No matter which way you look at it, the Honda Civic Type-R is definitely something of an underdog. Why? Well because unlike almost every other hot hatchback that’s being sold on the market, Japan’s banzai warrior doesn’t pack a whooshing great turbocharger beneath its sleek and steely bonnet. And that, in case you happen to be a complete and utter automotive techno-pheasant, is a bit like turning up to gunfight with your penknife.

But the strange thing is, despite lacking the lowdown punch of its rivals, Honda’s sole performance model is still capable of delivering some seriously devilish driving thrills. And the secret, you see, lies within what is perhaps one of best engines mankind has ever made – the two-litre iVTEC. Granted, it doesn’t seem very overwhelming on paper but the way it goes about its business, throws down the power, makes up for this in spades. It’s also hugely interactive as it shoehorns you into the whole process of going fast.

For whereas something like a Golf GTI is a very easy car to blast around the countryside at breakneck pace, the Type-R requires a lot more fury and commitment. Quite at odds with the way most machines are tuned these days, this beast only really shines above 5500rpm – the point at which the iVTEC system comes on cam and gives a sudden burst of power right up until the rev-limiter kicks in at 8250rpm. It’s a narrow power band and one that you need to keep the tachometer needle in if you want to go anywhere quickly.

Consequently you’re always making good use of that wickedly slick, six-speed gearbox and forever looking ahead, preempting the flow of the road and making all manner of adjustments to carry through the maximum amount of speed around corners. Don’t get me wrong, most will find this style of driving incredibly tiresome but for the diehard petrolhead, well, it’s what pushing the limits is all about: 100% effort 100% of the time.

Obviously savvy to the fact that the Type-R will only ever appeal to keen enthusiasts, Honda have also spent a lot of time fine-tuning their fastest Civic to deliver the sort of sparkling dynamics that would get them tingling in all the right places. The steering, for example, is beautifully weighted and crackling with feedback whilst the rock-hard sports suspension setup allows you to squeeze the most from the Civic’s lithe and agile chassis. Seriously, point this car’s nose up a mountain pass and it always feels up to the job.

Even the pedals have been carefully considered; the size and spacing of each stainless-unit perfectly positioned for the dark art of heel and toeing. Not even my racing car comes close to eclipsing the Honda in this particular department, so it’s quite a feat. But for all its old-school driving flavour and infectious, hardcore edge, the Type-R isn’t without a few foibles. On anything other than paper-smooth tar – something of a rarity here in SA – the ride is jittery in the extreme. Really, other than maybe a Lotus Exige, I’ve never known a car to transform into a rodeo bull over the rough stuff quite like this Honda does.

It also has a nasty tendency to understeer severely when you stuff it into tight, hairpin-like corners with too much verve. As a result you soon learn to adopt a slow-in fast-out policy but, compared to its rivals, I found this compromise something of a disappointment.

Yet despite these faults it was hard to give back the keys to this Civic without a sense of sadness. For although I’ll be the first to admit that the aging Type-R is in no way as well rounded a package as the more modern Volkswagen Golf GTI or Renault Mégane Sport, I do think its ballsy all-or-nothing character certainly makes it far more enduring. Similar to the way a photographer has to “toil” when shooting supermodels, the Type-R makes you work that much harder for your reward but in the end this just to make it seem a whole lot sweeter. Yep, underdog or not, this is the hot hatch I’d put in my garage.

Honda Civic Type-R at a Glance:

Specs:

Engine: 1998cc, four-cylinder petrol

Power: 148kW @ 7800rpm

Torque: 193Nm @ 5600rpm

0-100km/h: 6.6-seconds (claimed)

Top Speed: 232km/h (claimed)

Fuel Consumption: 9.3/100km (claimed)/ 9.1l/100km (achieved)

CO2: 219g/km

Price: R331 365

We like:

A proper old-school hot hatch

Glorious iVTEC engine

Meaty steering setup is a joy

We Don’t:

R-r-r-rock hard ride

Peaky nature not to everyone’s taste

Prone to understeer on limit