There's still a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a setup that's more than enough to motivate a 3,100-pound car. In the Civic Type R's case not much has changed for 2020. ScarfingĪ land of painfully straight roads, southeastern Michigan is a fine place to test a car's acceleration. This is unquestionably a car that works in daily life (which is a prerequisite of a hot hatch, after all). In fact, set to the relaxed mode, the Type R does a fair impression of its more relaxed siblings. It's not that the default Sport or the hardcore R mode is too severe – in fact, even on Michigan's pockmarked roads, the overall level of composure is far better than I’d expect of a car with huge 20-inch wheels and 30-series tires. As for the stopping power of the four-piston Brembo front calipers, the setup can easily bring all 3,121 pounds of hot hatchback to a halt.īut despite all these dynamic enhancements, I spent the bulk of the drive in Comfort mode. Pedal feel is excellent – it's not heavy but is still easy to modulate. Honda’s upgraded brakes look good on paper, but good luck feeling the difference on anything outside of a racetrack, where the two-piece rotors show off the design's improved heat dissipation. The 2020 Type R remains effortlessly engaging, encouraging its driver to push and prod the forgiving chassis' limits. The weighting is natural and builds beautifully as the steering angle increases. Improvements to the steering complement this character, with new bushings and ball joints that enhance feedback. Despite the front-wheel-drive layout, which features a 62/39 weight distribution, the Type R is impressively neutral, preferring precise inputs rather than the driver simply grabbing it by the scruff of the neck. The shifter boot also features the material.īut it's also one that rewards careful driving. Honda isn't currently offering the old leather-wrapped steering wheel, so if you want a 2020, you're getting the suede-like materials. I dig the new Alcantara steering wheel and its fetching red and black color scheme, but I also realize there's a rather vocal contingent of the market that can't stand Alcantara (weirdos of every sort exist). Honda made some notable updates to the Civic's interior. Honda hasn't tweaked the engine – it still produces 306 horsepower – but the Type R is in a better place to control that straight-line performance with new two-piece brake rotors and improved pads. Under that freshened skin sits a revised suspension with new dampers and firmer rear bushings. The cabin features a new Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and a gorgeous aluminum gear knob, which sits atop a revised shifter with shorter throws. Which still isn't great.⠀ Honda Civic Type R Vs. This means that if we rotate our tires-something we're not used to doing on high-performance cars, because they're typically different sizes front and rear-we should be able to coax 15,000 miles out of them. The Type R's rear tires, which have now been rotated to the front, are only about half worn. Our Camaro SS, Shelby GT350, and Porsche 718 Boxster S went 20,000 miles before needing new rear tires, and the BMW M2 and Chevy Corvette, 25,000 miles.īut we aren't totally free of blame here, either. ![]() Perusing our long-term files, the Type R is easily the most profligate tire burner. ![]() Tellingly, there's no treadwear warranty on the Continentals, whereas the Michelins have a 30,000-mile guarantee. But they may not perform as well, which is always the trade-off. ![]() This reminded us of the outcry following the launch of the original NSX in the early 1990s, where owners were burning through tires between 30 miles and which led to a class-action lawsuit and new rear-alignment settings for the mid-engined super coupe.Ĭomparing sidewall treadwear ratings of the Contis against those of its peers, the SportContact 6's are rated at 240 versus 300 for Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S, a rough implication that the Michelins could last up to 25 percent longer. The reason both front tires weren't worn out is the fact that the other front tire-and that wheel-had already been replaced at 4300 miles after a pothole KO'd that assembly on the way back from visiting Peter Cunningham's rabid Honda collection in Wisconsin. Our 8873-mile, worn-out Continental SportContact 6.
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