2021 VW Golf GTI Clubsport vs Honda Civic Type R | PistonHeads 

Agreed and well said!

Its only those clowns who focus too much on aesthetics that find the Type R too flashy. Nothing wrong in being flashy when you can dominate everything in an above your price range.

Can’t agree more...

@@arunmfive On point!

You could argue a good case for the Hyundai. But only on a preference/budget basis. I think the Hyundai is pretty underrated because of the badge. Similar to how you see so few Type R FK8's on the road. It's a shame, but at the same time it's evidence that people don't have taste in good driving. Instead we have a crap-ton of SUV's roaming about which aren't even as practical as these hot hatches

Well said!

we need to see them both on that 70-80 miles per hour corner, where the Clubsport lost its composture! 🙊

I'd question that comment.... I recently went for a test drive in a 2018 Audi S1 3DR, Stunning Hot Hatch looks, and so high quality and luxurious in the cabin, almost as quick as the ugly plasticky GR Yaris, and cheaper to buy too now!! And a new 2021 VW Golf R, would bury the Civic Type R, and pretty much everything else in its price catagory!!

Nuh not even close lol...type r and yaris gr are mediocre at best.

Mac Sixtyfive yup the true Goku is the Golf-R m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AmUwG9_UCms.html# tho the right driver (me😬) in the clubsport would deliver the crappy honda and Yaris a proper spanking 💁🏻‍♂️

He’s clearly modelled himself after chris Harris as a freelancer, and who can blame him! More power to him.

These vw touch buttons are absolutely horrific.

Obviously a round knob is easy and satisfying than touch buttons

Made me laugh out loud that did.

How to state the obvious when he eluded to that pretty much from his review

Dan is a bit selfish having all that fun inside yet forcing everyone else to see that exterior

@@volkswizard did not want to see the speeding meeting

I also have a racing blue Type R, after just seeing it in the metal I wanted it. After I drove the demonstrator, it was just ok you got me, no bartering just show me where to sign !

I drove the fk2 and loved that after owning lots of ep3 and Fn2 and can only imagine how the fk8 has progressed over the fk2 amazing engines I remember years ago selling my ep3 for a golf gti and within 2 months I was back to a type r so says it all

maybe VW and Honda can build a car together next time lol Drive like the civic looks like the golf

The veloster N looks more what? You can't possibly be serious lol also you simply buy cars for looks?

@@OrionTripp I'm dead serious. They are both "odd" in their own way, but I'd rather have a Veloster N in the driveway that whatever that Type R is supposed to look like. To be fair, I think the Civic just looks bad in general this generation, so that's definitely not helping it. And no, I don't just buy cars for looks. I own a 7.5 R because it checks just about every boxes AND it doesn't try to look like a rocket.

It should come at least with the "option" of a 6-speed manual. For the Type R there there is no option. You only get the 6-speed manual and Honda has sold tens of thousands of them and NOBODY complains. I think the real reason there is no 6-speed manual in the Golf GTI Club Sport s because VW knows it will be compared to the best in the business as seen in the Type R and that is a battle VW is unwilling to fight. Sad because even Hyundai has a great 6-speed manual in the Veloster N.

@@StandingUpForBetter the lack of a manual option is pure cost cutting as they have to put every available option for the DSG through WLTP testing again individually for a manual

To be fair the the manual gearbox on the standard GTI isn’t great.

@@jryalls No it sucks i know because i have the prev gti clubsport now

@@billx4266 Things don't get better on their own, you have to fix them. The fact that VW is unwilling to improve the manual they make or even partner with someone who makes good manuals shows how much they care about the enthusiasts. With almost all supercars including the ones in their other family of cars going flappy paddle, this hot hatch segment would have been the perfect place to keep the manual alive. Oh well. That is why I gave my money to Honda.

I drive also a Cupra 300 with KW Clubsport 2way and 255 30 R19 PS4s :-) That drives really HotHatchig with Remus sound 😁

Yeah seat is killing it if you dont care for the "GTI" cult.

Can you send me one please? 😂

@@NomadPoker1???

Really Fucking hell 10k 😲

So now your Chris Honda Volkswagen...😀😀😀

@@Shane-zx4ps lol 😂 I would love to have a club sport gti and be chris vee dub for awhile

@iamspyvspy that’s unfair dude a lot of RU-vidrs are doing a great job, and they have the balls to try it, remember Chris Harris lived of RU-vid for a time and he supports a lot RU-vidrs now..

