L

“It was a symphony of dips, crests, blind corners, and on- and off-camber corners, some with uneven pavement, and the 2017 Honda Civic Type R was absolutely annihilating it.”- MotorTrend.

2017 Civic Type R Handling and Steering

The Civic Type R is a track-ready hatchback on the street. Most high-power hot hatchbacks are beset with a compromise—peaky engines, punishing rides, and poor fuel economy but not the Type R. On a good pavement or around town or on the highway, it is an easy-going cruiser. The Honda is agile and absorbs bumps and bruises from the road without upsetting the driver or chassis.

Steering is crisp and quick, and the throttle response is linear. The Honda Civic Type R is an FWD and a good one at it. However, the 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires are adaptive dampers with 3 settings as standard.

With the Civic Type R’s track-focused tuning the ride quality is on the stiffer side, though can be ignored. There is a three-mode adaptive damping system, with Comfort mode providing smooth traveling during daily commutes, and Sport mode lets you drive in between compliance and responsiveness. +R mode (better known as Track mode) delivers the kind of flat cornering and dive-less braking you’d expect from a track-ready car. With the change of each mode, the throttle sensitively and steering weight along with the suspension also changes.

2017 Civic Type R Braking Performance

In braking tests, the 2017 Civic Type R manages to tie the Focus RS' 104 foot stop from 60 mph. This braking performance again outperforms the WRX STI's and Golf R's 109 foot stop. Weighing almost 3100 pounds, the Type R is equipped with standard 13.8-inch cross-drilled brake rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers on the front axle and Single-piston sliding calipers grab the rear rotors.

Model	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Brake Front (in.)	13.8	13.8	13.0	13.4
Brake Rear (in.)	12.0	11.9	12.4	12.2
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3117	3434	3391	3283
60-0 MPH (ft.)	104	104	109	109

The pedal feel is excellent, even if its travel is a bit farther than we might like. There are openings in the front bumper to help cool the brakes. The big Brembo give a lot of reassurance in the Type R, so, relax and drive the hot hatch to the fullest.

“The Civic Type R boasts above-average fuel-economy ratings from the EPA and does equally well in the real world. Still, it can’t match the highway efficiency or range of the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf R.” – Car and Driver

The Honda Civic Type R's fuel economy is impressive as is its sticker price compared to the Golf R, Focus RS, and WRX STI. The 2017 Civic Type R's 22/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined EPA rating is among the best in the segment.

Model	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
MPG (city)	22	19	17	22
MPG (highway)	28	25	22	31
MPG (combined)	25	22	19	25

The Ford Focus RS' 19/25/22 mpg and the WRX STI's 17/22/19 rating is behind the Type R while nearly matching the VW Golf R, which is rated at 22/31/25 mpg with the manual and 23/30/25 mpg with the optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Look no further than the driver’s seat to understand Honda’s intentions with the Civic Type R. Heavily bolstered on the seat bottom and even deeper for the seatback, you can hide the width of your hand behind them.” – Autoweek

Honda has refreshed the 2017 Civic Type R's interior design and styling. The earlier two-layered dashboard design is replaced by a modern and more ergonomic cockpit. Though the cabin looks a bit unharmonious, slightly average than the Focus RS. There’s a 7-in touchscreen, an LED gearshift indicator light, boost pressure gauge, G-meter, and lap time recorder, for the race day. 

The Type R like the regular Civic hatch can seat up to five passengers and both models have similar dimensions. The sports seats inside Type R are very supportive and comfortable for longer journeys too. Rear passengers will also feel comfortable, head and legroom are as good as in any other Civic.

Model	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.3/56.9/42.3	39.1/55.6/41.9	39.8/55.6/43.3	38.4/55.9/41.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.4/55/35.9	37.9/52.6/33.4	37.1/54.2/35.4	38.1/53.9/35.6

No issues with the build quality and the materials on the dashboard and door panels are of high quality and as good as any of the competition. The combination of Alcantara and red accented interior can be seen laid all over the car. Getting in and out of the car is not going to be an issue for anyone as the doors allow a clean and wide entry. 

