Edmunds: 2023 Honda Civic Type R vs. 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

If a traditional two-door sports car isn’t practical enough for you, consider one of these hot hatch options: the Volkswagen Golf R or the Honda Civic Type R. The Volkswagen Golf R’s excellent combination of fun driving dynamics, all-wheel-drive traction and generous cargo space has made it a long-running favorite for driving enthusiasts. Its 2022 redesign brought many upgrades, including more power. Even fresher is the redesigned 2023 Honda Civic Type R. Compared to the outgoing model, it boasts more restrained styling, greater performance and a modernized interior. Which four-door sport compact is the best? Edmunds’ experts compared them to find out. 

PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING Both hot hatches are powered by turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines that churn out impressive power. The front-wheel-drive Type R produces 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive Golf R also makes 315 horsepower but less torque, 280 lb-ft when equipped with the standard six-speed manual transmission and 295 lb-ft with the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. A six-speed manual is the only choice in the Type R. 

When Edmunds put them through their paces at our test track, the Golf R blasted its way to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, topping the Type R’s 5.5-second sprint by a significant margin. The Volkwagen was also over a second quicker in the quarter mile. However, the Golf R we tested was equipped with the faster-shifting dual-clutch automatic, and its all-wheel-drive system also helped. But when it came to the skidpad, which tests a car’s cornering grip, the Type R significantly outperformed the Golf R, which is surprising considering its front-wheel-drive powertrain. 

Track numbers aside, both fun machines are a blast to drive, but the Type R stays more planted and balanced around corners and boasts one of the finest manual transmissions in the business. The Golf R is no slouch, though. Its all-wheel-drive traction is excellent, and the dual-clutch automatic is lightning-quick. But the Type R’s more engaging driving dynamics give it the win here.