Honda Civic Type R vs Renault Megane R.S. Trophy | PistonHeads 

I almost bought the Trophy 300 but after 19 years of having renault I went for the Type R and have no regrets love it

Got my Type R in November 2018 and nothing I've seen/driven before or since has made me doubt my decision. Special car, even when just pootling about.

I choose the Type R, own one since Feb 2019 and am just so happy. Love it's looks too.

My R lives in Sport mode, I use R when I am screwing around and comfort only when on a bumpy road. #26306 Love my R

Jeremy Clarkson's column on the Trophy is spot on. That car is a killer..

The Megane just looks amazing

The more reviews I watch/read the more obvious it becomes that this Megane was designed for track-day use above everything else. Both cars are awesome though

Excellent video comparison by Dan and the Piston Heads team 👏Keep up the good work

This may seem biased but I would choose the Megan's RS TROPHY because I like more aggressive cars like it

Great comparison Dan 👍

Civic type r 👍🏼

I have the RS300 Trophy in automatic. It was irresistible once I realized it had a sunroof! The Type R was tempting but is always more expensive on the forecourt. Checking out fastest laps also shows that, if anything, the RS is abetter track car. But another crucial factor is that the Type R ONLY seats FOUR! This is in spite of its considerable width- which in certain UK country roads - is a problem. I often need to sit 3 in the back, but for some reason the Honda engineers left it at only 2 rear seats!

Totally can understand and see where Dan is coming from, but like all reviewers he’s taking down the mm of difference. Both cars are amazing for the average petrol head. I’ve bought the Megane after coming from a new V6 350 sport exige and can say yes not as fast off the line but down a country road still fantastically involving, rewarding and exciting to drive

100% I’d take the Megane! Looks and sound win big for me!

Good review. I drove the Megane RS Cup, Type R and i30N back to back and ended up driving home in the Megane. Ok the ride isn't configurable but it's much more livable than my previous mk3 Focus RS despite that having two settings. Plus the interior of the Megane just felt a better place to do the daily grind. Less plasticky and more grown up than the civic and way way better than the Ford. i30N was good but felt most old school and most like a spruced up regular hatch.

I have a 265 for over 10 years. The actual HP on mine is 308 and 311 on separate dynos. Now over 120k without a spanner on it. (Touch wood!). I totally respect Honda engines which are the heart and soul of the R. I would buy one except for the boy racer looks. The Megane looks elegant and quite frankly beautifully understated. In all are we not blessed with the most wonderful selection of hatches?

Type R FK8 Facelift since November 2023…. I love it

Nice review wish we had Renault in the states Europe has the best hot hatches to choose from !!!👍🏻

if you want a boring hot hatch get a golf R or GTI, i want my hot hatch to look like a hot hatch so im glad i got a type R, initially i was worried the looks would fade on me after a year but ive never liked it more. end of the day its a matter of opinion, more people have sparked up a conversation with me about it than any other regular car (non supercar). and its absolutely savage with its acceleration and yet the thing people love most is the comfy front seats haha

nice review

Awesome video, top work. It’s the Renault for me all day.

These two are like the two best in their division, like the two best middleweights finally doing battle

Both cracking cars 👍

If the Trophy is too stiff, why then not pick the normal R.S. I honestly got a bit confisued, you wanted a sporty, unusual hot hatch and yet you critic the suspension of the R.S. Both honestly do their work, but at the same time seem a little bit too much of a compromise. I can understand - in my true honesty beeing a Renault fan - that people choose a Golf R. Just saying.

Really nice video and the review, perfect shots, edit, everything! I ordered Megane RS Trophy..main reason was the EDC gearbox which I prefer, and second was the price which I managed to get.

Renault Megane RS Trophy !!!

These cars are 'uncivilized'? 😂 All modern cars are civilized.

Have to say, as a RS265 owner, I prefer the type R more. Only because Renault lost their "in your face" look with the new 5 door hatch ...... Gosh I miss the R26

Megane trophy👍

Type R, that’s why I’m buying one soon. Previous car FK2.

Didn’t know Chris Martin did car reviews

Type R definitely the best in it's class

The rear of that honda is just beautiful.

Megane uses a torsion beam not a multi link rear end

Is French car reliable?

