If you take a look at my posts on the Honda Civic Type R, you will notice that I don’t write about every model refresh. To be honest, that would have applied to the 2027 Honda Civic Type R, too, but the latest FL5 does have some tweaks worth mentioning, and so here we are.
It now rocks a redesigned front fascia, featuring a larger lower grille opening that improves airflow to the cooling system to tackle heat buildup during track driving. In addition, it has a deeper front splitter that increases front-axle downforce, and a restyled engine cover underneath the functional aluminum hood, designed to pay homage to classic Japanese-market (JDM) Type R engine covers. It’s the kind of detail only true petrolheads will appreciate.
Unfortunately, there’s no bump in performance. It’s still the same 2.0L inline-four turbocharged engine producing a healthy 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque.
But that’s not to say nothing was done under the hood. Thanks to the aforementioned cooling improvements, the engine is better equipped to sustain performance during demanding track driving. Moreover, Honda has retuned the adaptive dampers in +R drive mode for better road contact, reduced bouncing, and improved cornering stability. The Rev Match has been updated, too, for faster engine response during downshifts, and finally, a yoke spring has been added to the brake pedal linkage for a more direct pedal feel.
The interior has been updated, too, now boasting heated front sport seats with three-stage heating, a new perforation pattern with black striping, anti-glare Ultrasuede, and darker accent trim. And oh, an auto-dimming rearview mirror now comes standard.
The technology and safety features have been boosted, too. Google built-in now comes standard, with Google Gemini voice assistance, Google Maps, and Google Play apps integrated directly into the 9-inch display, in addition to built-in Amazon Alexa. And there’s not one, but two 3.0 A USB-C ports above the wireless charger.
On the safety front, there’s Post-Collision Braking (PCB), which automatically applies the brakes after an impact to help reduce the risk of secondary collisions. The upgraded Honda Sensing suite also features improved motorcycle and bicycle detection for the Collision Mitigation Braking System, plus refined responses for Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist.
Oh, the horn gets a glow-up, too, with a dual-tone setup.
Rounding out the feature list of the new 2027 Honda Civic Type R is a new exterior color, Meteorite Gray Metallic. It joins the existing Championship White, Boost Blue Pearl, and Sonic Gray Pearl. Rallye Red and Crystal Black Pearl are no longer offered, btw.
Other highlights include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster with a track-focused +R display, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system with a subwoofer, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless phone charger. There’s also Honda’s LogR performance data logger, which tracks and records driving performance, along with four selectable drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Individual, and +R.
2027 will be a significant year for the Civic Type R, as it marks its 30th anniversary globally and its 10th anniversary in North America.
In related news, at the recently concluded SEMA 2026, Honda brought the Civic Type R HRC Concept, which first debuted at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, to the show floor for its North American debut.
The Japanese automaker also showed off the 2026 Honda Civic Type R TCR, a race car engineered by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) and J.A.S. Motorsport for IMSA competition in the U.S. This beautiful race car is based on the latest Civic Type R production model.
The 2027 Honda Civic Type R sport hatchback is arriving at U.S. dealerships with an MSRP of US$48,695 before the US$1,295 destination charge.
Honda Civic Type R HRC Concept:
2026 Honda Civic Type R TCR:
Images: Honda.
