Honda Civic Type R vs Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class
Verdict
At RM399,900 versus RM509,888, the Civic Type R saves RM109,988 and still gives you a 315 hp manual hatch with a 272 km/h top speed. The Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class answers with 421 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a much quicker 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time. The Honda has the bigger 410-litre boot and a longer five-year warranty, but only four seats. The Mercedes seats five, has seven airbags and a DCT, but its warranty is just two years.
Pick the Honda Civic Type R if you want the cheaper car, a manual gearbox, more boot space and a longer warranty.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class if you want the harder-accelerating hatch, all-wheel drive, five seats and a dual-clutch automatic.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Civic Type R RM399,900; Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class RM509,888
- Power and torque: Honda 315 hp/420 Nm; Mercedes-Benz 421 hp/500 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Honda 5.5 seconds; Mercedes-Benz 3.9 seconds
- Drivetrain: Honda front-wheel drive manual; Mercedes-Benz all-wheel drive wet dual-clutch automatic
- Practicality: Honda 4 seats/410-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz 5 seats/370-litre boot
- Warranty: Honda 5 years; Mercedes-Benz 2 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 399,900✓ | RM 509,888 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,996 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Power | 315 hp | 421 hp✓ |
| Torque | 420 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Manual | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.5 s | 3.9 s✓ |
| Top speed | 272 km/h✓ | 270 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | — | 8.3 L/100km |
| CO₂ | — | 189 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,593 mm | 4,445 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,407 mm | 1,412 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,734 mm | 2,729 mm |
| Boot space | 410 L✓ | 370 L |
| Fuel tank | 47 L | 51 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 7✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5✓ | 2 |
| Road tax / year | RM 378 | RM 376✓ |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Civic Type R
- RM109,988 cheaper to buy
- Manual gearbox with 272 km/h top speed
- Bigger 410-litre boot and five-year warranty
- Slower 5.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- Only four seats
- Front-wheel drive against the Mercedes' all-wheel drive
AMG A-Class
- 421 hp and 500 Nm
- Very quick 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time
- Five seats, seven airbags and all-wheel drive
- RM509,888 price is much higher
- Smaller 370-litre boot
- Two-year warranty
Civic Type R vs AMG A-Class FAQ
Is the Honda Civic Type R or Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class better?
For outright pace, the Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class is better: 421 hp, 500 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. For value, warranty, boot space and a manual gearbox, the Honda Civic Type R makes more sense.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class costs RM509,888, while the Honda Civic Type R costs RM399,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz RM109,988 more expensive.
Which one is more practical?
It depends on what you carry. The Honda Civic Type R has the larger boot at 410 litres versus 370 litres, but the Mercedes-Benz AMG A-Class has five seats against the Honda's four.