You Might Even Forget It's FWD... - 2020 Honda Civic Type R 

Very well done! One of the best reviews of the 2020 Type R I have seen. I am in my mid forties and have a family. For my wife and I the short list for a second car included the 2019 Veloster N and the 2019 Type R. We ultimately went with the Type R and we are so happy we did. People who swear by 4wd or rwd just have to drive the Type R to understand what an amazing performer this is. Reliability is a big deal for us because we plan on keeping this car for a while so the fact it did not have a heavy, more complicated 4wd system was a great plus for us. We also LOVE that rear wing and reminds us every time we look at it that we did not pay for a "regular" Civic and the fact that the rear end is so planted at high speeds despite not having the added weight of a rear differential is 100% due to that wing PLUS it is not in the way when looking out the rear window. Again, well done and I hope more people can enjoy the pure driving magic that is the Honda Civic Type R.

I love that even with the dozens of other cars Alex sees throughout the year, he still can appreciate the engineering and hatchback practicality of this $36,000 Honda Type R. In the EU they actually have a Type R Sport trim with a smaller rear wing to help boost sales. My big thing is simplicity and efficiency, so I would not be surprised if decades down the line the Honda Civic Type R is still running strong with a fraction of the maintenance cost required for the Subaru WRX STi, Volkswagon Golf, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes hatchback rivals.

only Alex can keep us informed AND entertain both at the same time like this. the horn cutout is the perfect example of the fun stuff you keep finding (the choice of music was quite amusing as well)

Wow. This is one of the most thorough and informed analysis of any car I have ever seen. Fantastic!

I was waiting impatiently for your review on this vehicle! you are awesome. Thank you!

Alex you and Raiti's rides are the BEST

Awesome review!! One of the most detailed and showed me the most about the car. Thanks for the video!!!

I like this guys review, to the point, VERY DETAILED, and all of the above. Awesome review. I really like the Type R now.

If you buy a 2020 Type R and don't like the Alcantara steering wheel, get a Mugen Sports Steering Wheel... I have that on my 2019 and it is gorgeous and feels great.

It's no surprise that Honda, with its rich history of motorsport competition, brought a lot of engineering and development to the Type-R. It is one of the only few cars that has been offered in its class at such a high level of performance. "Without racing, there is no Honda"

Even my '14 Civic LX has that Honda hood "all the way" opening, which I appreciate.

Very informative video. Thank you so much.

Great video, very informative.

I like your taste Alex. First guy who didn’t trash the boy racer looks! I went with the Audi S3 but I also love the type R. Now I want the RS3 and that car is 60k.

I have one in Sporty Blue 2018 (UK), great car. Sublime handling, gorgeous manual 6 speed gearbox and puts a smile on my face, every time i drive it. Comes with many safety features, which if it had been German would not doubt be extras.I always find it amusing, that the rear spoiler for some looks hideous and yet on Porsche it is apparently fine. Strange that some have this 2nd gear problem, not once in 18 months have i had that issue.

I test drove a 2018 today and I was blown away, smiling the whole time. Weird looks, ugly interior, I'm a believer! Huge cargo capacity, even plus-R mode was comfy to me. Amazing grip, like a wild mouse at the amusement park. Drove a new STI right after, and was not as impressed even though it has a nicer interior, and the wing-delete looks amazing.

Agree 100% about the shift pattern. It's way too easy to put some cars with weak lockouts into reverse when you intend to get first.

Questionable styling, but great engineering. This actually applies to much of the current Honda lineup.

I have 4 Honda Dealers near me that just got in their 2020 Type R's. None of them are selling at MSRP. The first thing they did was add $4000 to the price, even though they advertise the MSRP price. And all of them have the same color Type R - Sonic Gray Pearl.

Hey Alex. There is no rear parking sensors in the type r because you mentioned that in the beginning where you listed the safety systems Also you put the wrong cargo area and bag score. 19cu ft and 4 bags

Great review as always. 👍 How would you compare the ride comfort of the type R to the golf R?

Can't wait to see what they do with the new Civic.

Exemplary review. A lot of info, some distinct opinions, nice graphics, and video clips.

Daaaaamn! Keep it up!

Thank you

The Civic Type R is an excellent piece of engineering for front drive. The extra wings and vents are a bit too much for me as I prefer the look of the Golf R. And I appreciate you putting the Kia Soul in for size comparison as I don't see it as an SUV/crossover as many reviewers see it.

If the veloster N was available when I bought my Type R, it would have been a much more difficult choice. The Golf R and WRX were never going to make it for me because they have AWD and were less efficient. I daily my CTR.

