Is it Posh?
It's much nicer inside than the old car, and it's important as bits feel solid and well-made.
It's not quite as posh as anAudior aVW Golf, but, then, its performance is a lot better on the whole as well; you'll still find some hard plastics if you go looking, but the bits you touch all the time feel top-notch to us which we really like.
Immersive Cabin Experience
Here, you settle into the sculpted, figure-hugging racing seats and take in the harmonious and uncluttered interior as you do so.
Everything has just been designed to ensure you are totally immersed in the driving experience that is clear to see, with controls that are thoughtfully arranged, intuitively positioned and just beautifully made.
You will also be surrounded by high levels of finish and exceptional attention to detail, which is nice to see as well, all from its distinctive honeycomb dashboard design and tactile gear knob to its sports pedals and more.
As a result, the Type R’s performance-focused cockpit is also complemented by a large boot with up to 1,212 litres capacity with the rear seats down as well - more on that shortly.
Front Dash
For instance, when you get inside the Type R, the first thing that hits you is the sheer amount of red.
The carpets and seats are bright red, and it immediately feels like you’re in something special - not just anormal Civic hybridat all.
The dashboard itself is a simple, clean, and sensible layout, which we really like, and it has a very horizontal design that just makes the cabin feel wide, all while it is covered in a nice soft-touch material.
The standout feature, though, is the metal honeycomb mesh that runs right across the dash, cleverly hiding the air vents.
Overall, it just looks fantastic – really smart and a bit different from what you see in other cars.
Infotainment System and Driver's Cluster
Sitting on top of the dash is also a 9-inch touchscreen for all your media and sat-nav needs as well.
Overall, it's a much better system than Honda used to make; it's clearer, quicker, and thankfully has a proper volume knob which is awesome to see.
It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can just plug your phone in and use your own apps, which is what most of us do anyway, which is good to see.
In front of the driver, you then get a digital screen instead of traditional dials, and in normal driving modes, it's also clear and easy to read as well which we really liked - but when you hit the '+R' button, this is where it sets itself apart, as the whole display changes to a racing car-style layout with a big rev counter bar across the top - it really is a great bit of theatre that impressed us as well, a nice touch to get you in the right frame of mind.
Access Your Driving Data Easily
The ability to access data clearly and quickly is also vital.
That’s why the new Type R’s 10.2” digital multi-information display tells you precisely what you need to know when you need to know it.
A clever Honda LogR performance data logger further improves your driving experience here as well by monitoring and recording on-track performance and then has the ability to give you an in-depth analysis of the centrally mounted 9” Honda CONNECT infotainment screen.
When you are not listening to the soundtrack of the engine, you can also really easily enjoy your own playlists thanks to the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration as well, with playback over the eight built-in speakers throughout the cabin.
Then naturally, wireless phone charging is also fitted as standard and able to accommodate the largest of devices here as well.
A Driver-Focused Cockpit
The FL5 Type R’s interior is a significant upgrade from its previous generation, giving you a perfect blend of race-car purpose with improved daily usability.
Overall, the front cockpit is just an immersive space that you will want to be in that is designed around one person - you, the driver.
Front Seats
However, the front seats are the main event in our view.
They are fantastic, deep bucket seats that are finished in a bright red, suede-like material that grips you brilliantly.
They look amazing and are also surprisingly comfortable as well, even on a long journey, which is good to see.
They also hold you in place perfectly, as you would expect, when you're going around corners quickly, so you're not sliding about.
Overall, you will sit nice and low in them, which really just adds to the sporty feel you expect from this car.
Honestly, they are some of the best seats you’ll find in any performance car at any price, in our opinion.
Rear Seats
In the back, the good news is that because this is based on a normal family hatchback, there's actually a decent amount of legroom and headroom for two adults.
Where the middle seat would be, you get a plastic tray with two cupholders instead, which is fine for mates on a short trip.
The two back seats are also finished in the same black material as the front ones as well but with red seatbelts to help keep things looking sporty here as well.
Cabin Materials and Ambience
The atmosphere inside is also a pure sporting theatre.
For instance, here, the tactile feel of the suede-like Alcantara on the steering wheel provides you with an excellent grip, while the cold, solid aluminium of the teardrop gear knob just feels fantastic in your hand as well.
This is then supported well, with its deep, vibrant red on the heavily bolstered seats and the carpets, which are both unapologetically bold - and we really like it.
This is then contrasted well with subtle white ambient lighting and some neat red stitching throughout the cabin, creating an environment that just feels special and focused; whether you're on a track or just popping to the shops, it just doesn't matter.
Comfort
For such a high-performance car, it's more comfortable than you might and that we thought we would expect.
For instance, here it is clear that Honda has fitted it with adaptive suspension, which means you can switch it to 'Comfort' mode when you need a bit more of a relaxed drive.
This then softens things up enough to take the edge off our bumpy British roads, so it doesn't shake your bones to bits on the way to the shops.
That said, it's still a firm car – and you'll always know you're in a Type R - that is clear.
It can also be quite noisy on the motorway with a fair bit of road noise from the wide tyres, so you might have to turn the radio up a bit on a long trip, but, on the whole, it's not a deal breaker in any way - especially when you consider the advantages that the wide tyres are designed for and give you.
Boot
One of the best things about the Type R, for the daily driver side of things, is that it's still a practical hatchback.
Here, for instance, you get a really good-sized boot – 410 litres, to be exact.
That’s bigger than what you get in a VW Golf R or an Audi S3.
Due to this, it’s more than big enough for the weekly shop, a couple of suitcases for a holiday, or even a set of spare wheels if you’re heading to a track day, for instance.
| Vehicle |
Boot Space |
| Honda Civic Type R (FL5) |
410 Litres |
| Volkswagen Golf R |
341 Litres |
| Audi S3 |
325 Litres |
| Toyota GR Yaris |
174 Litres |
| Hyundai i30 N Performance |
371 Litres |
Does the Civic Type R have a good sound system?
The latest FL5 model features a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers, and it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to not only give you excellent audio quality but also the ability to connect straight to your mobile device to stream your music as well.