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The latest price rise to hit the Honda Civic Type R hot-hatch makes it an $85,000 proposition. What are the alternatives?
The price of a Honda Civic Type R hot-hatch has been pushed to $85,500 drive-away, putting the small front-wheel drive hatchback in the crosshairs of a huge range of other cars for a similar outlay.
While it’s not the most expensive Honda model, thanks to clear air to the $420,000 price of the NSX from 2016 to 2020, it positions the Civic higher than the last full-size luxury Legend, which was $76,135 plus on-costs in 2013.
While not everything on this list matches the Type R for performance potential or driver engagement, here are some alternatives to the $85K Honda.
Honda's drive-away pricing is the same nationally. We’ve opted to price alternatives with on-road pricing for a Melbourne address. Final figures may vary by location.
The silent performance of Tesla’s flagship EV may not carry the same drama as Honda’s raucous hot-hatch, but the performance is undeniable.
The four-door Tesla sedan is, admittedly, a little over budget compared to the Civic, at $87,407 on the road (or 80,900 plus ORCs), but for the 3.1-second 0-100km/h acceleration and 380kW performance, it might be worth it.
The only catch here is that adding options like a white interior and available premium paint colours will push the final price higher.
If a rear-wheel-drive performance coupe speaks to you, you could get behind the wheel of a Mustang for less than a Type R.
Unfortunately, a V8 Mustang is out of reach, so you’d have to settle for the 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost with a 10-speed automatic. Ford has removed all the ‘fun’ options you might like from the EcoBoost too, like a manual transmission or convertible roof.
Still, the 232kW/475Nm ‘Stang stacks up decently on paper next to the 235kW/420Nm Civic Type R, if you don’t scrutinise it too hard.
Priced from $72,990 +ORCs or $79,690 on the road, there’s even change left over for mods.
Hot-hatch fans have a tough choice when it comes to all-wheel drive heroes, with the GR Corolla pricing a surprisingly capable all-rounder from a brand that, just a few years earlier, didn't have any interest in the segment at all.
The more sophisticated Golf R, with its upmarket presentation and more refined day-to-day driving manners, edges it out. Just.
A Golf R will get you from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.6 seconds, and costs from $71,990 +ORCs, with a $75,990 drive-away offer running at present. Add in the Warmenau Package option with an Akrapovic titanium exhaust and a different 19-inch wheel design, and you’ll still only hit $82,767.
The monstrously underappreciated Nissan Z has been a slow seller in Australia, but against the Civic Type R, it’s killer value.
You can get a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with rear-wheel drive and a choice of six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic for $76,160 +ORCs. That’s a 298kW/475Nm beast of an engine too, no half-hearted effort here.
Admittedly, the 1600kg Z isn't as light or nimble as the 1429kg Civic, but for $82,683 on the road, or $84,245 with one of the available two-tone back roof paint schemes, the difference is forgivable.
Why settle for one car to do everything when you could potentially have two?
Your sensible side gets a quiet, relaxing electric SUV that can squeeze in friends and family when needed and covers all the Monday-to-Friday demands.
On weekends, switch to a manual MX-5. You get the lightest, simplest model, and can tackle entertaining country drives and the occasional track session without ever feeling like you compromised.
An MX-5 starts from $42,460 +ORCs, the BYD Atto 2 kicks off from $31,990 +ORCs. By the time you put both on the road, you're only up for $82,264 in total.
What would you spend $85K on? Whether it's something sporty, a little bit luxe, or perhaps more rugged, let us know in the comments what you’d spend your money on.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