Like Dan, I’d choose the Renault for looks - but the Honda for driveability

Not a bad contender to compete against the mighty CTR. All the others left the table... But, there is still no Renaults sold in the USA. Maybe Nissan or Mitsubishi can rebadge one under the alliance, and bring it over. The next EVO maybe? The first hot hatch for Nissan maybe? Nissan Megane RS Trophy?

I'd take the civic everytime. Not cause of the looks, I like both, they are different, one is more aggressive, yes, but still I don't feel it offensive. But as a car, as an hot hatch, the civic does everything, confort, space, trunk space, construction quality and I don't mean the plastics feel although they are quite good too. All in all, as an whole, a product, you get more from the civic. Thx and good videos 👍

Megane Rs 😍

I have a Clio Cup 172 (02) so I am a bit biased. I chose the Megane RS, looks the best. PS, most Renault RS cars are rather firm, no more so than my Cup 172, but yet the wife and I took it to Le Mans for the MotoGP from Glasgow, loaded up with clothing and lager (French bierre is pure pants) and it was brill. Looking to get a deal on a Megane RS soon. Cheers. Gee.

Megane rs trophy!!!

This is exactly my current shortlist so thanks for deciding it for me once and for all.

Previous type R's looked great but this one looks like a bucket of smashed crabs, I know its gonna drive great but I can't get over the looks.

Does rs stand for Renault sport? I've always assumed it stood for rally sport 0:38

Both are really great cars: Trophy300 is such an aggressive, harsh and vocal car with beautiful hot hatch looks.... the TypeR on the other side, the best drivers car hot hatch IMO, it looks as the Trophy300 drives.... so: it’s really a matter of taste. For me: I did buy the Megane, knowing the TypeR is the slightly better (to drive) car...

Megane uses torsion rear suspension, not multi-link.

Renault rs ❤️

I miss dash board mounted manual shift. If you know you know!

People will say bad investment... Hate to say it.. Better than crashing a silly fast bmw 140 or rs3 like some I know have! Like the latest Impreza wrx these cars ended up actually being owned by respectful fans of cars, everyone else got a Golf R 👏

Has to be the Megane RS Trophy!!!

I will take the Megane any day

The megane requires higher driving skills while type R allows amateurs to drive fast easily. Megane has more rawness and handling while civic is more stable and comfortable.

The megane needs to be driven with the edc gearbox completly changes the, way u drive it I drove the manual 1 and came away thinking wasn't bad but drove the edc 1 few months later and was like omg the car just flys with it and because it revs so fast you can just bang the gears at it

Megane everyday but am biased and don’t know if new car is better than the RS265 I use as my daily

Ctr is the best hothatch of all time

I quite like the Civic's looks, but my reservation about it is the body length, and also its width. Even looks-wise, it would gain from being some 5-6 inches shorter at least. The width makes it uncomfortable (if not impossible) to manoeuvre it around in old, narrow-street towns, and wherever parking isn't a civilized practice. Cars are increasingly resembling trucks in size. Of course, the Megane is equally wide, and that is equally annoying. But at least the length isn't truck-like. And it is very sightly.

I've driven the I30N performance, Civic type R, Megane 280 cup and the Megane trophy. The civic is very urgent and definitely feels the strongest to drive and the brake pedal feel which was mentioned in all the reviews 2 years ago is epic. The i30N is rather impressive also, but seemed to not give the same sense of occasion that the megane or civic does. The megane suspension is fine, I have an FN2 and the megane is like a rolls royce in comparison to that. The engine and exhaust in the megane sound good and the standard type alcantara seats that were in the 280 cup and the recaros that were in the trophy are really good. The trophy recaros especially go really low, I was able to get a really nice driving position. Stepping into the type r feels like stepping into a race car though.

There was no volume knob on the Type R, did they test last years model? In North America on the 2019 we get an updated Type R with a real volume knob instead of that lousy slider.