2017 Civic Type R Infotainment System

Honda offers a 7-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity in the 2017 Civic Type R. Honda's infotainment system across the lineup is criticized for a clumsy touchscreen display. Though Type R has physical controlling knobs and switched, the driver may get distracted while driving. Standard equipment include a 12-speaker, 540-watt sound system, and standard SiriusXM satellite radio. 

The Volume control knob is missing, still, the redundant steering mounted controls do the tricks for the driver.

“The Civic Type R’s interior is rated R for scenes involving gratuitous red accents and obscenely comfy racing seats. Although the styling isn’t subtle, the interior relies on Type R trademarks and racy materials to highlight its sufficient passenger space.” – Car and Driver

2017 Civic Type R Cargo Capacity

Like the 2017 Civic hatchback, the Type R also offers 25.7 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. Despite the sloping hatch, the Civic offers more cargo capacity than the Focus, with a lower load floor.

Model	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Cargo Volume to rear seat up	25.7 ft.3	23.8 ft.3	19 ft.3	22.8 ft.3
Cargo Volume to rear seat folded	46.2 ft.3	44.8 ft.3	44 ft.3	52.7 ft.3

The Subaru WRX and Golf R have average space behind the rear seats. The 2017 Civic Type R is a practical street racer.

"Honda swears up and down that the gigantic wing, roofline nubs, deep front and side extensions, and other wild-looking styling elements on the Civic Type R are functional."-KelleyBlueBook

Honda swears enhances the 2017 Civic Type R's exterior styling elements including the gigantic wing, roofline nubs, big rims, aggressive aero kit, deep front, and side extensions. These all are functional equipment, for example, the wing helps create downforce at speed to help with cornering, and the winglets at the edge of the front bumper and side skirts help route air around the wheels to reduce drag. The designers left openings in the front bumper to help cool the brakes, and the vent on the hood feeds air into the engine compartment to cool the turbo.

The exterior elements include LED daytime running lights and 20-inch alloy wheels that are unique to the Type R. The Type R wears big, fat Continental SportContact 6 summer tires sized 245/30ZR-20 mounted on 8.5-by-20-inch cast-aluminum wheels front and rear. 

Model	2017 Honda Civic Type-R	2017 Ford Focus RS	2017 Subaru WRX STI	2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Curb weight (lbs.)	3117	3434	3391	3283
Length(in)	179.4	172.8	180.9	168.4
Width(in)	73.9	71.7	70.7	70.8
Height(in)	56.5	58	58.1	56.5
Ground clearance (in)	5.1	4.7	4.9	4.8
Wheelbase (in)	106.3	104.2	104.3	103.5
Track width (in) F/R	63.0/62.7	61.2/60.4	60.2/60.6	60.7/59.7

The Type R is otherwise a Civic Touring with all the performance equipment, so the dimensions of the hot hatch are similar to the regular version. Honda's chassis rides on the biggest wheelbase in comparison to the rivals, which also results in a much more practical cabin in Type R. 

Exterior Features

Type R has received changes on the outside as well as the inside. On the exterior, you will see Honda adds on Civic Touring trim an aggressive air inlets and a splitter with red edge trim along with an air scoop on the bonnet, inset with the aluminum hood that helps in keeping the engine compartment cool. The rear of the Civic is even more interesting: rear vortex generators, wing and diffuser, the 3-outlet center exhaust, an additional red and chrome Honda badge, and an exclusive Type R badge.

Aside from color, there are no options on the 2017 Honda Civic Type R. Out favorite is the Championship White, a historical play by Honda, as it is the same color on its first Formula 1 effort from the 1960s.

Here’s a list of features that you get on the outside of the Honda Civic Type R

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure with crash stroke front frame design
• 61-percent high strength steel body structure (21-percent ultra-high-strength steel)
• Unibody structural adhesive
• Class-leading aerodynamic performance
• Aluminum Hood
• Class-leading forward visibility
• Acoustic-glass, flush mounted windshield
• Variable intermittent windshield wipers
• Advanced Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) countermeasures
• Sound-absorbing undercovers
• Black side window trim
• Capless fueling system
• Roofline vortex generators
• Rear wing
• Center-mounted 3-outlet exhaust
• Rear diffuser

“In all but appearance the Type R is a sophisticated package. It’s not the frenetic and furious vehicle that it first presents itself as. It’s not the rawboned Type R that some have pined for. But it’s alive. It’s here. And it’s good.” – Car and Driver

The 2017 Civic Type R has basic safety systems that include brake assist a rearview camera and LED daytime running lights and are also complemented by a full set of airbags and traction control systems. Although the NHTSA has not crash-tested the Type R, IIHS rates the 2017 Civic hatchback with Top Safety Pick designation.

