View Photos of the 2019 Honda Civic Type R and 2019 Volkswagen Golf R
Honda and VW push small-car performance to the max in two practical compacts that are full of surprises.
Volkswagen created the hot-hatch genre in 1976 when it spiced-up a Golf hatchback and named it the GTI. There have been many competitors since, but the 288-hp 2019 Volkswagen Golf R and 306-hp 2019 Honda Civic Type R take that time-tested formula to another level as the most potent of their kind currently on sale in the United States, with lofty prices that reflect their added capabilities.
To find out which has the sharpest teeth and is the easiest to live with, we aimed them both down the road and hit the test track—and discovered a host of surprising things about them along the way.
Both the Civic Type R and the Golf R come fully equipped for battle at their base prices: $37,230 for the Honda and $41,365 for the VW.
Both are propelled by powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-fours working through six-speed manual transmission, though a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is an $1100 option on the Golf R.
The big mechanical difference between them is that the Type R is a front-driver while the R employs all-wheel drive—a theoretical advantage with power levels this high.
Our Golf R test car arrived wearing Magma Orange paint from VW's Spektrum custom-paint program (40 colors are available) that adds a whopping $2500 to its as-tested price.
As cool as that hue looks on the Golf's body, we'd opt for one of the five standard colors and pocket the difference. Also of note: We drafted our long-term Civic Type R into service for this test.
The Civic Type R's tenacious skidpad grip of 0.99 g betters the Golf R's 0.95-g effort, and its 147-foot stop from 70 mph is 12 feet shorter than the VW's.
The Type R's passenger cell is a riot of red, with scarlet trim adorning the steering wheel, instrument panel, and large swathes of the deeply supportive, faux suede-covered front sport seats.
Meanwhile, the Golf R's cabin is as classy and tasteful as its exterior. Our test car's seats were covered in rich, perforated black leather accented by gray piping. Delicate strips of brushed aluminum outline the vents and center console. Piano black trim is used sparingly, and the shifter and steering wheel seem crafted for a luxury car.
The Honda is the more practical of the two. Its cabin feels wider, its rear seat is roomier, and its cargo hold is more spacious. By the numbers, the Civic has 97 cubic feet of passenger space to the Golf R's 93, and 27 cubic feet of cargo room versus the Golf R's 23.
2019 Honda Civic Type R and 2019 Volkswagen Golf R
2019 Honda Civic Type R and 2019 Volkswagen Golf R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Civic Type R
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