When the BMW M235i Gran Coupe first launched, I wondered who it was for. It was an okay car—it was quick enough, had a nice enough interior, and was the cheapest M Performance car in the lineup—but it never really excelled at anything. There were also better cars in the segment, such as the Mercedes-AMG A35 and Volkswagen Golf R. Now, though, there’s a new car in the segment that might just completely eliminate any reason to buy BMW’s cheapest performance sedan—the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R.
Of course, there will be BMW snobs that scoff at the idea of buying a Honda over a BMW. However, the Civic Type R is no joke. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Compare that to the BMW M235i, whose own 2.0-liter turbo-four makes 302 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. The Bimmer is all-wheel drive, while the Honda is only front-wheel drive. But the CTR has one massive advantage over the Bimmer, a manual transmission.
The M235i only comes with an eight-speed Aisin automatic and it’s actually a really good gearbox. Shifts are quick, smooth, and always when you want them. However, it just can’t compare to the engagement felt from a proper Honda manual. Honda has been making the best manuals in the business for decades and the CTR’s is supposed to be the best of them. I haven’t driven the new Civic Type R just yet but I’m hoping to do so as soon as absolutely possible, mostly for that three-pedal gearbox.
When it comes to handling, reviews are trickling out for the Honda Civic Type R and reports are good. It’s said to have great steering, a fantastic ride/handling balance that’s softer than its predecessor and all the better for it, and an excellent four-cylinder engine noise. It’s also plenty quick. If you’ve ever driven the M235i Gran Coupe, you’d know it has none of those things. It’s numb, isolated, and has the most synthetic, inauthentic engine/exhaust noises in the industry. It’s a total snooze-fest.
The Honda Civic Type R also looks better, in my personal opinion. The new Civic lineup is handsome,…
