The Honda Civic Type R got a major makeover for 2023. The automaker toned down the overwrought exterior of the previous-generation FK8 Type R, giving the new FL5 version a more mature appearance. The big wing, functional aero, and triple tailpipes are still clear indicators that this Civic means business on the track, but Honda’s busy hands changed little with the powertrain.
Both Civic Type Rs use Honda’s turbocharged 2.0-liter K20C1 four-cylinder engine. In the new car, it produces 315 horsepower (231 kilowatts) and 310 pound-feet (420 Newton-meters) of torque. It makes 306 hp (228 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque in the old one. The automaker made incremental changes to the powertrain and other upgrades to eke out more power. It’s not a sizable difference in output, but the new one technically packs more punch. Six-speed manual gearboxes send the power to the front wheels on both, but how do they compare on the track?
