Comparing The Volkswagen Golf R vs The Honda Civic Type R

The hot hatchback sector has been around for a lifetime, and the grandfather of them all is the 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The memories of those early cars are great, but in terms of performance, safety and technology the current models are a world apart.

 Two of the best hot hatches right now are the Golf R and the Civic Type R, both offering performance that would have been approaching supercar levels not too long ago. Their performance levels may be similar, but there are many differences between these two cars, which we’ll explore here.

The important question is; if you’re in the market for a fast front-wheel drive hatchback how do these cars compare, and which model is right for you?

The Golf R and the Civic Type R

We’ll compare the Golf and Civic across various categories and see which is best:

– Practicality

– Performance / Engines

– Driving experience

– Quality / Technology

– Value For Money

Across each category, I’ll talk you through the good and bad points for each model, and finally what my opinion is. At the end of the article, you’ll have all the info you need to decide which model is right for you.

Let’s start!

Practicality

How do these cars compare both in road presence and interior space? Below you can find a comparison of the major stats between the Golf and the Civic:

The two largest differences between the Golf and the Honda are weight and storage space. The Civic Type R is almost 300 lbs lighter and has 50% more cargo space than the Golf. Both these vehicles aren’t designed with practicality as a focus, but the Civic takes the win here.

For driver and passenger comfort, both cars have plenty of room, so family trips are possible. I wouldn’t recommend long highway trips with 4 or 5 people in either car, but then will be ok for shorter journeys. As performance-focused models, it’s good to see that you can still use each car as a daily driver.

Performance / Engines:

Higher up your priority list will be performance, and the Golf R and Civic Type R don’t disappoint. Both cars will put a smile on any driver’s face, but which one takes the crown as ‘hottest hatch’?

Volkswagen Golf R

The 2022 Golf is slightly up on power from the previous generation and, as you can see, is a seriously fast car.   

The Golf R gets a 2.0 liter, turbocharged 4 cylinder engine, with a 0 to 60 time under 5 seconds. There is only one engine option on the current model, and it’s an incredible piece of engineering from VW. You feel connected to the road in the way a hot hatch should.

The fuel economy is impressive too, given the performance. The lower spec Golf models are a lot better at their fuel management, but even with 300+ bhp, to average 26 mpg is an achievement.

Honda Civic Type R

The engine options on the Civic Type R line up with the Golf – you get one engine choice, with a very similar spec.

This results in performance figures in the Type R that almost mirror the Golf. Slightly down on power but with increased torque, Honda claim this will do 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, just slower than its rival. This performance is helped by Honda’s trademark Vtec system, alongside a turbocharger.

The fuel economy in the Civic is also acceptable, if slightly worse than the Golf. Like the VW, you’re not going to be using either car for its fuel economy, so these figures shouldn’t matter that much.

Driving experience: 

The essence of a hot hatch is in the driving experience, and most owners will want to know how driving each car feels. These are cars designed for fun, so let’s have a look at the Golf R and Civic Type R in a bit more depth.

Golf R

The Golf is the iconic hot hatch and has a strong reputation to uphold. You’ll be happy to hear that the current generation Golf R keeps that reputation intact, but it’s not quite the best hatchback you can buy.

We’ve seen the basic performance figures, but a hot hatch should be fun at all speeds. The Golf R feels fast and focused, thanks in part to some very clever engineering from VW – you can tell this shares some DNA with the Audi RS3.

As a daily driver, the Gold R is comfortable enough, but it’s a firmer ride than some rivals. The handling at lower speeds is perfect for city driving, and it manages the power well so you’re always in control.

Overall, you could take the Golf R on a race track, and then drive it home in comfort, and it wouldn’t feel out of place doing either. It really is a polished package.

Civic Type R

For better or worse, the Civic Type R is a more focused vehicle, and more suited to fun over daily commuting. It feels tighter than the Golf, and you don’t notice the performance difference. Honda have turned the Type R into a car that’s famous for track performance, and it never fails to make you smile.   

