Motor Authority Voted 1 Hot Honda Hatch as the ‘Best Car to Buy in 2023’
Honda has been pumping out some precious metal over the past year. The Japanese automaker redesigned the Accord and the CR-V for 2023 and the Civic in 2022. These new updates meant new body styles, new powertrains, and more luxurious features. However, the folks at Motor Authority took note of one Honda model in particular and named it the “Best Car to Buy in 2023.”
Which Honda model won the “Best Car to Buy in 2023” award?
Motor Authority recently named the 2023 Honda Civic Type R the “Best Car to Buy in 2023.” That might be surprising, considering the Civic Type R isn’t the most readily available, or cheapest, Honda model that you can buy. However, the automotive publication lauded the hot Honda hatchback for sticking to a “formula fans know and love.”
What’s the formula? A more-powerful turbocharged VTEC engine, a track-tuned suspension, and a spacious and comfortable interior with seats that hold you in the turns. This is the second time the Honda Civic Type R has won this award. The last time was back in 2018 when the first generation of the Civic Type R won it. But this time, Motor Authority liked that the wild-child Civic has grown up but is still a “riot,” despite its higher price tag.
What’s so great about the 2023 Honda Civic Type R?
In case you need to be made aware of what makes the 2023 Honda Civic Type R so great, let us enlighten you. This all-new version of the hot hatchback is based on the 11th-generation Civic body style, which has a refined exterior aesthetic and handsome interior styling. However, in the Civic Type R, there are heavily bolstered red cloth seats, red carpeting, and red door trim accents.
There’s also a 9-inch touchscreen, a new Honda data logger system, and plenty of room for up to four adults. Under the hood is a familiar turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that now makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, which means it’s the most potent Type R ever produced. That engine is mated to solely a six-speed manual transmission that utilizes a limited-slip differential to help put the power to the ground.
Additionally, Honda beefed up the car’s suspension with a retuned front strut and rear multi-link setup that pair well with the adaptive dampers. Those dampers can be set to different modes for a more comfortable ride or a sportier experience, depending on what the situation calls for.
Lastly, a set of two-piston Brembo brakes give the car plenty of stopping power on the track and the street.
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R may be the best car to buy, but it’s not the most affordable
Now that we can see why Motor Authority gave the 2023 Honda Civic Type R the Best Car to Buy award, it’s worth noting that the car’s price is elevated for the new model year.
Honda set the hot hatchback’s MSRP to $43,990, which makes it more expensive than the larger Accord. However, considering the Civic Type R’s stats, there’s no denying that it provides a far more exciting drive than its bigger brother, which is why it proves to be the best car to buy this year.
