What are the best alternatives to the Honda Civic Type R?

The much-awaited Honda Civic Type R is now ready for reservation with only 100 units. Not lucky enough to book one? Here are the best alternatives: the Mazda MX-5, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Peugeot 208 GTi.

Only a few weeks ago, Honda Cars Philippines announced that the all-new Honda Civic Type R Price is ready for bookings in our country.

Our wishes come true. The car God has surely listened to our prayers, then decided to bestow a reward on those who’ve been waiting for this moment all year long. Guys, brace yourselves, the all-new Civic Type R is finally here.

However, only 100 units of 2017 Honda Civic Type R are available for bookings in the Philippines, which means, if you are not lucky enough, you might not have a chance to own this hot car.

That is why Philkotse would like to suggest you with three promising alternatives, namely the Mazda MX-5, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Peugeot 208 GTi. The brand-new Mazda MX-5 provides the greatest comfort of open-top driving to an ever-widening audience with one-of-a-kind fastback styling. But if you are leaning more toward to a German or French car brand, we also have the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Peugeot 208 GTi out there.

Please check the tables below for more information and pricing on these cars.

Comparison table between Honda Civic Type R and Mazda MX-5 RF

Honda Civic Type R in the Philippines and Mazda MX-5 RF

>>> Related: 2021 Honda Civic Type R: Expectations and what we know so far

Comparison table between Peugeot 208 GTI and Volkswagen GTI

Which one would you prefer: Peugeot 208 GTI or Volkswagen GTI?

Each model has its relative strengths and weaknesses. Some cars look like it will only come in automatic transmission, others can accommodate up to 5 full-size adults. The 4 above vehicles with good specification-wise, so which will you choose?

See also:

2017 Honda Civic Type R Review - Fastest FWD Production Car

Know more about Honda Civic Type R 2024

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

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 front

Honda Civic Type R side end

Honda Civic Type R rear

Honda Civic Type R taillights

Honda Civic Type R wheel

Honda Civic Type R spoiler

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.

Honda Civic Type R interior

Honda Civic Type R seats

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.

Honda Civic Type R engine

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
Roomy for a performance model
One of the fastest, most powerful FWD models available
Abundance of on-board tech
Powerful engine
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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