Six months of mixed-road testing in the UK plus market tracking lets us put hard numbers on the Civic Type R’s 3‑year/45,000 km total cost of ownership, without losing sight of how it drives day to day.
The latest Civic Type R (FL5) pairs a 2.0‑litre turbo four with 329 PS and 420 Nm, a six‑speed manual, and a helical LSD. At 1,429 kg kerb, it feels light on its feet, with a slick shifter and brakes that tolerate repeated B‑road stops without glazing. Our car sat on factory 265/30 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres; list price as tested was £49,995 OTR. Official performance is 0‑62 mph in 5.4 seconds; ride is firm but compliant in Comfort, appropriately taut in Sport/R modes.
Our real‑world loop covered 1,100 km of urban, A‑road, and motorway driving, plus two brisk runs on flowing B‑roads. The car averaged 8.6 l/100 km on mixed routes and 10.2 l/100 km when driven hard. Cabin noise is moderate on coarse asphalt due to tyre width, but seat support is superb for long stints. These results underpin the running‑cost estimates below for 3 years/45,000 km.
Depreciation: UK demand remains strong, but supply is normalising. From a £49,995 start, expect 3‑year residuals at roughly 70–75% with 45,000 km, assuming clean history. That implies £12,500–£15,000 depreciation (25–30%). If supply loosens or mileage climbs, budget the high end.
Current nearly‑new asking prices support the mid‑range of that forecast. Insurance: The Type R sits in insurance group 40E. For a 35–50‑year‑old driver with full NCB in a suburban postcode, typical comprehensive premiums run £900–£1,100 per year; add £200–£400 for city centres or younger profiles. Sensible assumption across three years: £2,700–£3,300.
Factory security and telematics can shave premiums, while declared modifications (track pads, remaps) raise them. Servicing and consumables: Honda schedules annual/12,500‑mile (20,000 km) services. Over 45,000 km, plan for two minor services (~£240–£280 each) and one major (~£420–£500), plus brake fluid at year two (~£90). Budget £1,000–£1,100 for routine maintenance.
Tyres: expect two full sets of 265/30 ZR19 PS4S at £950–£1,050 per set fitted, so ~£1,900–£2,100. Front pads typically need replacement once in this window; quality OE‑equivalent fitted is ~£300–£380. Discs generally last longer unless tracked; add £500–£600 only if needed. Fuel: Using our observed 8.6–9.5 l/100 km and £1.55/litre unleaded, 45,000 km consumes 3,870–4,275 litres, costing roughly £5,990–£6,630.
That aligns with owners reporting low‑30s mpg (UK) in mixed use. Summing the above, a realistic 3‑year TCO excluding tax/finance is about £25,000–£29,000, or 56–64 p/km. If you’ll track regularly, add contingency for an extra tyre set and front pads. Overall, the Type R’s strong residuals offset thirsty tyres and premium insurance, making it a high‑performance hatch with surprisingly disciplined long‑term costs.
