It has been confirmed that the Toyota GR Yaris is indeed coming to the Philippines this year. In fact, there are already two posts on the official Toyota Motor Philippines Facebook page declaring its impending arrival. The first one shows a short video of the GR Yaris, performing power slides on a desert.
We also talked about what you can expect from this very hot hatch in terms of engine specifications, features, etc. To review, it uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-3 engine capable of making up to 257 horsepower and 360 Nm. The said engine is mated to a five-speed intelligent manual transmission. Combined with its very light overall weight of 1,280 kg, we can expect this car to be very agile.
The all-wheel-drive, 1.9-liter turbo Toyota GR Yaris
To this end, people have been comparing the Toyota GR Yaris with the Honda Civic Type R, the high-performance version of the famous Civic. Of note, the Civic Type R’s inline-4 can produce up to 306 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. It uses a six-speed manual. It is, however, considerably heavier than the GR Yaris with its curb weight of 1,407 kg.
In the UK market where the GR Yaris is already available, Carwow, a car review channel, pitted the Toyota-made hot hatch against the larger Honda-made sports car in a drag race. Of note, the track was wet when they filmed the video.
As you can see from the video, the GR Yaris defeated the Civic Type R from a standstill. On the rolling start, however, the Civic Type R gained an advantage.
Note that on the first rolling start race, they started off by putting the cars in comfort mode then shifting to sport mode when the race was initiated. On the second rolling race, they started off with the car’s respective sport modes. On this occasion, the GR Yaris actually kept up good but was still beaten by the Civic.
An Australian Youtube channel called Motor, in turn raced the GR Yaris against the Honda Civic Type R on a dry track. Skip to the 8:00 mark to view the drag race.
>>> Related: Watch: Toyota GR Yaris proves its mettle in the moose test
Yaris GR vs Civic Type R: which is faster at the drag strip!? | MOTOR
As you saw from both videos, the GR Yaris defeated the Honda Civic Type R soundly save for Carwow’s rolling start drag races. As for the regular from-the-line start drag races, the GR Yaris got off the starting line much faster and has managed to maintain a considerable lead.
How did this happen? Well, the GR Yaris is an all-wheel-drive vehicle. As such, we think that it was able to put down power more evenly than the front-wheel-drive only Civic Type R. Moreover, the GR Yaris is significantly lighter than the Honda-made sports car.
The front-wheel-drive, 2.0-liter Honda Civic Type R
To further corroborate the results of those aforementioned races, note that the GR Yaris’ official 0-100 kph time is at 5.0 seconds. That’s a bit faster than the official Honda Civic Type R’s 0-100 kph time of 5.9 seconds. In motorsport, especially in drag racing, even mere milliseconds can mean a lot.
To this end, it looks like the Toyota GR Yaris can definitely compete against the Honda Civic Type R.
Moreover, this kind of performance that the GR Yaris has shown will definitely catch the attention of local racers, who will eventually make great use of the said car in their respective racing events. We daresay that’s all the more reason to get excited about this upcoming hot hatch.
For more automotive industry news, keep it here on Philkotse.com.
Know more about Honda Civic Type R 2024
The 2025 Honda Civic Type R is a high-performance, compact, five-seater, front-wheel-drive liftback. In the Philippine market, it carries a standard retail price of Php 3,870,000.
Under the hood of the Civic Type R is a 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline turbocharged engine that can make up to 316 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. The said engine is then paired with a six-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching.
Size-wise, the latest version of the Civic Type R is 4,593mm long, 1,890mm wide, and 1,407mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,735mm and a ground clearance of 123mm.
Locally, the Honda Civic Type R competes against the Subaru WRX, Dodge Charger, Lexus ES, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz CLA, among others.
>>> New and used Honda Civic Type R 2025 for sale in the Philippines
Honda Civic Type R Launch
The sixth-generation 2023 Honda Civic Type R was initially introduced in July 2022. It then saw an initial release in its home country of Japan. It then reached the Philippine market in January 2023, where it retails at Php 3.880 million. It is sold in limited numbers locally.
Honda Civic Type R Exterior
The all-new Honda Civic Type R comes with a number of exterior features that make it a potent performer on the track and the road. For the former, it gets a set of functional vents, a honeycomb grille, wider fenders, and a rear wing. The rear also gets a triple-tip exhaust, as well as a Type R rear diffuser.
Lighting for the Civic Type R includes automatic LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, LED side turn signal lights, and power-adjustable and power-folding side mirrors, among others.
Honda Civic Type R Interior
Inside the Civic Type R are red bucket seats which come with red Honda badges, and red floor mats. Up to five can be seated, and all are kept cool by an automatic air-conditioning system.
The driver then gets a push-to-start button with smart entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, and a tilt & telescopic steering column, among others.
Technology & Safety Features
The highlight of the Civic Type R’s on-board tech is the Honda LogR. This is the car’s datalogger which records one’s performance on the track. It keeps tabs on a driver’s lap time and other relevant driving data.
Safety-wise, the Civic Type R is also comprehensive. Present on the said model is the Honda Sensing driver assist system which includes adaptive cruise control, low speed follow, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, and automatic high beams.
Keep everyone entertained aboard the Civic Type R a nine-inch touchscreen headunit with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has Bluetooth and USB connectivity. A wireless smartphone charger is also available.
Platform & Chassis
The 2025 Honda Civic Type R uses a front-wheel-drive, front-engine layout. Up front is a dual-axis strut suspension system, while the rear uses a multi-link suspension. Braking is then handled by Brembo 350mm ventilated disc brakes for the front, and 305mm disc brakes for the rear. It also gets an electronic parking brake with an auto brake hold.
Engine & Drivetrain
Under the hood of the Honda Civic Type R is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine. Power is sent to its front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that comes with a built-in rev-matching system.
At the maximum, this engine can make up to 316 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Managing that power are four drive modes. There’s Comfort, Individual, Sport, and +R.
There are only two available colors for the Philippine-spec 2025 Honda Civic Type R. There’s the Civic Type R’s signature Championship White, and the other is Racing Blue.
The Honda Civic Type R is officially the most powerful front-wheel-drive liftback/hatch in the Philippine market. So in that niche, it is unmatched. That said, it is also on-par with a number of coupes and sedans in the local scene when it comes to track performance. This Honda, however, has an edge over plenty of other sports cars as it has a roomy interior that’s still practical for daily use.
Honda Civic Type R 2025 Price List
| Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| Honda Civic Type R 2.0 MT Turbo | ₱3,870,000 |
Honda Civic Type R Pros & Cons
Pros
-
Attractive, yet subtle styling
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Roomy for a performance model
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One of the fastest, most powerful FWD models available
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Abundance of on-board tech
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Powerful engine
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One of the few performance models that come with a manual gearbox
Cons
- Sold in limited numbers
Honda Civic Type R FAQs
1. How much does a Honda Civic Type R cost?
In the Philippines, the price of Honda Civic is priced at P3,870,000 with only one model available.
2. Is the Honda Civic Type R fuel efficient?
The Honda Civic Type R is a high-performance sports car, and as such, it prioritizes performance over fuel efficiency. The EPA rates the Honda Civic Type R at 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
3. What makes the Civic Type R so fast?
The Civic Type R is fast due to its turbocharged engine and lightweight chassis.
4. What does Type R stand for?
The "Type R" badge on Honda vehicles stands for "Type Racing." It is a high-performance variant of certain Honda models that are designed and engineered for racing and performance enthusiasts.
5. Does Type R have VTEC?
Yes, the Honda Civic Type R is equipped with Honda's VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technology.
₱ 3,880,000
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