And now they uploaded a video about the type r asking if it's the best hot hatch, hahahaha. I guess they want to fix their mistake. I even commented on their video "why you compare an awd car with dsg transmission to a fwd with manual? If you want to be fair, compare the NSX to the golf r, both awd with dsg" 😂😂😂

Agreed. They also had a video racing an RS3 against a bunch of hot hatches. Like a 15-20 grand difference between them. Made no sense.

Me neither. Neither cars are particularly good looking.

@@samcourt6228 No, neither are great, but the Civic is particularly challenging. I imagine they lost a fair few potential customers signing that off. The Golf just looks like every other "evolution not revolution" design, where it's just a podgier but slightly edgier revamp of the last one.

@@TrojanHamster challenging is a polite way to describe the Honda! 😂

@iamspyvspy it’s just when you walk up to it 🤢

"Could you do it to yourself? Could you turn up to the people you love looking like that?" Chris Harris

unfortunately dispite having the nurburgring mod it's more than 10 seconds slower on the ring. poor clubsport

@@diegobacchi false claim, the Type R did it in 7.48 and the CS in 7.54 - so not 10, just 6 seconds. And on other tracks performed the CS slightly better than the Type R. The CS looks also to me much better and has a far better interior.

@@mattleistner313 tipe r 7:43.8, again poor golf, the 7.5 was much better this is just a piece of crap

@@diegobacchi dont know this time and if you look at the list you will notice that this time was a manufacture claim and not an official. Watch also for several battles between them on other tracks and you will find wins for the CS.

Did I miss Dan saying that bit because even the Pistonheads audience surely judge a car on looks to some degree?

@@volkswizard idk, that is my opinion tho.

agree with this

agree, looks and interior.

Exactly, CTR is for boys, GTI is for guys.

Buy an Si

It looks like the t roc from behind. Generic VW styling.

Looks like the new golf was done on the cheap ...exterior wise styling is like a kia or some of the cheaper brands...

I have a 2019 Honda Civic Type R and LOVE it! Is it our family car. It is a family car that has made car enthusiasts out of the whole family :) I have returned to the Honda family. My first Honda was a 1986 Honda CRX. I would not object to a Honda CRX Type R. Imagine a modern, 2 door Honda CRX with the Civic Type R engine and that 6-speed manual...WOW!

@@StandingUpForBetter Exactly, I would buy an updated CRX, absolutely. The gearbox in the FK8 is sublime, you made a good choice!

Yeah it's definitely big. With the fenders it's considerably wider than my neighbours older Land Rover. It's pratical, but it's also a pain parking especially in narrow streets because you will always stick out further into the road than those in front and behind you. How about a Honda Jazz Type R? Let's go!

Lucky guy

@@EliteGi A Jazz Type R would be serious fun!

Doubt it. They're still selling with mark ups over here in the states. I have a strong feeling Honda sells each one they make.

The Type R sport line definitely has a slightly more mature look to it to cater for those sales

The ‘looks’ issue is only a problem for people who watch videos of the vehicle on RU-vid. Once you see the car in the flesh, it’s a different story.

@@samanson2001as much as my 67 yoa self loves the boy racer look, the sport line would have been my choice if available in USA

@@Highlander1518 so true!

Definitely. No matter how good the Type R is, I couldn’t live with the awful looks when shelling out a lot of money. GTi for me.

They both look crappy, I would go for a focus st or an old 7.5 gti

See the looks of the Type R need to be seen before judgement is passed. It looks incredible in the flesh.

@@Highlander1518 no, it really doesn’t

@@bield7 Yes it really does. It’s subjective anyway. Deal with it.

They do its called the limited and only comes in yellow.

automann did a test, the R and clubsport are just as fast 100-200km/h

Exactly!!!

its not as functional as a knob.

@@arunmfive Yes, it is. I drove the Golf 7 for years and almost never used the knobs but in 99% of the time the controls on the steering wheel. Your hand is usually there anyway so it's just a really quick movement with your thumb. I drive a Golf 8 Diesel now (waiting for my Clubsport) and I almost never use the actual display or the sliders beneath. I either use the controls on the steering wheel or voice controls. It's actually pretty easy to use once you get away from that manual knob stuff you're just so used to. It's a very clean, modern and good looking cockpit that can easily be controlled once you get a hold of it, especially with voice control added.

Just another annoying touch sensitive slider...

More touch buttons, for whatever reason

Yes, cause it would be rather pointless. The Golf would monster it and neither of them is about straight line performance.

