The Breakdown:
- The 2026 Honda Civic Type R now starts at $48,090, including the $1,195 destination charge.
- That’s $1,000 more expensive than the 2025 model.
- The sixth-generation Civic Type R is about $4,000 more expensive than when it first went on sale for 2023.
The 2026 Honda Civic Type R will start at $48,090, including the $1,195 destination charge. That’s $1,000 more expensive than the 2025 model.
The Civic Type R packs Honda's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, sending power to the front wheels. A six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox available, and Honda has made no tweaks to the car to justify the added cost.
The sixth-generation Civic Type R went on sale for 2023 with a starting MSRP of $44,890, including the destination charge that was $100 cheaper at the time. The 2026 Civic Type R is about $4,000 more expensive than it was a few years ago, and Honda has made only minor updates to the model since its launch.
The Civic’s higher price isn’t a surprise, as new-car prices continue to creep upward post-pandemic, and vehicles built outside the United States are now facing fresh tariffs. Consumers hoping for lower prices will have to wait.
The 2026 Volkswagen Golf R now starts at just over $50,000, which has 328 hp and all-wheel drive. The VW GTI is much cheaper, but it also makes much less power than the R and Civic Type R. The Toyota GR Corolla is a better value by comparison, starting at $41,115 for 300 hp and AWD.
Motor1’s Take: New cars are only getting more expensive, and paying nearly $50,000 for a performance hatchback is now the norm. The Civic Type R lacks all-wheel drive, which might limit its appeal if it’s priced to compete with the Golf R and thousands more than the GR Corolla. At least we have choices.
