The Civic Type R and the Civic Si are particularly impressive trims of the Honda Civic and are worthy of picking out from the rest of the lineup because they bear such a close comparison.
The most significant difference between the Honda Type R and the Honda Civic Si is that the Type R is a five-door hatchback, while the Civic Si is a sedan. Besides this, they cover fairly similar ground. To help you decide which of these excellent vehicles is right for you, we at Ciocca Honda of York, Pennsylvania, have compiled this short guide to give you an idea of what you can expect from each.
Engine and Performance
The 2023 Civic Type R offers a 2.0L turbocharged engine that puts out 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the Civic Si has a 1.5L turbocharged engine, offering 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Both offer a six-speed manual transmission and are front-wheel drive.
But before you write off the Civic Si as the weaker model, note that the power of both cars is at the upper end of what's usually needed for most uses, and you can have a lot of fun with 200 horsepower. However, if it's power you really want, the Type R wins in this department.
Fuel economy is where some divisions arise: the Civic Si has 27 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway, while these ratings are lower for the Type R, which gets 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. All that power is wasted if you don't make good use of it, and you'll end up paying for it at the pump.
Both vehicles offer the same size pump at 12.4 gallons. The cruising range on the Civic Si is 334.8/458.8 miles on the city/highway compared with 272.8/347.2 miles on the Type R, so you'll find yourself making more stops with the Type R.
Is the Civic Si Faster Than the Type R?
At the end of the day, speed is a key differentiator between the two vehicles. The Civic Si accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, but the Civic Type R is generally faster, reaching the same speed in just 5 seconds. If speed is your thing, you'll likely be much better off with a Type R, but it's a good idea to make sure you'll use it; there's nothing worse than being stuck in city traffic with a car that's made for the open road, with all that power and no opportunity to let it go.
Interior DesignÂ
The Type R is striking in appearance, with its red suede seats and red accents on the steering wheel. If this seems like too much red, the Si gives you a little less in its red accents on an otherwise black cover. However, it depends on personal taste: you could find the brightness of the interior of the Type R appealing when compared with the typical dullness of a black design, or you may be satisfied with the safety and comfort of the more typical interior design of the Civic Si.Â
Both cars offer slightly different seating arrangements. The Type R is a four-seater against the Civic Si's five. However, in terms of cargo space, the Type R wins out over the Civic Si if you need the room. It gives you 24.5 cubic feet of room with the rear seats folded compared with 14.7 cubic feet of space in the Civic Si. So really, it's a case of whether you need to carry more things or more people on occasion. Front legroom is 42.3 inches and rear legroom is 37.4 inches on both, so comfort in this area is equivalent.Â
In terms of technology, there isn't a great difference between the two. Both vehicles have HD radio, Bluetooth connection, satellite radio, smart device integration, and an MP3 player as standard; the key difference here is that the Civic Si has a premium sound system â a 12-speaker Bose audio system, no less â which isn't included in the specs on the Type R. The Type R's sound system is relatively strong, though there isn't much in it.
Both models have the same 9.0-inch touch screen placed firmly in the center of the dashboard and are equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's also keyless entry, multi-zone A/C, and keyless start on both, but the Civic Si has heated front seats that aren't available on the Type R. The Type R offers a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging, so there are some slight advantages over the Civic Si in this area.
Which Is Better: The Type R or the Civic Si?
At the end of the day, you'll want to know which vehicle is better overall. The Type R has a larger cargo space and is a more powerful car, but this makes it less efficient. The Civic Si offers more space for passengers and is less powerful but consequently more efficient. Apart from this, they're fairly evenly matched. If we had to choose, we might go for the Type R because the extra space and power are usually a worthwhile investment.
Is Buying a Honda Civic Worth It?
The Civic is a good car, and the key difference here is between the Civic Si at an MSRP of $28,100 and the Type R at $42,895. In general, you get a significant amount of scope with the Honda Civic, so it's worth comparing these models. This means that for the Civic Si and Type R, you can probably find something that balances the specs of these models, so it's always worth a closer look.
The Honda Civic at Ciocca Honda of York
If your interest is piqued and you'd like to know more, we'd love to hear from you. As you can tell from this article, we're big fans of both the Civic Si and Type R and would love to show you more. Why not check out what's available on our online inventory? If you see anything you like or would like to know more, drop us a line at Ciocca Honda of York. We'd be delighted to help.