@@TheStigHCE09 I'm talking about all your reviews. Good cars. But a lot of people want to see a drag race. So no, it wouldn't hurt. Muppet

@@cornedenecker1636 You can watch people race cars in a straight line on so many channels, why must they do it as well? This is actually very reminiscent of Chris Harris on Cars, which is perfect. And if you want to be my Miss Piggy that's neither here nor there.

@@TheStigHCE09 I wasn't really asking your opinion. Because you don't matter. Trot on

@@cornedenecker1636 Ooft. You got me there, buddy. I mean it's almost as if this public comment on a public comment section on a social media website is indeed asking for opinions, because otherwise you wouldn't put it here, but clearly I'm mistaken. And I prefer the canter rather than the trot in terms of a horse's gait.

The new Clubsport would kill the Edition 40. It may have lost to the Civic on subjective items but short of the Clubsport S the bigger picture is that this is the best driving Golf so far (I have driven both and I've got a CS Ed40 on the drive as I type).

It’s such a shame the Honda is a bit marmite with its looks! The reviews on this car have been amazing, a true drivers car. As for the VW clubsport, I’m inclined to agree that it does look like VW rushed this model. It might be the most capable GTI to date if you exclude the Clubsport S but that doesn’t make it the best Golf GTI. The anniversary editions just felt a little bit more special and the Edition 40 was the best and closest to the Clubsport S in my opinion. Ps you can have a lot of fun in the Mk5 GTI for a fraction of the money.

Reminds me of what ford done with the mustang name with the mustang mach e. Just rely on the name to boost sales, nothing more than a marketing strategy

@@volkswizard I think that’s a given considering it’s got more power and a dsg box but outright pace isn’t the be all and end all. The edition 40’s manual was a lovely gearbox and considering this car is still based on the the 7.5 I can’t see that the suspension changes to this one would leave much on the table on a twisty road if the two were to meet. The edition 40 would still appeal more special to most, 3 doors, manual box, alcantara wheel 👌🏼 it felt special and it looked it and I don’t think this one does.

Dan is one of the most credible UK journalists and said in this video that the Golf interior has "a really good cabin" and "looks gorgeous" Having driven a number of Mk8s and owning 2 7.5s, 7.5 cabin is looking dated now, I mean I have to plug my phone in to charge it.

@@volkswizard I’d far rather have to plug my phone in to charge it and have actually buttons / knobs for stuff like the HVAC. The cost cutting is obvious too which is something that you’ve pointed out in your own videos. VW are probably relieved that the new 1 series is so hideous; the cabin in that is fantastic an the 128ti by all account is very very good to drive.

Exact same results i had with a friend back when i had just the stg 1 flash. The gti would need many more suspension mods and much stickier tires (front lcas, rear sway, and a 200 tw tire) to even think about chasing down a stock type r through some corners.

@@silentvalue I agree man, that's why clubsport changed some major suspension components, compared to GTI, even then, the club sport came short when it was one on one with type R!

I hope there's an IT wizard out there hacking the ECU to bring us comfort suspension and sport throttle response. 🙏

@@fishmanmtb has ours for 2 years How much do the R owners have to sell out to get 450bhp plus Stage 2 and it came to just under 2k

I’d like to know this too. I’m debating whether to replace my 7.5R with an 8R or Clubsport. Need to drive both back to back in the wet to be able to make an informed decision..

@@andrewmontague2636 Keep your 7.5 R. Looks better than the fugly MK8. You have likely the last good looking generation. By the time the MK9 should be coming about. VW will be well underway with their changeover to EV's. I drive an IS38 GTI in the PNW and there are times I wish I had the R. So the Clubsport would be the same pretty much. Trust me, keep the R.

@@Peylix It’s an option, for sure. I do want to drive CS and 8R before I do anything.. One thing that’s making me think I might get a new one is that I think it might be the last Golf. If there is a Mk9 it certainly won’t be much more than a heavily facelifted Mk8. Mk9 wouldn’t come til 2026 at the earliest and I don’t think, with all of the investment required and given VWs commitment to the electric car programme, that they’ll do it, especially with sales of new ICE cars banned in the U.K. (one of GTI/R’s biggest markets) from 2030 and in most of Europe from 2035 latest.. I may be wrong, but that’s my hunch..🤷🏻‍♂️

we get better options here in Ireland for some reason the same as Germany so with estoril's and black styling pack it looks a level above the TCR and that's coming from a TCR owner

😲...... WHY VW