2018 Civic Type-R Touring comes to dealers first week in November

The second model year production run of the first Civic to ever wear the Type-R designation in the United States comes to dealerships this week. How many, how much does it cost, and what’s changed for 2018?

Introduced to North America back in June of 2017, Honda Civic Type-R remains a hot topic. In-fact, for Honda - Torque News, Civic Type-R was the most read topic in 2016 and 2017 for good reason; Civic Type-R is the most affordable street legal, track-ready, sport hatch available to hot-hatch enthusiasts in Canada and the U.S..

There’s a bit more to Civic Type-R then first greets the eye or translates off of a specification sheet. Civic Type-R just happens to be exceptionally comfortable to drive on the street, while affording the utility of a 4-door near midsize hatchback. Civic Type-R is designated as a touring car by Honda, and that it does very well. Nonetheless, we head to the track with Civic Type-R.

In the case of Civic Type-R, as is, is more than good enough

2018 Civic Type-R comes to Honda dealers this week effectively unchanged from its 2017 specification. Honda calls Civic Type-R “ radical and rapid,” it can be. Powered by Honda’s made in America 2.0 liter DOHC, direct injected, turbocharged VTEC 4 cylinder Earth Dreams gasoline engine, 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft torque work in tandem with a short-throw 6 speed manual transmission and limited slip differential, to present an unprecedented street or race track driving experience. Civic Type-R comes to 2017 SEMA Show Las Vegas.

Thanks to an exceedingly comfortable high bolstered ballistic fabric, memory-foam-like driver and front passenger bucket seat, track-tested advanced rigid frame construction, and on-the-fly 3 drive mode selection and automated-adaptive dampening, 2018 Civic Type-R presents a very refined drive and ride experience, it is in essence, a grand touring hatchback. I spend a week in the seat of Civic Type-R on the road to the Redwoods.

2018 Civic Type-R: What you see is what you get

Frankly, on first drive, we were a bit blown away by how civilized Civic type-R is when driven on a long road trip. 2018 Civic Type-R comes to market this month with a beginning MSRP of $34,100 (excluding $890 transfer fee, + applicable taxes and fees.) There is one all-inclusive trim level,Touring, with the only P.O.S. option being summer tires -- that’s it.

Over the past few months, Torque News received news of dealership price gouging, could be! With the new model year comes a reported 5,000 unit production run. This should reduce if not eliminate Civic Type-R price speculation, we’ll see. As priced I find 2018 Civic Type-R to be a measurable long term sport-hatch purchase and ownership value. I recommend Civic type-R to the driving enthusiast that prefers the look and utility of a 4-door hatchback.