2027 Honda Civic Type R Gets a Sharper Face, Heated Seats, and Google Built-In
The best-selling hot hatch in America just got a meaningful refresh. Honda announced the updated 2027 Honda Civic Type R today, and it brings bolder styling, sharper chassis tuning, heated seats, and more standard tech. Best of all, it still comes exclusively with a manual transmission.
The 2027 model also marks the Civic Type R’s 30th anniversary globally and its 10th anniversary in North America. It arrives at Honda dealers this month.
A More Aggressive Face With a Purpose
The biggest visual change is up front. A redesigned front fascia adds a larger grille opening and a deeper front splitter. Honda says the new design reduces turbulence and improves airflow, which boosts engine cooling and helps the Type R sustain performance during hard track driving. The deeper splitter also increases downforce.
Under the hood, Honda redesigned the engine cover with a look inspired by early Type R models sold in Japan. It is a small detail, but the kind enthusiasts will appreciate.
Sharper Chassis and Brake Feel
Honda retuned the suspension damping in +R mode to improve road-following performance and reduce bouncing and impact harshness. The Rev Match system now delivers quicker engine response for smoother downshifts.
Brake feel gets attention too. Honda added a yoke spring to the brake pedal to reduce play in the linkage, which should give drivers a more direct feel when they step on the pedal.
Still 315 Horsepower and Manual Only
The turbocharged K20C engine carries over with 315 horsepower, which makes the Civic Type R the most powerful Honda production vehicle ever sold in the U.S. The engine continues to be built at Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Ohio.
EPA fuel economy ratings come in at 22 MPG city, 28 MPG highway, and 24 MPG combined. And in a segment where automatics keep taking over, the Type R remains the only car in its class offered exclusively with a manual transmission. If you are shopping hot hatches, check out our look at the competition from Mazda and Toyota.
Heated Seats and a More Premium Cabin
For the first time, the Civic Type R’s red front sport seats are heated, with three-level controls placed next to the climate knobs. The seats also get a new perforation design with black striping.
Honda also upgraded the cabin with Ultrasuede on the upper instrument panel and front door panels, which reduces windshield glare. Other changes include a diamond-pattern dash trim panel, black climate and air vent knobs, a darker gray aluminum shift knob, darker gray console trim and door handles, silver door panel trim, and a new auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Google Built-In and More Safety Tech
The 2027 Civic Type R is the first Type R with Google built-in, including Google Gemini, Google Maps, and Google Play. Alexa built-in is also standard, and Honda added two USB-C ports above the wireless phone charger.
The standard Honda Sensing suite gets updates, too. The Collision Mitigation Braking System improves detection of motorcycles and bicycles, Adaptive Cruise Control gets better braking and acceleration response, and Lane Keeping Assist is smoother. Post-Collision Braking is now standard to help reduce damage in multi-impact crashes.
Pricing and Availability
The 2027 Honda Civic Type R starts at $48,695, or $49,990 with the $1,295 destination charge. Premium paint adds $455. Color choices include the new Meteorite Gray Metallic, along with Boost Blue Pearl, Sonic Gray Pearl, and Championship White.
For enthusiasts who want a car they can drive every day and still enjoy on a track, heated seats and modern tech make the Type R even easier to live with, without giving up the manual gearbox that makes it special.
Want to see what this generation of Type R feels like at speed? Here’s my video from the last time I had one on a racetrack.
