√2023 Honda Civic Type R price in Australia previewed by Japan

The new Honda Civic Type R could cost as much as $70,000 when it arrives in Australia early next year – $10,000 more than the old model.

The new 2023 Honda Civic Type R could cost $65,000 to $70,000 drive-away in Australia – almost $10,000 more than its predecessor – when it launches next year, if Japanese prices are a guide.

Revealed yesterday alongside more comprehensive specifications for Honda’s hottest hatchback, the new Civic Type R (codenamed FL5) will be priced from ¥4,997,300 yen in Japan, when it goes on sale there today (September 2).

The Japanese price equates to $AU52,600, however the currency conversion does not account for different tax structures in Japan and Australia.

The top-of-the-range 1.5-litre petrol Civic costs $47,200 drive-away in Australia, or ¥3,539,800 yen in Japan (with some minor specification differences).

The new Honda Civic Type R (which remains a four-seater) costs 41 per cent more than its standard counterpart in Japan. Applying this calculation suggests the new hot hatch could be priced from between $65,000 and $70,000 drive-away in Australia, when it arrives next year.

This represents a significant increase over the outgoing ‘FK8’ Type R, which in its final form cost $54,990 plus on-road costs in Australia in early 2021 – or about $60,000 drive-away, once stamp duty and other government charges are included.

Some Honda fans have noted the new Type R costs about five per cent more than its predecessor in Japan – which would correlate to a price in Australia below $65,000 drive-away. It remains to be seen if this eventuates in Australia.

It is also unclear for now if the new ‘FL5’ Type R exceeds the price of the most expensive Honda hatchback ever sold officially in Australia, the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition, 19 of which were made available to the public for $70,000 drive-away.

The new Type R looks likely to be among the more expensive front-wheel-drive models in its class, alongside the Cupra Leon VZx auto ($65,490 drive-away) and Renault Megane RS Trophy manual FWD ($62,300 plus on-road costs).

Most other front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks in the segment start under $60,000 plus on-road costs: the BMW 128ti auto ($58,900 plus on-road costs), Volkswagen Golf GTI auto ($54,990 plus on-road costs), Hyundai i30 N Premium manual ($49,200 plus on-road costs) and defunct Ford Focus ST X auto ($51,990 plus on-road costs).

Meanwhile, all-wheel-drive rivals include the Volkswagen Golf R automatic ($65,990 plus on-road costs), Audi S3 ($70,800 plus on-roads), BMW M135i ($72,900 plus on-roads), Mercedes-AMG A35 ($77,869 plus on-roads), and upcoming Toyota GR Corolla.

Buyers will get more for their money than the old Type R, though, including more power and torque, a larger body, an upgraded chassis, and new features like a widescreen digital instrument cluster and a larger infotainment display.

A range of advanced safety features are available in Japan, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring (new for the 2023 Type R), traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors.

However, the new model will remain a four-seater – like the old model, but unlike the five-seat standard Civic range.

For more details on the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R, click the links below to read Drive’s earlier coverage.

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