I've owned and love my 1999 Integra (Acura) Type R for 20 years. The looks and design of this car was way ahead of its time, with LSD back in the late 90's. It's the last of the ( hand-built) naturally aspirated engines and runs better than when it was new. I'm just about to clock 300,000 Kms and have never touched the engine, though I rev it to 9,000rpm almost every day. Regardless of the Civic Type R's performance, it was designed by a group of young guns and sorry, I think it is bloody ugly! The new Megane RS300 seems to earn the new 'King of the Road' status.

i really want to like the civic but can't get over the looks

For my taste Type R looks great and is better overall than the Megane, sporty exterior, better comfort, more capable. I just love that big wing on the back, the only thing that i don't like is the rear wiper, looks so old fashion and cheap. I saw the votes on CarWow review of Civic Type R and there more than 80% of voters agreed that Honda looks great! So, is a very desirable car. ✌️

I'd rather have the i30 N over all these options. Enough fun and stylish looks. Of these two, Megan would be my pick as it looks beautiful next to the hideous Type R

I like passing the corners with more speed sow definitely the megane Rs is the best choice for me

Entertaining

Type R King of Hot Hatch

T shirt is great , as is the review!

The meganes depreciation is going to be terrible so it will make a good 2nd hand buy.

The Megan's fog lights remind me of the VW Golf R32 logo.

Type-R is just so much more honed and perfected. Honda has just done a great job building a whole package that works on almost every occasion and has a quality feel to its suspension, gearbox and motor that the Megane just can't match. On the other Hand the Megane is the track tool of choice.

Great work Dan! Please keep it up! I think I'd take the R in Black with a Wing Delete

Renault just looks so good. 😎 Even now. In 2023.

DP, am waiting on you to get your paws on your own A110! 😬

So as an uncivilised Hot hatch comparison our verdict is the more civilised hot hatch. Great review just think the Megane has more drama about it from the driver's seat.

Does the FK8 drive better (more comfortable) than the FK2? FK2 is really unbearably hard, it's acruallt ridiculous

Japan always wins with cars in my opinion

I'd take the Type-R but being slightly obsessed with detailing the Type-R looks like a nightmare to work on with all those nooks and crannies. The Megane though, I've never ever liked any Reanult at all, spare the A110 Alpine. The Megane is just so dull. What I need is a middle ground betwwen the Type-R and Megane :)

Megane anyday anytime.

I've driven both and I perfer the Megane. Its better looking, much quieter and has a better stereo. Its has also got only 160 hp in comfort mode. This is perfect for me as i need to be able to teach my kids how to drive in my next car. The civic is a brilliant car, but it's emberessing to be seen in. It must be designed by 14 year old. Loose that ridiculus rear wing (no use under 220 km/h anyway) and give me option of black interior. Also it needs different wheels as its annoyingly loud at 110 km/h.

1,500 lb Recaro seats?

If the Type R's looks are not for you, but still want the electronically adjustable suspension, get a Leon Cupra.

Veloster N though

Type-R I already did!

Why do things have to be so complicated? All the modes, all the adjustments all the complexity.... I just want one mode and it should be the best mode. Comfortable and responsive, it's not difficult.

All right boys you've got your subscribe. Looks like y'all are serious about throwing up video reviews. Also woof I didn't think another hot hatch could actually make the Civic look good.

The comments section illustrates what a conservative bunch we are when it comes to liking or owning a car. Look round a car park, it's full of grey boxes on wheels. Is the Honda so unusual or do people just repeat parrot fashion what they are spoon fed. I want an hot hatch to look hot, to be a little over the top, to be a poster on the wall of all 12 year old boys. A hot hatch should look like it's looking for a fight not like it's looking for its pipe and slippers. I do like the Megan, I did have it on my wish list but own a Honda FK8 in blue and love it.

The Honda drive with the Renault looks....ye that'd be nice

When talking about the comfort mode he forgets to mention the amount of lag from the engine.. I really think its Nice it be compliant. But then you need to control the engine also.. And a hot hatch should be Hard riding.. Its a part of beeing a hot hatch

CTR = hail to the King, FK8 FTW!

Megane

Renault forever!!!

Megane rs trophy!!! for me, i have the 1.5 SNAV diesel and love the look and style. The Type r for me have always looked a tad ugly.

By the looks, megane wins By the performance, civic wins But they both are great cars.

Megane all day for me. The Honda wouldn’t even get a look in!

Good Video, love the CTR but you need to check your stats, its 306HP not 320HP.

Ctr all day bro...its made an impact all over the world, Megane still a good car though

So did I miss something because I thought the type R had like 306 hp?

Renault every time

Type R is way more practical and has a better engine also will go down as a collectable easy pic 4 me .

The megane don't have a multi-link suspension!!!

It's the bloody sides and the rear of the civic that are the real problem. The front is too busy but that's just the current trend, check out how busy the new prius' front is, it's serviceable. Remove the wing maybe?