Is the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition Really a $44,000 Car?
Whether or not you’re a Honda fanboy (or girl) or a general car enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of the Honda Civic Type R by now. And if you read MotorBiscuit regularly, then you definitely know that we’re fans of Honda’s genuine pocket rocket. However, even hardcore enthusiasts have to draw the line somewhere, and that line might be the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition, which costs an astronomical $44,000. We had to wonder: Is it really worth that much money?
What does the Limited Edition Honda Civic Type R include?
Just to recap, the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition adds some spice to the non-Limited Type R’s race-ready formula via a host of weight-reduction and handling modifications. If you’re willing to pay $6,500 more over the normal Civic Type R, then you’ll get the following:
- An exclusive Phoenix Yellow paint job
- Lightweight BBS Forged Aluminum wheels
- A set of sticky Michelin Pilot Cup 2 performance tires
- 28 fewer pounds due to the removal of sound deadening material
- A black accented roof, mirror caps, hood scoop, and grille
- An exclusive Civic Type Limited Edition plaque
- A specially-tuned adaptive suspension
- Dual-pinion electric power steering
- A “Log R” datalogging system
Honda also deleted the rear windshield wiper and even the tonneau cover from the trunk. So if you’re looking for some everyday practicality with those two items, then you’ll have to settle for the normal Civic Type R. On top of it all, the Limited Edition still has the same 306-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that comes on the regular Type R as well, so it’s not like you’re getting that much more in the performance department.
The Civic Type R Limited Edition is really limited
Aside from all of the automotive purist modifications like the weight reduction, upgraded suspension, and yellow paint, part of the Civic Type R Limited Edition’s main draw is the fact that the automaker only built 600 copies of it.
Due to its exclusivity, the Civic Type R LE was in such high demand that Canadian buyers scooped up all of them in 240 seconds when reservations became available. And here in the U.S., if you can find a 2021 Civic Type LE in a dealership showroom, then you can expect to pay a marked-up price of around $65,000 to $70,000.
That’s right, you can technically buy two regular Civic Type R’s for the price of one. However, even normal Civic Type Rs are still being marked up by anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000 nationwide.
It’s all about the connection
If anything, what makes the Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition worth the extra cash, when it comes to the actual MSRP, is the way that it drives. Matt Farah, from The Smoking Tire, said it best in his review:
“The connection between my hands, my feet, the shifter, and the tires is so tight. I feel such a connection to the road in the car. The steering is re-tuned and is heavier than the (Civic Type R) Touring one.”
That being said, Farah backed up his comment by saying, “This is one of the best $45,000 cars you can buy. It is nowhere near the best $65,000 to $70,000 car. If you spend more than the sticker (price) on this car, you’re a moron. But at sticker, it’s a fabulous automobile that’s worth every dollar.”
So there we have it, the 2021 Honda Civic Type R is most likely worth the extra $6,500 over the normal car’s sticker price, but definitely not $30,000 more. In that case, you should probably stick to the used Honda Civic Type R market and really stretch your hard-earned dollars.
