Reviews - Honda

Overall Rating

Type-R is a testament to Honda's motorsport expertise. A highly-strung race car, it strains at the leash on ordinary roads and offers few concessions to comfort. For speed freaks only.

• Amazing performance for the money
• Racing heritage and looks to match
• Great Honda engine, integrity and reliability

• Neither comfortable nor practical
• High insurance premiums
• Standard anti-theft protection is minimal

Type-R is a one-off, selling in limited numbers to appreciative petrol heads. It's not a pumped-up posing machine but a full-blooded racer - with the thrills and limitations implied by its niche. It's set up for speed and precision handling, with a high-revving 1.8 VTEC engine developed from the unit used in the Civic VTi. In the Integra, this feeds 190bhp to the front wheels through a close-ratio gearbox. 0-60mph acceleration comes in under seven seconds (but don't spin the wheels - it's not the best mannered car to drive in town). Clues to its racing heritage include double-wishbone independent suspension, a limited-slip differential and big ventilated disc brakes. Its responses are very sharp thanks to good grip and sensitive variable-ratio power steering. If this lights your fire, you'll forgive the Type-R's shortcomings: a hard ride, high noise levels, a sparse cabin and limited equipment - there's no standard alarm or air conditioning.

NCAP: Not tested

Best Models: Type-R

Worst Models: None

Replacement: N/A

• Fiat Coupe Turbo
• Nissan 200 SX
• Toyota Celica (1994-99)