Honda has always been known to make some of the most reliable and efficient cars in the market. The Japanese automaker has honed its craft through the decades and churned out some real hits. It also has its hand in Formula 1, so it’s no stranger to building fast cars, either. But what is the most powerful car that Honda has ever produced for the consumer market?

The most powerful Honda ever made is a special Civic

The most powerful car that Honda has ever produced is the all-new 2023 Civic Type R. Are you surprised? We are, considering the manufacturer has produced a variety of cars for the U.S. market over the past four decades. But the latest Civic Type R rises above them all. Remember, we’re not including the Acura lineup, so the NSX doesn’t count here.

For the uninformed, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R was just revealed earlier this year and is currently making its way to dealerships all over the U.S. It’s based on the 2022 Civic platform, so it looks cleaner and meaner than the last generation, which was riddled with sharp edges and fake vents. The new version ditches the boy racer look for a more refined one and a not-so-gaudy rear wing.

It has more power too. Honda had everyone on edge when it initially debuted the new Civic Type R by withholding its power figures. But now we know that its turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is up from 306 and 300, respectively, from the outgoing model.

According to Honda, the improved power results from a redesigned turbocharger, a high air-intake flow rate, and a more efficient exhaust system. The engine is solely mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which is one of the best in its class, reports Cars.com.

The second most-powerful Honda in the U.S. market was an Accord

Since we’re counting Honda ponies, it’s only natural to call out the second most powerful model it ever produced for the U.S. market. This honor goes to the 2018-2022 Honda Accord 2.0T. Interestingly, this potent Accord was powered by a detuned version of the Civic Type R engine, so it only makes sense that it would make almost as much power.

How much? 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. That’s a good amount for a midsize sedan, and it got the car moving well. According to Car and Driver, the Accord 2.0T could sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.4 seconds and down the quarter-mile in 14 seconds when equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission. However, a six-speed manual transmission was available as well.

Unfortunately, this potent engine setup was phased out for the 2023 Honda Accord, which favors fuel efficiency with its upgraded hybrid system.

The third most-powerful Honda was a convertible

If you’re not too keen on owning a Honda Civic or Accord, no matter how powerful they are, you might find the fun you’re looking for in an S2000. The S2000 was discontinued in 2009 and now lives on in the used market with an elevated price tag.

However, if you can find a clean example, you’ll enjoy a high-revving 2.2-liter engine that makes 237 hp and redlines at 8,500 rpm. If you want a more visceral feel, aim to buy a 2000-2003 model, which came with a 2.0-liter engine that revved up to 9,000 rpm.

However, no matter which of these three models you choose, you will have a great time. After all, what’s more fun than a powerful Honda?