Honda's Civic pride

No matter which way you lookat it, the Honda Civic Type-R is 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-peasant, is a bit like turning up to a gunfight with your penknife.

But the strange thing is, despite lacking the lowdown punch of its rivals, the Honda is still capable of delivering some seriously devilish driving thrills.

And the secret lies within what is perhaps one of the best engines mankind has ever made - the two-litre iVTEC. Granted, it doesn't seem overwhelming on paper but the way it goes about its business, throws down the power, makes up for this.

For, whereas something like a Golf GTI is a very easy car to blast around in, the Type-R requires a lot more fury and commitment.

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 in the interests of maintaining corner speed. 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 sparkling dynamics.

The steering, for example, is beautifully weighted and crackling with feedback whilst the rock-hard sports suspension allows you to squeeze the most from the Civic's agile chassis.

But for all its old-school driving flavour and infectious, hardcore edge, the Type-R isn't without its foibles.

On anything other than paper-smooth tar, the ride is jittery in the extreme. It also has a nasty tendency to understeer severely when you stuff it into tight 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, Ford Focus ST 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 harder for your reward but in the end this just makes it seem that much sweeter. Yep, underdog or not, this is the hot hatch I'd put in my garage.

The Fax:

Engine: 1998cc, four-cylinder petrol

Power: 148kW at 7800rpm

Torque: 193Nm at 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 engineMeaty steering setup well-weighted and feelsome

We Don't:

R-r-r-rock hard ridePeaky nature not to everyone's tasteProne to understeer on limit

The Rivals:

Volkswagen Golf GTI:

Power/torque: 155kW/280Nm

Fuel Economy: 7.3l/100km

CO2: 170g/km

Ford Focus ST:

Price: From R286 500

Power/torque: 166kW/320Nm

Fuel Economy: 9.3l/100km

CO2: 224g/km