How the Honda Civic Type R Boosts the Fun Factor

Interested in treating yourself to a fun performance vehicle that doesn’t come with the luxury price tag of most track-ready models? You may have already begun searching for a Honda Civic Type R for sale. It’s a performance hatchback with its roots in the popular Civic but with performance features that make it ready for thrill-seekers and road rebels. The Civic Type R was designed to give you a heart-pounding behind-the-wheel experience and that exhilarating and intimate connection with the road that only a true performance vehicle can.

 

We have the 2024 Honda Civic Type R here at Ralph Honda and can’t wait to show it to you! We won’t go over all of the fun performance-enhancing features today because there are simply too many of them. However, we will cover some of our favorites that we think will make you want to get to know the vehicle better. From the four-mode drive system to the Honda LogR datalogger, this car is filled with unique features that you are sure to enjoy. Strap in, and let’s dive in!

One thing our customers consistently love about the Honda Civic Type R is its versatility. Remember, it is a sibling of the Civic, a commuter-friendly, everyday driver. It wouldn’t belong in that family if it wasn’t ready for both performance and everyday driving. And it is, thanks to its four-mode drive system.

 

This system’s modes are Comfort, Sport, +R, and Individual. Let’s start with Comfort. When you set your Civic Type R to this mode, it will automatically soften the dampers and smooth out the throttle response. The rev-match feature will also work to allow for gentler downshifts, and the engine sounds will quiet down so you can stay on good terms with your neighbors. We know that as much as you’d like to spend all day, every day on the track, you probably have other places to go that require you to navigate normal streets with things like stop signs and crosswalks. So when it’s time to leave playtime behind for a bit, Comfort mode has you covered for everyday driving scenarios.

 

Now, let’s look at Sport mode. This mode will make those dampers nice and firm, and the throttle response will be strong. You get a nice sporty engine sound, and the rev-match system will make downshifts faster. So what about +R mode? If you want to experience the full potential of this vehicle, you’ll switch it to +R mode. It basically amplifies everything you saw in Sport mode. The dampers get even firmer, steering responsiveness is even better, throttle response is just about instant, and the sound of the engine tops out.

 

Finally, there’s Individual mode. This mode allows you to customize the driving dynamics of the Civic Type R, pulling settings from Comfort, Sport, and +R. If none of those have the exact dynamics you crave, you can create your own combination. The four-mode system is great if the freedom to drive in a way that matches your mood is what you’re after. There are a total of 486 possible combinations in Individual mode, so you should never run out of combinations to explore.

Alright, now let’s get into some of the physical parts and mechanics. When it comes to true track driving, there are three things that matter: command, command, and command. Honda designed the Civic Type R with features that help you push the vehicle to the limits while remaining in control. The first is the Brembo front brake calipers. These calipers force the brake pads against the rotor to bring the vehicle to a stop, and, in true Brembo fashion, they do it better than pretty much any other brand on the market. So you can go from high speeds to zero in an instant. Brembo arguably makes the best performance brakes and associated parts. You can find them on some of the most high-end performance vehicles in the world, and with the Honda Civic Type R, you can get them without the high-end price tag.

 

Then, there is a limited-slip differential. It reduces front-wheel slippage for more controlled power delivery when you’re going fast (which we imagine you’ll be doing plenty) and taking corners. Finally, there are Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. They’re extra-wide to provide exceptional grip when cornering (and a cool-looking aggressive stance, if we do say so ourselves). The larger tire surface helps the vehicle make maximum contact with the ground for improved traction.

At this point, you probably have little doubt that you’ll have the time of your life behind the wheel of the Civic Type R. Now, would you like to know exactly how you’re driving and work on those lap times? We thought you might—so did Honda, which is why it made the Honda LogR datalogger. This app is designed to record your driving and help you hone your skills on the track.

 

The Honda LogR datalogger is built into the Civic Type R, so it can access information about your performance from the onboard computer. It can measure and report all sorts of performance metrics, which you’ll find on your touchscreen. The G-meter shows G-forces for accelerating, braking, and cornering. The system also shows your oil and coolant temperatures, oil pressure, and other data that informs you of when it’s time to visit our service center (or at least take a break and let your vehicle cool down).

 

When you’re done driving, you can go into the data log and see color-coded tracing of each lap. Designed to promote smoother driving, the system uses green, yellow, and red to denote your progress through each lap. The Auto Score feature will even give you a score for the smoothness of your driving and tell you how you compare to professionals. If you’re serious about improving your track driving, this feature is a ton of fun to explore.

Okay, speed demons, it’s time to get behind the wheel of the Honda Civic Type R. We know that it will meet your needs for performance-boosting features. If you’ve never been in one before, it will make you completely rethink what you know about the Civic nameplate. The Type R is the rebellious sibling of the practical Civic. We have it and would love to take you for a test drive in it (really, it’s a treat to tear down the street in this car). If you want to work with a dealership that knows exactly how every fun feature of this performance hatchback works, pay us a visit. Our informed team can give you a tour of the features we didn’t cover today.

 

With the Civic Type R, Honda makes breathtaking performance available to those who aren’t shopping with a luxury budget. We love how Honda consistently delivers innovation and inspired design to shoppers with a range of budgets and needs, and we know you’ll love what the Civic Type R has in store for you! Visit us today to explore these features for yourself, or get to know the others we didn’t cover here today.