Great review of an awesome car. The minor changes reduce the fake vent issues a bit. Really think the Veloster N with performance pack is a serious cross shop option here. What is difficult to understand is how Hyundai got their exhaust sounding so good, but Honda has really struggled.

I wonder how much of a difference some dynamat in the doors and under the carpet would help with road nose?

During CV19 I was able to pickup a '16 ND1 Sport Miata w/45k miles for $10k OTD.

Can you turn off the exhaust sound that comes from the speakers?

Sounds fun

I want this ASAP

In Australia Honda sensing was standard on release

HE SAID IT DANG

Alex I too prefer AWD over FWD. If the Golf R were the same size in the rear it would be a no brainer for me. Since the track isn’t my primary focus the refinement and features of the Golf R win out for me. The rear is just so small. I want the see the rear of the Type R up close.

If you can get around its.......unique looks, a great car. One of the most fun on the market Definitely one of the best new cars under $40k

U said the suspension eliminates torque steer but what about wheel hop? My GTI has nominal torque steer but SIGNIFICANT wheel hop under 75-100% loads. Is this present in the Type R?

GM Hyperstrut helps with torque steer is standard on Buick Envision. Why no Civic based dual axis strut on the Acura RDX?

Alex, I hope this encourages people to learn to drive #manuals. The people in Swindon, Wiltshire, England who made this Type R will soon be out of a job so I would like to take this opportunity to wish them well in their post- Honda careers.

I am shopping, and this is at the top of my list......if this came with Honda's SH-AWD, I would not even be having a debate between this and the Golf-R. The styling (especially the plastic tack-ons in the rear) is a tough pill to swallow, but I will have to get used to blindfolding myself, everytime I need to get something from the rear of the car.

Please keep this title Alex!

19:26 ouch

Here in Quebec, with snow from November through April, AWD really is a plus, but i'm torn!

so nice he said it twice

So I've learned since watching this video that Honda is going to release the Limited Edition (600 in the USA in the Phoenix Yellow color). It seems that it is a more stripped down and lighter Type R that is geared more for track enthusiasts. They are also releasing a Type R Sport which won't have the huge rear wing and will have 19" tires. Also more interior sound deadening and black seats instead of red ones. I love the way this "Sport" version looks - I'd buy it over the regular Type R, But - Honda won't be selling it in the USA

Hand Brake for some extra hooliganism..... haha haha.

I just saw a review from a person who bought a Black 2020 a few days ago and he pointed out something I never noticed before; the length of the odometer reset stick which sorely pokes out from the front instrument cluster. Has anyone else ever noticed this before, especially from the current Type R owners?

I'm not sure if this video is not edited properly, but I feel like Alex is repeating himself a lot - especially at 7:00, 7:40

I really wanna see subaru wrx in your video please!

LMAO!!! Did you guys see ALEX Point out that now we have Grills to amplify the horn sound. Make the Horn loader? HEY, I DIDN;T SEE a rear center arm rest.

19:27 . Was that gear grinding?

it starts off more than the lowest trim Stinger, and comes within spitting distance of the 3.3 V6. Unless you really want a hatch for the looks, i think the stinger's going to have a much more "luxurious" feel.

Honestly, in profile, the wing isn't that bad. It's only when you're looking at it from the rear 3/4 or directly behind that it looks crazy racer ricer nonsense.

if they had the wing delete option it would sell much better. i think i seen more of the new toyota superas than civic type R's on the road.

Just need a car like this.... Without the excessive cabin noise.... and not made by VW.

waiting for the STI review

I must be feeling younger because I’m starting to be able to imagine myself in one, but then I remind myself I’m almost 50.

Good video, but the editing is odd and leaves a lot of redundancies. Lot of repeated words because of it. But as always, the content is great :)

My favourite car is civic type r. it's my dream car

Is there a lockout feature to prevent drivers from accidentally shifting into reverse when they meant to shift into sixth gear?

Honda mentioned about slight suspension changes to the 2020 CTR. This wasn't covered in the video. Can anyone comment on that?

The type r can get 34mpg on highway if you baby it using mobile 1 full synthetic

The dealer mark up is ridiculous during this pandemic. Which is surprising during economic downturn.

When Alex says the Civic will be refreshed "soon", do we know when that'll be? 2021? '22?

I love the idea of a mega Civic but would the base Mustang or Camaro match or better the performance of a type R for about $10k (US) less?

Bro! put your hand on the fender vent and you’ll feel heat being released from engine bay 👋 they don’t release pressure they release heat 👋

"This is the car will make you feel like a super hero on the road" Cop: Hold my doughnut.

Focus RS!

I heard a second gear crunch...

