TEST DRIVE: Honda Civic Type R

$44,795 for a Civic?! That’s a common response when you tell people how much the Honda Civic Type R costs. Most people are used to seeing the Civic sedan that you can buy for $24,250 and is itself an excellent car for the money, but the Type R is in a different league entirely from its more sedate sibling and may be the best performance car you can buy for less than $45,000.

You’ll know the Type R is different just from the way it looks, but a lot of work has been done under the bodywork to boost performance and enhance the driving experience.

Most notably, the two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Type R has been reworked to put out 315 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, a significant increase over the 150 hp and 133 lb.-ft. of torque of the Civic Hatchback.

Engine upgrades to get that extra horsepower and torque include a redesigned turbocharger with more boost (25.2 psi), as well as a freer-flowing exhaust with an active valve that increases exhaust flow by 13 percent. Engine upgrades also include a lightweight forged-steel crankshaft and lightweight pistons with stronger connecting rods. Engine cooling is improved with a 48 percent larger grill opening, as well as a larger radiator and fan.

Performance upgrades to the Type R extend beyond the engine. Handling is improved with a dual-axis Macpherson strut front suspension with adaptive dampers and larger stabilizer bars on all four corners, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

The Type R also has a helical limited slip differential, and stopping power is improved with Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers clamping 13.8-inch rotors up front and 12-inch rotors at the rear. The only transmission available is a six-speed manual.

Visually, the Civic Type R looks a lot like the current TCR race car version but its toned down somewhat from the previous generation Type R, which had a much more ostentatious rear wing and bodywork that didn’t really have a cohesive design.

The new Type R, like the new Civic its based on, is a much cleaner and more attractive design, but still signals its aggression with the wide stance, the large front air intake, that rear wing and the triple-pipe center exhaust.

Inside, the Type R is very red, with red front seats, carpets and seat belts. Oddly, the rear seats are black, but the mix of red front and black rear seats is the only option for the interior, so if you’re not a fan you may want to think twice about buying this car.

The seats themselves are excellent, with great support for sporty driving but also comfortable for longer trips. The aluminum pedals and shift knob look great, but the shift knob can get hot to the touch when the car is sitting in hot weather.

From behind the wheel, it’s hard to really find any faults with the Civic Type R. From the power and handling to the steering feel, brake feel and shift action of the manual transmission, Honda has really dialed this car in to deliver a great performance car experience to the driver.

The car isn’t blazingly fast, but it’s plenty quick (4.9 seconds to 60 mph) and delivers the right sounds as you work through the gears on the excellent manual gearbox. The rev matching was also very accurate in this car.

Honda offers Individual, Sport and Comfort driving modes for daily driving, as well as a Sport+ mode that’s better suited for autocross or race circuits. With the car I drove, I had it set up in the customizable Individual mode with the engine and suspension in comfort mode but the exhaust in the Sport+ setting.

Even with the suspension in comfort mode, there is minimal body roll and quick reflexes on the handling side, though I would put the suspension in Sport mode for twisty roads.

After spending a week driving the Civic Type R, that price of $44,795 doesn’t seem all that unreasonable. You’ll end up with a car that’s great fun to drive every day if you want to but can also take to the track or autocross course and hold your own (or at least the car will hold up its end).

Being a Civic, it’s also practical, with room for four passengers and ample luggage space when you need it.

The only downsides worth mentioning with the Civic Type R is that it’s naturally not as efficient as lesser Civic models, delivering 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Being a performance car, you’ll also hear the road more in this car, which to me is all part of the experience, but some people may find it annoying on the interstate.

If you find the Civic Type R a little too pricey or too racy, there’s also the excellent Civic Si sedan, which also comes with a manual transmission only and is priced at just $29,950.

If you want something just as sporty as the Type R but perhaps a bit more graceful, the Acura Integra Type S is nearly the same under the skin as the Civic Type R but is a touch more refined and luxurious. The Integra Type S will set you back $50,800, so if the you like both the Civic Type R is a better value.