Honda Civic Type R vs Volkswagen Golf R
Verdict
At RM399,900, the Honda Civic Type R asks RM61,088 more than the RM338,812 Volkswagen Golf R, and it is the more purist buy on paper: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive and a 272 km/h top speed. The Golf R answers with 329 hp against 315 hp, identical 420 Nm, AWD traction and a 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus 5.5 seconds. For Malaysian daily use, the Volkswagen also has five seats, a 55-litre tank and seven airbags; the Honda counters with 410 litres of boot space and a five-year warranty.
Pick the Honda Civic Type R if you want the manual, front-driven hot hatch with the bigger 410-litre boot, longer five-year warranty and 272 km/h top speed.
Pick the Volkswagen Golf R if you want the quicker 4.6-second sprint, AWD, dual-clutch automatic and five-seat cabin for RM61,088 less.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Civic Type R RM399,900; Volkswagen Golf R RM338,812
- Power: Honda Civic Type R 315 hp; Volkswagen Golf R 329 hp
- 0-100 km/h: Honda Civic Type R 5.5 seconds; Volkswagen Golf R 4.6 seconds
- Drivetrain: Honda Civic Type R front-wheel drive; Volkswagen Golf R all-wheel drive
- Transmission: Honda Civic Type R manual; Volkswagen Golf R wet dual-clutch automatic
- Boot space: Honda Civic Type R 410 litres; Volkswagen Golf R 341 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 399,900 | RM 338,812✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,996 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Power | 315 hp | 329 hp✓ |
| Torque | 420 Nm | 420 Nm |
| Transmission | Manual | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.5 s | 4.6 s✓ |
| Top speed | 272 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,593 mm | 4,296 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 1,789 mm |
| Height | 1,407 mm | 1,454 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,734 mm | 2,629 mm |
| Boot space | 410 L✓ | 341 L |
| Fuel tank | 47 L | 55 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 7✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5✓ | 2 |
| Road tax / year | RM 378 | RM 372✓ |
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
- Six-speed manual gearbox
- Larger 410-litre boot
- Five-year warranty
- Costs RM61,088 more
- Four seats only
- Slower 5.5-second 0-100 km/h time
Golf R
- Quicker 4.6-second 0-100 km/h sprint
- All-wheel drive
- Five-seat cabin
- Smaller 341-litre boot
- Shorter two-year warranty
- No listed top speed
Civic Type R vs Golf R FAQ
Is the Honda Civic Type R or Volkswagen Golf R better?
The Volkswagen Golf R is better for pace and daily flexibility, with 329 hp, AWD, five seats and 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The Honda Civic Type R is better if you want a manual gearbox, 410-litre boot and five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Civic Type R costs RM399,900, while the Volkswagen Golf R costs RM338,812. That makes the Honda RM61,088 more expensive.
Which is more practical for family use?
The Volkswagen Golf R has five seats against the Honda Civic Type R’s four, plus a larger 55-litre fuel tank. The Honda has the bigger boot, at 410 litres versus 341 litres.