For daily use, if you can look past the design (more on that later) it’s manageable but never great. The Type R always wants you to push it, and never feels happy to be taken on a relaxing drive. Driving in a city is fine too, although visibility is weaker than the Golf. 

Overall, the Type R is definitely the car for driving enjoyment – it’s then a question of compromise. For some owners, this is exactly what you want from a performance hatchback, but it won’t be for everyone.

Quality / Technology

In the current market, where technology and material quality are the focus for a lot of buyers, you’ll be happy to know that both the Golf R and Civic Type R are strong here. The two cars have different approaches to design though, so which one is the best?

Golf R

Volkswagen have always had an eye on the quality of their interiors, and the Golf R is no exception. All materials in the cabin are high quality, with a reasonable amount of customization options. The cabin layout is ok, although it doesn’t shout ‘performance’ like the Civic. This leads me to one of the main issues with the R…

Where the Golf R falls short is in its personality. It’s a special edition hatchback, and whether you are inside or outside the car it is difficult to tell that. For some of you that might be a bonus, but if you compare the Golf R to rivals like the Hyundai Veloster or even the Civic, it looks and feels slightly boring.

Technology in the Golf R is hit and miss. The controls and infotainment are in serious need of a respec, with slow responses and lack of features. You do get Andriod Auto and Apple Carplay though, removing some of those issues. The other good news is that there are plenty of driver assistance and safety features in the Golf R, making it one of the more advanced hatchbacks on sale right now.

Civic Type R

Where the Golf R was low on personality, the Civic Type R is the opposite. This is one of the most visually striking cars on the road right now, and in places, it does go too far. The overall styling immediately tells you that this is a hot hatch, but the excessive aerodynamics, including that spoiler, it falls short.

Interior design is the same situation. Material quality is good, and the seats are even better than the Golfs, but it’s all slightly too loud, with red accents everywhere. To give the Type R credit, it makes you feel like a racing driver, which is what these cars are all about, so I can’t criticize the styling too much.

The infotainment is ok, nothing groundbreaking, and you get Andriod Auto and Apple Carplay. There are some standard driver and parking assistance packages, but it falls slightly short of the Golf for me.

Value For Money

Having looked at the practicality, performance, and design quality of the Golf R and the Civic Type R, these two hot hatches are neck and neck. So, if you’re looking to own either of these, there is one important question we haven’t asked – what kind of value for money are you getting?

At $5,000 less for the entry-level version, the Civic Type R is better value for money if you just want the driving experience. The Golf R isn’t overly expensive at a starting price of just under $45,000 but the Honda is incredible value at under $39,000.

Add a few options and the cars become a lot closer. This is mainly a result of the ‘limited edition’ options on the Civic Type R, which are solely focused on improving track performance and in some cases making it a worse vehicle for the road. For me, it’s not worth the upgrades.

Despite the excellent value, I wouldn’t rush out to buy the Civic. Even with that performance and the $5,000 saving, the exterior design stands out too much, and the cleaner look of the Golf would be my preference. 

Finally, we are getting a new Civic Type R in 2023, so watch out for updates on how the new generation of hot hatches is shaping up when we find out more on that car very soon.

Summary

We’ve seen how the Golf R and the Civic Type R compare and where each car holds an advantage:

• For practicality, the Civic has better storage space, and both cars are strong in passenger room
• The performance of both cars is spectacular, with very little to choose between
• The driving experience in the Civic is slightly more focused, but the Golf is better for daily use
• Interior quality is better in the Golf
• Exterior design is completely different on each car

Overall if you’re looking for a fast practical hatchback, both these models are going to meet your expectations. I think the image is the point where most people will make their choice – what do you want to be seen in? 

Either way, for less than $50,000 you get a lot of driving pleasure and everyday usability, so it is difficult to go wrong.

If you’d like to see how other cars compare, check out the links below:

Comparing The BMW 3 Series vs The 4 Series

Comparing The BMW X1 vs. The X3

Comparing The BMW X4 vs The Mercedes Benz GLC Coupe

Comparing The Audi Q3 vs The BMW X3