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Honda Civic vs Abarth 595

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$47,200 - $72,600

2024 price

Abarth 595
Abarth 595

$24,488 - $29,990

2018 price

Summary

2024 Honda Civic
2018 Abarth 595
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.9L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

4
Dislikes
  • Price, maybe
  • Limited availability
  • Likely a swansong

  • Terrible driving position
  • Ride not great around town
  • No reversing camera
2024 Honda Civic Summary

Before we dive in, this isn’t your typical road test. 

That’s because there’s no road, per se. Instead, the majority of what you’re about to read comes from The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

You’ve read the headline, though, so you’re probably putting it all together: a Honda Civic Type R on a well-liked race track must be bliss. Let’s find out.

A very quick catch-up for those not in the know. The Honda Civic Type R (or CTR if you like) is the brand’s only performance model on sale after the demise of the NSX supercar. 

The current (FL5) CTR is a little over a year old, having been launched internationally in late 2022, but has only been on Aussie shores for a little while. In fact, we’ve already reviewed it for the road, back in April.

But Honda Australia was keen to get media behind the wheel in a setting it says the CTR thrives in - a racetrack. Its predecessor was a car loved almost universally, can this one live up to the new standard?

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2018 Abarth 595 Summary

Since 1949, Abarth has been giving the venerable Italian brand, Fiat, a patina of performance, based largely on giant-killing feats in small modified cars like the Fiat 600 of the 1960s.

More recently, the brand has been revived to boost the fortunes of the smallest Fiat on sale in Australia. Known formally as the Abarth 595, the tiny hatch packs a bit of a surprise under its distinctive snout.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Honda Civic 2018 Abarth 595

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