We dedicated a full day to quantify the Civic Type R’s braking: instrumented 100–0 km/h and 60–0 mph stops, repeated-stop fade, and pedal modulation. Here’s how Honda’s hot hatch performs when you lean hard on the middle pedal.
Test car: 2024 Honda Civic Type R (FL5), 2.0L turbo I4 (315 hp, 310 lb-ft), six-speed manual, curb weight 3,188 lb. Brake hardware includes Brembo 4‑piston front calipers with 350 mm two‑piece rotors and 305 mm vented rears; Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 265/30ZR19 tires. Our as-tested weight with driver and data gear was 3,270 lb (1,484 kg). Conditions and protocol: closed proving ground, dry and 72°F (22°C), asphalt with 1.0 µ peak grip, light 4 mph crosswind.
Tire pressures set cold to 34 psi front/32 psi rear (stabilized at 36/34 psi hot). ESC in Sport (track stability threshold), ABS fully active. Data captured via Racelogic VBOX and IR rotor temps between runs. Single-stop results: from 60–0 mph the Type R needed 108 ft (32.9 m), averaging a peak decel of 1.07 g.
From 100–0 km/h, we recorded 33.6 m (110.2 ft). Both figures were repeatable within ±2 ft (±0.6 m). Pedal travel remained short with a firm, progressive ramp; initial bite is assertive but not grabby, making it easy to brake right at the ABS threshold. Repeated-stop fade test: five consecutive 100–0 km/h stops with 30 seconds between.
Distances: 33.6 m, 34.0 m, 34.5 m, 35.2 m, 35.1 m—an overall increase of 4.8%. Peak decel tapered from 1.07 g to 1.02 g by the fourth stop. Front rotor surface temps rose from 135°C post‑baseline to 420°C after the fifth; we noted light pad odor but no smoke, vibration, or green fade. A matching 60–0 mph series delivered 108 ft, 109 ft, 111 ft, 112 ft, 112 ft (+3.7%).
Modulation stayed consistent throughout, and distances stabilized once temps plateaued. Pedal feel and user experience: the fixed calipers provide a solid pressure point with minimal compliance. ABS tuning is unobtrusive, with fine pulsing and little pedal kickback; it’s easy to bleed off speed while trailing into turn‑in without triggering premature intervention. Heel‑and‑toe downshifts don’t disturb chassis balance, and left‑foot braking is natural thanks to a predictable linearity.
On coarse chip seal we heard faint pad squeal when cold; dust is moderate. Everyday and wet performance: from suburban speeds (30–0 mph), stops are smooth and drama‑free; the car resists lurching in traffic. In light rain with damp rotors, the first 100–0 km/h stop lengthened by 8% with a brief half‑beat before full bite, then normalized on subsequent stops as water was shed. Verdict: excellent real‑world braking for a street/track hatch.
Distances are short, fade resistance is strong for OEM pads and fluid, and pedal modulation inspires confidence. For heavy track days, we’d upgrade to high‑temp DOT 4 fluid and a more heat‑tolerant pad compound; otherwise, the stock setup is stout, consistent, and easy to drive at the limit.
