Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda Civic Type S

With a ride hard enough to rattle out your fillings and huge bucket seats, the Civic Type R isn't practical enough for most people. Enter the new Type S, offering a good dose of the flagship's performance with extra luxuries and the Honda's versatile five-door body.

Compromising very little on the Civic Type R's good bits, and smoothing over its impractical failings, the new Type S is a breath of fresh air for those who need a five-door body. The 2.0-litre powerplant is punchy and performance is impressive, while economy and emissions should be well within family budgets.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With a ride hard enough to rattle out your fillings and huge bucket seats, the Civic Type R isn't practical enough for most people. Enter the new Type S, offering a good dose of the flagship's performance with extra luxuries and the Honda's versatile five-door body.

From the outside, the Type S is set apart by unique 15-inch alloys, a mesh grille and rear spoiler, although our early production car was missing some details. The Type S badge appears on the tailgate, while 2.0 decals show that this Civic is the only one to get the 158bhp engine derived from the CR-V i-VTEC.

The S can't keep up with the Type R, but it still feels quick and agile on the road, with 0-62mph covered in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Peak power comes at 6,500rpm, while maximum torque isn't much lower at 5,000rpm, but in reality the engine seems strong throughout the rev range and is a joy to use. The ride has been softened, but it still boasts a sporty edge. Economy, meanwhile, puts many rivals to shame, with 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 178g/km helping to keep running costs down.

At £14,995, the new model seems expensive against the £15,995 range-topping Type R, but the extra spec should make up for it. Standard fare includes climate control, black part-leather trim and chrome fittings. Ford matches the Type S's practical five-door shape with its Focus ST170, but at £16,495 this rival looks pricey and will cost more to run than the Honda.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Honda Civic

Honda Civic

RRP £33,795Avg. savings £2,485 off RRP*Used from £22,995
Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla

RRP £22,725Avg. savings £3,513 off RRP*Used from £11,395
Honda Hr-V

Honda Hr-V

RRP £30,935Avg. savings £1,728 off RRP*Used from £18,700
Mazda 3

Mazda 3

RRP £22,065Avg. savings £2,608 off RRP*Used from £8,495
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years
MG Cyber X design render - front

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years

Boxy small SUV is gearing up for production, and our exclusive images show how the model might look
News
30 Aug 2025
New BMW i1 will cram big EV tech into a small package
BMW 1 Series render - front

New BMW i1 will cram big EV tech into a small package

The all-new BMW i1 will rival the all-electric Audi A3 and new Mercedes CLA when it arrives in 2027
News
28 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month

The Renault 5 is taking the market by storm – and at this price it’s easy to see why. It’s our Deal of the Day for August 30
News
30 Aug 2025