Honda Civic Type R vs Audi RS3 | £50k Hot Hatch Battle

So… which car would you choose?

Coming from an RS3 owner, the civic is a great car but you can't compare the two. They are two different cars. The RS3 is a bully on the street. The civic is a cornering masterpiece. If I could I would own both. Great video 👍

Your analogy between the Lotus Evora and the Civic is spot on. I drove an Evora for 9 years and traded it in for a Civic FK8 Type R because my kids became to big to fit in the back of the Evora. Nobody could understand my move but for me, in terms of driving feel, it was a logical step.

On road, there is a 30 thousand dollar price difference between the two in Australia. Nobody is cross shopping these two down here.

I've just taken delivery of a new Civic Type R....having also had a couple of the older versions previously. It is night and day a better and phenomenal car....an amazing all rounder, and I've owned an amazing bunch of cars in my time. Just annoys me people keep going on about the price.......EVERY new car is expensive these days, all due to rules and regulations....but at least the Type R pretty much just comes in one spec....with everything on it.....try spec'ing an RS3 or Golf R or M135i etc....and add all the extras you really want....and then you'll see what an actual bargain the Type R is!

Great review. Really weighing the pros and cons and the Civic looks amazing in that blue.

Fantastic review, James. The only problem with the Type R is you can't buy one. Every dealer I've spoken to have a waiting list, and each dealer has a small allocation of about 3 cars per year at the moment, and you have no influence over the colour. So, for now, only the lucky few can even get hold of one. For the rest of us, we can just dream...

I would get the RS3, but my heart has always been with Honda. So ideally I would have both, but if I needed to choose, the RS3 in a heartbeat. It’s my next car 🙌🏽

In Australia on road cost for a Honda Civic Type R is $72,600. Audi RS 3 a lot more. Also a huge point of difference apart from all you mentioned in the simple fact that one is a sublime manual whereas the other is just another automatic. I have a number of fast automatic cars including an AMG 45. I also am damn lucky to also 19:23 19:23 gave the Honda Type R 2023 model. It’s no longer about the speed but the feel (is this because I’m getting towards “the light”🤔). A bit like riding a fixie bicycle rather than one with many gears. My daily driver hands down? The Honda Type R every day of the week. Cheers

As someone who has owned a lot of cars, the most memorable ones were always the ones that had special engines.

6 speed manual with a really good linkage. That wins the day.

Very good review! The conclusions about the cars are on point.

Brilliant comparo...I also x-shopped both and went with the Type R, its the complete package!

two totally different cars. Audi more daily all round luxury fast. Type R is more track focused car. RS3 way more power

I’ve had two Civic Type Rs, wouldn’t have another. I’ve also had two Focus RSs. Both better than type Rs. Now have an Audi RS3. Would never go back!

Brilliant review and the one I've been waiting for someone to do! Super Inline 5 and AWD vs a totally dialed in chassis. A comparison for intellectuals, because you have to look deeper than the obvious. It boils down to which car offers the better "Giggle Value". In America, the price differential is further apart. The CTR's base price (excluding markups) is about $44,000 where as the RS3 equipped with the technology package is $65,000. That's a $21,000 price difference, and one has to decide if the few things the Audi does better is worth the difference, versus the fun each car delivers. For me (and I previously owned a 2013 TT RS), I can honestly say the CTR does a better job of proving its value, and I come to the same conclusion as you!

Great review. Just picked up my CTR. I've had a ton of interesting cars. This is one of the greatest. It's an amazing car.

I saved the video to watch later. I already know im choosing the Type R, regardless

A civic with the 5 pot from the Audi (ideally with out the OPF filters!) would be epic! ...or the Rs3 with the chassis and transmission of the civic!

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