Civic Type R EK9

The EK9 is where the Civic Type R starts. Honda launched it in Japan in August 1997, a three-door on the sixth-generation Civic and the third car to carry the badge after the NSX and the DC2 Integra. It was never sold new anywhere else, so every figure here is the Japanese-market one.

Mechanically, it is built around the B16B: a 1.6-litre twin-cam VTEC with a hand-ported head and high-compression pistons, good for 185 PS at 8,200 rpm. That is 116 PS per litre, which Honda claimed at launch as the highest of any naturally aspirated production engine. It drives through a close-ratio five-speed and a helical limited-slip differential.

The shell got as much work as the engine. It was seam-welded for stiffness, the sound deadening was left out, and the suspension is double wishbones at both ends with shorter springs, stiffer dampers and thicker anti-roll bars.

The facelift came with cars built from August 1998: a wider grille, brake cooling ducts in the bumper, and Sunlight Yellow alongside Championship White.

Where it places in the lineage: this is the template. A small high-revving engine, a manual gearbox, a proper differential and weight taken out. The EP3 that replaced it moved to a 2.0-litre K-series, six speeds and a strut front end.

• Top Gear

  Big UK road test: new Honda Civic Type R Reviews 2026 | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  A serious, highly effective cross-country device that trades traditional VTEC character for turbocharged speed and track-ready precision.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who prioritize track-day capability and raw speed over subtle styling.

  Watch out

  Excessive tyre roar · Polarizing, ostentatious exterior design · Rigid +R mode is too harsh for public roads · High seating position

  1,886 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“The end result is an engine with a far healthier mid-range, but it still pays to hang on, because the top end is savage.”
  2. handling“The traction, the speed you can carry out of corners, is outrageous.”
  3. fun to drive“It feels like a tarmac rally car, appearing to relish the punishment.”
  4. daily drivability“It does everyday stuff surprisingly well, too. True, tyre roar on coarsely surfaced motorways is excessive, but the boot is huge.”
  5. value“Aren’t people looking at £30,000 hot hatches (£32,295 with desirable GT Pack added) going to be after something a little less ostentatious?”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R review: the first UK test Reviews 2025 | Top Gear

  ◆Buy

  The new Civic Type R is a masterclass in hot hatch engineering, combining ruthless performance with newfound daily refinement.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who need a daily driver that can handle track work and rough roads.

  Watch out

  Aggressive, polarizing styling · Functional but busy aero design

  1,524 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“the FK8’s ability to put that power down and avoid torque steer means it feels much quicker and more effective than the FK2 when you want to use its performance on the road.”
  2. handling“The front end grip is tremendous, too. You can turn into corners at bafflingly high speeds, the Civic completely resisting understeer, then get on the throttle super early.”
  3. fun to drive“The new car loses none of the excitement, but it can suddenly handle whichever roads you throw at it.”
  4. daily drivability“it’s the refinement that’s most stark about this new car. It may look like a motorsport refugee, but it’ll require no change in lifestyle if it’s your only car.”

• Top Gear

  First Drive: Honda Civic 2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R GT Reviews 2026 | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  Despite reservations about its polarizing styling, the Civic Type R is a massively fast, highly capable, and genuinely exciting hot hatch that carves out its own unique niche.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who prioritize track-ready performance and mechanical engagement over understated aesthetics.

  Watch out

  Polarizing, aggressive exterior styling · Excessive tyre roar on coarse surfaces · Turbo lag at low RPM · Stiff ride quality · Limited steering wheel adjustment due to dash layout

  2,524 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“once away and blowing hard the Civic is massively fast. Massively.”
  2. handling“Combine this tautness with the controlled damping and a pukka mechanical LSD, and you have a very effective cross country device.”
  3. fun to drive“it's a very absorbing, all-consuming car to drive.”
  4. daily drivability“Apart from excessive tyre roar on coarse surfaces, it's fine on motorways and the boot is huge.”
  5. value“Most buyers in the UK... will and it looks good value adding auto lights and wipers, parking sensors, dual zone climate, Honda Connect infotainment with premium 320w audio and Garmin nav.”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R Sport Line review: the wingless, ‘subtle’ super-hatch Reviews 2026 | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  Despite the questionable 'subtle' styling tweaks, the Civic Type R remains a world-class driver's car that is now slightly more usable on public roads.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who want a world-class driving experience and prefer a slightly less aggressive aesthetic.

  Watch out

  Poor infotainment system · Clashing interior color scheme · Limited availability due to factory closure

  1,468 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“the 315bhp engine still rips hard and hoarse, the diff is eager and tenacious in its traction-seeking quest”
  2. handling“the way the chassis tackles bumps and cambers, grips like dried-on pasta sauce and yet still retains comfort and composure is freakish.”
  3. fun to drive“This generation of Type R is one of the very greatest drivers’ cars in the entire world.”
  4. daily drivability“the Sport Line’s slightly shrunken rims mean for the first time, the ultimate Type R setting is tolerable on a country lane”
  5. value“you can stomach the horrific amateur-hour dashboard and infotainment, you will not be disappointed”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R (2017-2021) Driving, Engines & Performance | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  The FK8 Civic Type R is a masterclass in front-wheel-drive performance, offering a perfect balance of track-ready precision and daily usability.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who want a high-performance daily driver that excels on a track.

