How Good Is The New Type R? We Compare It Against The Old Model

FK8 for the win, if you want a Type R....go all out or go fucken home!!! Im tired of people saying the styling is outragous. Go fucken buy a regular Civic EX if you want regular styling.

Got a FL5, but couldn't sell my FK8 yet. Will keep both as long as I remain undecided. Stylingwise I find both legitimate derivatives from their respective base Civics: the FK8 has more daring, unique lines which could only have been worked on by adding equally daring fenders (front), fender extensions (rear), hood and wing. It is consistent. As is the FL5, derived from a much cleaner base-car: smooth, integrated wide fenders were the only option here, necessitating the special rear doors (and, in consequence, higher cost). The cleaner front and the optically reduced rear wing are logical and consistent conclusions of this. Honda knew they had to improve cooling, and the larger engine-bay (necessitated by the base hybrid-setup) helps here. For me, the FK8 looks more like a sportscar: shorter overhangs, a rising side-line, the visible hood-scoop (unlike the invisible heat-extractor on the FL5), and also the cockpit, which is not better, but has less of a regular-car feel to it. Performance-wise, the comparison is mixed: laterally, the FL5 is better. 4x20 mm more (and better) rubber is the key ingredient, and we must acknowledge Honda's commitment to transmitting the bigger forces through better suspension components, firmer damping, a stiffer body, and a more rigid steering rack through the chassis all the way to the steering wheel. Longitudinally, weight, gearing, aerodynamics and engine-differences seem to pretty much cancel each other out. The FK8 feels punchier in acceleration from 2nd gear, on an empty Autobahn, the FL5 has more RPM at its disposal, and a slight aerodynamic edge. In essence, the cars' looks are deceiving: the FL5 looks more civil, but is the more radical racer with less daily-driving comfort. The more aggressive-looking FK8 is actually more comfortable, and less trackable. This only makes sense from a historical viewpoint: the preceding FK2 lacked comfort-mode and Honda wanted to widen the car's appeal; the FL5 marks an end-point which prohibited any further dilution of the "race-car for the road"-concept.

A lot of misinformation here when you compared the two cars's hoods and acceleration. The hood is also aluminum on the FK8, if you woud've taken your time to put a magnet on it you'll see that it won't stick. Also, the FK8 gaps the F5 once it hits 3rd-4th gear on a roll race. I feel like this review is clouded with the new car feel. The FK8 and the FL5 literally feel very identical. Also, fun fact, when the FK8 set the Nurburgring record back in 2017, the only modification it did to get that record was removing the rear seats and putting a floating cage for safety and to compensate weight lost by removing the seats, and stickier tires. The FL5 set the fastest record recently by removing the head unit, removing the AC unit, removing power windows, having a tune that pushes more boost, and having a shorter gear ratio. Honda was caught doing this and said they are going to make this FL5 a special edition only available in Europe called "Type R-S" Too much cheating for me to even consider the FL5 legendary.

The FK8 is faster when both are running the same tire and wheel set up, this has been proven. Mainly because of how the gearing works differently in both cars. The FL5 is also 200LB's heavier.

Fk8 looks like a more track focused car, people just want to make the FL5 superior but he who has these know these cars including the acura are the same 😂

fk8 seems more noticeable on the road, fl5 stock seems to go under the radar a bit, especially in white , grey black stock

The FL5 is a nicer car than the FK8. The interior has a more nostalgic TypeR feel to it, plus individual mode is amzing, not to mention the integrated wide fenders. Alot of people in the comments butt-hurt and shouldnt be, the FK8 is awesome, just not as nice as the FL5. I even like the FL5 more than the Integra type S.

Great walk around ! Love my FL5 !!👍🏻👊🏻

A bit pity to Civic FK2R bcoz it becomes "underrated" Type-R Turbo line-up in Malaysia nowadays...😥

FK8 bonnet is also aluminium.

2021 fk8 owner here. You guys can have the fl5 hahahaha…

Not 100% but I think he loves the FL5😂. Love mine !

gorgeus review

'Ever want to know where your fat giggles? Drive a Civic Type R" - Car and Driver

Ahahaha the comment about the left hand holding the girls head made me chuckle. On spot

Hate the look of FL5 thinking of getting a FK8 soon!

Just buy both lo,we got member owning both cars.

Fk8 and fl5 both looks great, but to me the best civic type r always be fd2r…

Why does it feel like the designer of the old civic has been paid well than the designer of the new civic. I feel as if the new civics design is a step BACK from the old one. 😢

The new design is legitimately sporty the old design is too over the top