Perhaps it’s the futuristic shape which makes it stand out from the crowd but there certainly seem to be a lot of Honda’s latest Civics on the road.

I haven’t attempted a count, but I would bet a good percentage will be the top-of-the range Type R, the screaming hot hatchback which has wowed British buyers in search of something genuinely sporting which won’t break the bank.

It’s unusual, to say the least, for the most expensive car in a model range (and a three-door at that) to outsell the others. But then the Type R, with that howling, high-revving engine and race-car handling, is an unusual car.

Honda forecast 1,500 sales of the previous model when it was launched: in the end the total passed 3,500.

While the new car’s looks are almost sci-fi, what’s under the bonnet is basically the same – the 201bhp, 2.0 litre i-VTEC – although with a number of significant modifications.

It costs more, too, but comes with more standard equipment and for the first time there’s a second model, the GT, which has identical mechanicals but more gadgets and creature comforts.

At £17,600 the Type R still isn’t overpriced compared to the opposition such as the Golf GTi, SEAT Leon Cupra and Focus ST.

The GT is £1,000 more, but bearing in mind past experience and customer feedback, Honda is expecting this to outsell the cheaper model by a ratio of four to one. Honda hasn’t upped the horsepower in the new car, but it has made changes to one of its most charismatic features – the i-VTEC variable valve timing system.

The second, high-speed cam now comes in at a lower 5,400rpm, making it more accessible, and it continues to operate up to 8,000rpm, giving a broad band of power and surging acceleration that few in this category can match.

Other changes have increased torque, too.

The 0 to 62mph sprint time hasn’t changed, at 6.6 seconds, but then it’s still one of the quickest in its class anyway.

Drivers will still experience that ‘kick in the pants’ feel as the high speed cam cuts in, and hear the change in engine note from a growl to a scream.

But, it has to be said, the overall noise level has been reduced due to other mechanical tweaks.

The effect is a more refined car, which fits with the upgraded equipment package, and is Honda’s response to what its Type R customers wanted.

It hasn’t, in my view, detracted from that which the car has in spades – the smile factor.

It’s a very competent car, but a lot of fun, too. I was fortunate enough to let the car have its head on a track and found it so willing and free-revving that it is really very easy to inadvertently hit the rev limiter, even though it’s set at over the 8,000 mark.

The car responds beautifully to such abuse, a true thoroughbred, and is equally well-behaved under hard braking.

And oh those hairpin bends – 85mph, brake hard to the turn-in point, swing hard right and let the car run out to the edge of the track as you floor the right pedal once again.

I can’t say the Type R was actually enjoying it but it didn’t show any sign of complaint through a screeching of tyres, oversteer or a waggle from the rear end.

And no sign of the electronic wizardry of the vehicle stability assist system intervening to save me from myself, indicating the car’s inherent stability.

To be honest, it was hard to take in much of the interior detail once you’ve turned the key and pressed that big red start button. And who cares?

Well yes, of course, you would if you’d bought one and used it day in day out on the commuter run, or for the family holiday.

There’s a little more room in the rear, but this car is probably aimed at those who only occasionally carry a full load of passengers. In the front, though, you get superb full sports seats – the nearest you’ll find to a rally set-up without the hassle (in everyday use) of a five-point harness.

There are other sporty styling touches, too, like drilled aluminium pedals, leather multi-function wheel and alloy gear knob, plus front and side airbags, driver’s seat height adjustment and an anti-theft alarm. But then there are the creature comforts, too, such as electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and a quality CD stereo.

The Type R GT, for that extra £1,000, also buys you curtain airbags, cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers, dual zone air conditioning and a refrigerated glovebox.

It sounds pretty good value, hence Honda’s sales forecasts that the GT will be the biggest seller of the two models.

By John Griffiths

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