19:26 Gear Grind

I wouldn’t say 300hp is even close to being insane in a fwd. only starts getting scary at 600hp plus in a civic eg bubble hatch that weighs under 2k pounds😂

OK, OK. It's an awesome vehicle. I get it. I suppose I could buy a Hot Wheels version to sit on my desk until I could become resigned to the styling. But it would take a while. I have to admit, though, that in the matte gray it looks less offensive and boy racer than in other colors. Or perhaps I'm already becoming resigned. I've owned a couple of Hondas over the years including a much loved 1994 Prelude with a VTEC engine that gave me wonderful service and total reliability over a 150K miles. All I ever did was put in fuel, change fluids, and replace tires. It ran exactly as well when I replaced it as when I bought it. In my experience Honda builds great cars, motorcycles, and lawn mowers. I trust the brand. But as far as the Type R vs the Golf R is concerned I'd probably opt for the VW for several reasons, some very personal. I own a GTI and even with an APR Stage I tune that adds about 75 HP and torque it drives beautifully and rapidly and the torque steer is relatively well controlled. I love the size of the Golf, almost a foot shorter than the Type R, that earns me a discount on Washington State ferries for which the Type R isn't eligible. (As I said it's a personal reason others don't share.) And despite the shorter length of the Golf, it has more overall (and more flexible) cargo space than the Type R. The Golf's seating, visibility, and versatility are all major benefits as far as I'm concerned. And in the messy winter weather we experience in the Pacific Northwest, the Golf R's AWD is a major plus. Finally, and this is the most personal of my priorities, the fact that the Type R lacks rear seat HVAC vents is a near deal breaker for me. Or more accurately for my large dog whose second home is the back seat of my VW. I"m willing to concede that the Type R is a rare and awesome vehicle undoubtedly destined to be a classic. But the Golf R has already earned that status. Either is a fine choice.

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If Honda set a 4wd system in this one, its weight should move around the range of weight of VW Golf R and WRX. So I wonder, how well the Type R will compete with them.

i like to think this is a competitor to the Sti, not Wrx

I like my R. You don't have to worry about it......know what I mean?

,,,i like ds car,,,but i have n money to buy dssss,,,,sana all mayaman!!!

there is still mark ups on these things? LOL

Now if it only had awd for winter driving.

dealer mark up????

They should have put at least the acura paws in this

15:55 keep your hands clean and you will never have a problem, eat food in your car then touch the wheel without washing them and it wont last more than a few years.

Hey - don’t bad mouth the Miata.

Honda is getting my attention. Although I will always wishing for a BNW, but I am no royalty or with surname like Rothschild, DuPont, or Rockefeller. Honda makes average mans sports car. The current Civic Coupe is a fine looking car at any price.

"Just under 37,000....". This is where I say, "Hello Mustang V-8"

I am 43 and bought a 2018 ctr last year. I love it. I have had Civic Si, acura rsx type s , lots of Honda Performance cars. By the time the R was offered i was 40 but it was kind of a bucket list sort of thing to own one. Year and a half later however i am getting a little tired of kids taunting me to race and even guys my age in mini vans lining up next to me lol. Its getting old fast, as am i. So i am currently trying to get some one to take over my lease but also trying to still enjoy the car.

FWD + LSD might be great on a nice dry day, but I live somewhere that gets plenty of rain. Flooring it while pulling out of a side street into flowing traffic on a wet road is not a problem in my Subaru Legacy GT. I can't say the same thing about my wife's Golf GTi.

Don't shoot me when I say an automatic Type R would be nice. Something like the new 8 speed wet DCT Veloster N.

Honda USA left money on the table by Not offering the Sport Line. Older Adults have money and are more financially stable. These older adults would have bought one Sport Line. Also, the dealership markups are hurting sales figures.

Neat car, very cool looking car. IMO it's a shame there is not an automatic option, like the 10 speed used in the accord. I would have bought one last year if they had automatic option. If they do add an auto at some point I sure hope it's not the unreliable zf9 speed or a cvt.

40 grand and STILL no heated seats? Unacceptable. Otherwise, a sweet machine.

This one comes in the same color as my basin, toilet bowl, and bath tub...good job Honda.

Makes me wonder how the Honda 10 speed auto would be in the TYPE-R, I've owed 97 and 2000 ITR's the most balance car's you will ever drive. I am considering one but i'm waiting for the 2021 Golf R just because of the automatic.

I always wondered why North America got 306 horsepower while the rest of the world got 320

No way I'm paying MSRP.

Yea, Alex, but AWD should push you better at the start. Now, for this money, I'll go with v8 Mustang

🥇👍

At similar speeds the Golf R will understeer way more than the Type R.

Am not sure potential Civic R buyers are concerned about milk container capacity.Just saying like.