The all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R is almost on sale, and we can almost tell you what it's like to drive the hot hatchback. For now, we can definitely tell you how much the Civic Type R will cost: $43,990. That's quite the leap from the old car's $38,910 base price. As before, it's the most expensive Civic Honda sells, with an MSRP roughly ten thousand bucks higher than the next-priciest 2023 Civics, but it's also the most powerful Civic you can buy. In fact, with 315 hp, it's the most powerful Honda you can purchase in America. Show More critically, the Civic Type R isn't egregiously pricier than the first-ever Toyota GR Corolla. Even though the 300-hp Corolla one-ups the Civic with standard all-wheel drive, it also is down one cylinder to the four-cylinder Honda (yep, the GR Corolla has a three-cylinder engine!) and has a tighter back seat. Hey, these are hot hatchbacks—practicality matters as much as performance! An entry-level GR Corolla Core model starts at $36,995, while the next-level-up (and one-year-only) Circuit Edition starts at $43,995, nearly the same price as the Honda. Equip the GR Corolla Core similarly to the Civic Type R (which comes essentially one way: you pick the paint color and that's it), and the price gap closes to a few thousand bucks. It does undercut the $45,385 Volkswagen Golf R, however. Standard equipment on the Honda includes a limited-slip front differential, 12-speaker Bose audio system, 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automated emergency braking. The Type R's signature blazing red front seats and carpeting are also included. Currently there is no Civic Type R to rival Toyota's wacko GR Corolla Morizo Edition that goes for $50,995 and loses its rear seats in favor of extra torque and wild Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. So far, every Civic Type R comes with four seats (there is no middle belt for the rear bench seat, so while you could technically stick someone there, it wouldn't be safe or legal) and, at least in terms of MSRP, stays under fifty grand no matter what. The Honda's rich-ish MSRP also lands it among some interesting sporty company. There is the BMW 230i coupe at $38,395, the Toyota Supra 2.0 for $44,635, and the less powerful but also way less costly Hyundai Elantra N at $33,245, all of which could plausibly be cross-shopped with the Type R. We can't wait to gather the Type R and some of these competitors and start comparing and testing them. See Full Image Gallery >> The 2023 Honda Civic Type R boasts the most power of any Civic Type R in history (so far). It's also almost the most expensive one offered in America so far. The base price is now $43,990 including the $1,095 destination charge. That's barely $1,000 less than the Type R Limited Edition, which was, as its name suggests, a highly limited edition. This also makes the Type R more expensive than its new rival, the Toyota GR Corolla. The GR Corolla starts at $36,996, and it packs all-wheel drive. For $38,175, it adds mechanical limited-slip differentials front and rear. Of course, we're expecting the Type R to be slightly lighter (the last regular Type R weighted 3,121 pounds to the base GR Corolla's 3,252), and it does have a bit more power and torque. The Type R makes 15 more horsepower (315) and 37 more pound-feet of torque (310). The Morizo Edition Corolla closes the torque gap, but the Honda still has a 15 pound-foot advantage. The Type R is still cheaper than the VW Golf R, though. The VW starts at $45,385. The Honda has just as much power and more torque than the VW, too. The VW does have all-wheel drive, but it's heavier than even the Corolla with a curb weight of 3,404 pounds.  The 2023 Civic Type R will be available at dealerships starting tomorrow. So if you have the scratch, you don't have long to wait to get one. Related video: You Might Also Like
How many 2023 Civic Type R are there?In Japan, Honda has confirmed it will limit local supply of the FL5-generation Civic Type R to 400 examples per month – equating to 4800 vehicles per year.
Will the 2023 Type R be AWD?The Type R's rev-matching six-speed manual transmission is back and improved, says Honda. The 2023 hot hatch remains front drive, too. In fact, Honda set the production-car FWD track record at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan in April 2022.
Will the 2023 Type R be automatic?A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered, and it has Honda's excellent automatic rev-matching tech -- something I personally love, but can also be turned off if you insist.
How much is the Civic Type R?The 2023 Honda Civic Type R begins rolling into U.S. dealerships tomorrow, at a retail price of $43,990, including $1,095 destination fee.
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