Even though the Type R boasts Touring levels of equipment, the HondaSensing suite of safety features which includes lane-keeping assist, active cruise control, collision mitigation, and so on – is not available on the Type R.

 list of safety features available in the 2017 Honda Civic Type-R:

• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control
• Anti-lock Braking System
• Electronic Brake Distribution
• Advanced Front Airbags (i-ABS)
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
• 3-Point Seat Belts at All Seating Positions

2017 Honda Civic Type-R vs 2017 Ford Focus RS

The Honda Civic Type R can reasonably pull double duty as a family car and race car. The Type R delivers the legroom of a mid-size car and, because it’s 2.1 inches wider than the Focus RS, the rear seats feel significantly airier. Despite the sloping hatch eating into cargo space, the Civic offers more cargo capacity than the Focus, with a lower load floor and more space behind the rear seats.

While the trend of all-wheel drive adds more virtue with all-weather usability and performance-enhancing grip, the FWD Type R proves that the original formula still holds as much potential. The Focus is much more powerful and is a second quicker than the Type R in 0-60 mph run, the Honda is a good overall choice.

2017 Honda Civic Type-R vs 2017 Subaru WRX STI

Starting with the comparison, the Civic is front-wheel-drive vs the STI’s all-wheel-drive platform, and the Civic Type R offers a hatchback body style compare with the WRX STI sedan. The Civic hatchback clearly offers more utility over the sedan body style. Under the hood, both the sports compact cars are similarly powered. 

When we compare the 2017 Subaru WRX STI ($35,195 starting MSRP) vs the Honda Civic Type R ($33,900) each has advantages over the other compact performance car. The aesthetics, daily drivability makes it a close competition, but at the end of the day, the winner is clear.

If we were to tell you that get a car that does 0-60 secs in under 5 seconds, has 300 horses while leaping at a max torque of 295 lb-ft and you could get grocery in it, would you call us absurd? Well, You might! But this car certainly has a lot to offer.

The only place the car lacks is in the department called ‘Luxury Features’, but when did hot hatches become symbols of luxury. If you could do without heated seats, heated steering wheel and subtleness, this is going to be one best-buy that you make. Although, If you are looking for something that is a little more conservative and economical, you could take a peek at the Honda Civic Si which can be scored 10 grand less than the Type ‘R’.

More from Honda:

• 2022 Honda Civic Type R gets a mild refresh and more power, Read review. 
• Refreshed 2022 Honda Pilot Prices, Review, Specs, and Pictures.
• 2021 Acura NSX Review: Release Date, Price, Specs, and 0-60 mph Rating

2017 Honda Civic Type R FAQs

Is the 2017 Honda Civic Type R reliable?

The 2017 Honda Civic receives a J.D Power predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five. That’s above average but a fairly common rating in the class. Though the 2017 Type R has had a few recalls, Honda has rectified them all. Moreover,  the Civic Type R gets a  3-Year/36,000-Mile Limited Basic Warranty, plus a 5-Year/60,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, a Roadside Warranty for 3-Year/36,000-Mile, and a Rust protection 5-Year/Unlimited-Mile.

How fast is the Honda Civic Type R?

The 2017 Civic Type R goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and13.9 seconds through the quarter-mile. The hot hatch reaches a top speed of 169 mph.

Is the 2017 Civic Type R AWD?

No. The 2017 Civic Type R is not AWD but comes only with the standard FWD drivetrain.

How much will the 2017 Honda Civic Type R Cost?

The new 2017 Civic Type R's pricing starts at $33,900 MSRP. The used Civic Type R has an average sale price of around $20,000, though the exact price will depend on the model, condition, mileage, location and etc.