Honda Civic Type R - long-term review - Report No:6 2023 | Top Gear
Advertisement
BBC TopGear
BBC TopGear
Advertisement feature
eBay's Guide to Thrifty Motoring
Read it all here
Tuesday 21st March
Long-term review

Honda Civic Type R - long-term review

£32,995 OTR/£32,995 as tested
Published: 02 Sep 2019
 comments
Advertisement

SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

  • SPEC

    Honda Civic Type R

  • ENGINE

    1996cc

  • BHP

    320bhp

  • MPG

    36.2mpg

  • 0-62

    5.8s

Drip Service

How would a dealer go about making your new car’s first service as painless as possible? I guess that once the car flashed up the spanner icon, you’d phone up and get a callback within the hour. You’d pick a date and time most convenient for you, not the workshop, and still be welcomed inside when you arrive half an hour early to beat the morning rush hour.

You’d be offered a comfy seat, quick wi-fi and all the complimentary coffee you can drink while your car is seen to. After an hour, a text would arrive with a video walkaround of your car explaining tyre, brake and underbody wear and tear (all fine) and after another 30 minutes, your freshly valeted car would be returned, complete with an oil change and new filters.

Advertisement - Page continues below

As you’ll have guessed, this isn’t a wish-list but a whistlestop account of how the Type R’s first service was handled by Chiswick Honda. Pretty slick stuff – especially the undercarriage walkaround – even if £261 for the service book stamp and some new oil is pretty steep.

The front tyres are coping well for their 10,200 miles, just approaching the wear indicators. But as the undriven rears are still showing 4mm, I’ll swap them front to back at the weekend, when the Civic will also be treated to a wash. That’s a more upsetting job, because the oddly soft Rallye Red paint seems vulnerable to stone chips, and the Honda’s front is slightly stubbly these days.

Advertisement - Page continues below
compare car finance
Powered byZuto Logo
more on this car
Take one for a spin or order a brochure
Powered byRegit Logo

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

BBC TopGear

Try BBC Top Gear Magazine

Get your first 5 issues for £5
subscribe