  Watch out

  Performance can be difficult to fully exploit on public roads · Less playful than some rivals at low speeds

  1,100 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“with so much power – and supreme ability to put all 316bhp of it to good use – the Civic’s performance wasn't always what you’d call attainable.”
  2. handling“Grip was outrageous but not at the expense of some interactivity, and the car’s traction was unwavering.”
  3. fun to drive“The FK8 Type R was always satisfying however you chose to drive it”
  4. daily drivability“its damping always had a bit of comfort to spare.”
  5. value“It was a brilliantly judged package that would please anyone”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R review: mad 316bhp hot hatch tested Reviews 2026 | Top Gear

  ◆Buy

  The new Civic Type R is a masterclass in front-wheel-drive performance, successfully blending track-day intensity with daily usability.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who want a highly capable track car that can also handle the daily commute.

  Watch out

  Disjointed interior design · Dated infotainment graphics · Lack of pedal feel at the top of the brake travel

  1,677 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“Power is up from 306bhp to 316bhp at 6500rpm... and its 295 torques are on hand from 2500rpm.”
  2. handling“The Civic Type-R is fast, has electrifying turn-in, superb mid-corner balance and adjustability, and is wonderfully stable under high speed braking.”
  3. fun to drive“It’s massive fun, quite simply.”
  4. daily drivability“The upshot is a car that rides perfectly acceptably, whether in Comfort, the default Sport setting, or +R modes.”
  5. value“Great value too, with prices starting at £30,995”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R Interior Layout & Technology | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  The Civic Type R offers an exceptional driver-focused cockpit and impressive practicality, though it is let down by dated infotainment graphics and some cost-cutting in the rear cabin.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who need a daily driver that can also handle family duties.

  Watch out

  Dated infotainment graphics · Cheap-looking shift-up lights · Basic rear passenger area · No rear armrest

  892 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“The brakes come in for special praise here.”
  2. fun to drive“For the driver, easily the best driving environment available in any hot hatch.”
  3. daily drivability“You can’t complain about the space though, especially the generous legroom, and the boot is a decent 470 litres.”
  4. value“When you’re paying this much money, that ought to have been done better.”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R Driving, Engines & Performance | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  The Civic Type R is a masterclass in front-wheel-drive engineering, offering a perfect blend of daily comfort and track-focused precision.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who want a manual, front-drive hot hatch that is as usable on the commute as it is rewarding on a B-road.

  Watch out

  road noise at cruise · traction limitations in wet weather

  1,253 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“The sense of connection with the car, and the performance it’s capable of, are massive. It feels like a £50,000 sports car.”
  2. handling“How they’ve got the differential, steering, chassis and front Dual Axis suspension to talk so clearly and harmoniously to each other is remarkable.”
  3. fun to drive“It takes all the good bits of a front drive, manual gearbox hot hatch, maximises the reward and minimises the concern.”
  4. daily drivability“This one, as you’d expect from the more mature looks, seems slightly more refined generally though.”
  5. value“It feels like a £50,000 sports car.”

• Top Gear

  Honda Civic Type R (2017-2021) Review 2026 | Top Gear

  ◆Worth it

  The FK8 Civic Type R is a spectacular, engineer-focused hot hatch that stands as a pinnacle of its era.

  Best for

  Enthusiasts who prioritize driving precision and mechanical engagement over subtle styling.

  Watch out

  Divisive, aggressive styling · Limited Edition model is highly collectible and expensive

  1,337 wordsOpen article ↗

  Quotes worth your time

  1. performance“316bhp 2.0-litre turbo four flinging its 1.4 tonnes towards a 169mph top speed via a 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds. Proper figures, those.”
  2. handling“Incredibly sharp and precise to drive, still useable every day”
  3. fun to drive“the most beautifully wrought shift movement at any price.”
  4. daily drivability“a hot hatch of great maturity when used for sensible stuff”
  5. value“The Limited Edition cost a smidge under £40,000 when it was launched, and the UK’s 20-car allocation sold out in an hour.”

• CarscoopsMay 20, 20261,069 words

  A Former F1 Driver Just Drove Honda’s HRC Civic Type R And Called It “Way Better”

  <img width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Honda-Civic-Type-R-HRC-Concept-Video-4-copy-1024x576.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image"…

• Motor Sports edition (1998)
  Stripped base for competition use: steel wheels, no air conditioning, no power windows.
• Type Rx (1999)
  The comfort-equipped car for the final model year: CD player, power windows, electric folding mirrors, automatic air conditioning, keyless entry.

Japan-only — never sold new in any other market, so every car elsewhere is a private import and all figures are Japanese-market. Quoted kerb weight runs from 1,050 to 1,070 kg depending on year and equipment. Sound deadening was left out at the factory. Cars built from August 1998 are the facelift: a wider grille, brake cooling ducts in the front bumper, and Sunlight Yellow added to the colour list.