Is Honda Type R rear-wheel-drive?

No. Honda Type R models have been front-wheel-drive in every production road car to date, and as of 2025 there is no production rear-wheel-drive Civic Type R or other Type R model.

What qualifies as Type R and which models exist today

To understand the question, it helps to know how Honda has used the Type R badge over the years and what drives the current lineup. The Type R designation is reserved for Honda/Acura’s high-performance variants, but those cars have historically leaned on front-wheel-drive rather than rear-wheel-drive.

Before listing the key examples, note that the current Type R offerings and notable past variants illustrate the consistent FWD layout across production models.

• Civic Type R (FK8, launched around 2017): front-wheel drive with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, tuned for high-agility handling and a high-revving character, all paired with a manual transmission.


• Civic Type R (FL5, launched around 2023–2024): continues front-wheel drive with further refinements to power, aero, and chassis tuning, still a high-performance FWD hot hatch with a manual gearbox.


• Historically, other Type R variants (such as the Integra Type R from the 1990s) were also front-wheel-drive; none of the traditional production Type R cars used rear-wheel-drive layouts.


• By contrast, the NSX Type S is not a Type R and uses a mid-engine hybrid all-wheel-drive setup, illustrating that Honda’s performance strategy includes AWD in some models but not under the Type R badge.

In sum, production Type R cars to date have been front-wheel-drive; there is no current production rear-wheel-drive Type R model, and Honda has not announced a RWD Type R variant.

Context, performance philosophy, and future prospects

Where the Type R badge fits in Honda’s performance lineup

The Type R badge is synonymous with lightweight, high-revving, driver-focused performance—often achieved through sophisticated chassis tuning and aggressive aerodynamics—yet Honda has chosen to apply this ethos primarily to front-drive platforms. There has been no official move to reintroduce a rear-wheel-drive Type R in production road cars as of 2025. Enthusiasts who seek rear-drive performance from Honda-brand vehicles typically look to other models in Honda/Acura’s broader lineup or to vehicles from other automakers.

Another context to consider is that Honda’s broader performance offerings include the mid-engine, all-wheel-drive NSX (including the Type S variant), which demonstrates the company’s willingness to pursue AWD performance, just not under the Type R banner.

Summary

Honda’s Type R lineage, including the Civic Type R models in FK8 and FL5 generations, remains front-wheel-drive. There is no production rear-wheel-drive Type R on the market as of 2025, and Honda has not announced any RWD Type R variant. The Type R badge continues to denote high-performance FWD specialists in Honda’s lineup, while other high-performance models like the NSX Type S explore AWD configurations outside the Type R naming convention.

Is the Civic Type R front or rear-wheel drive?

The Honda Civic Type R is front-wheel drive (FWD), a layout Honda has perfected in this high-performance hatchback. It uses advanced engineering and a limited-slip differential to minimize torque steer and maximize performance, setting lap records for FWD cars on tracks like the Nürburgring.
 

• Layout: The current and all previous generations have been front-wheel drive. 
• Performance: Honda has engineered the car to be incredibly effective and balanced, despite its powerful engine, according to this YouTube video and this YouTube video. 
• Benefits: By keeping the FWD layout, Honda has created a highly capable performance car that is also practical and affordable compared to a purpose-built rear-wheel drive (RWD) sports car, says Reddit users. 
• Championship: The Civic Type R holds the lap time record for a front-wheel-drive car at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, further demonstrating its FWD prowess, notes Honda Global. 

Are there any RWD Hondas?

Yes, Honda has made rear-wheel drive (RWD) cars in the past, with the most famous examples being the S2000 and the original NSX. However, Honda has largely moved away from RWD, with its modern lineup consisting almost entirely of front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles, primarily for cost, packaging, and fuel efficiency reasons. While there is speculation about future RWD models, particularly in their electric lineup, they have not been widely available in recent years.
 
Past RWD Honda models

• Honda S2000: A well-known two-seat roadster produced from 1999 to 2009, celebrated for its high-revving engine and RWD performance. 
• Honda NSX: The original first-generation NSX was a mid-engined RWD sports car. 
• Honda S660: A Kei-class sports car with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, available mainly in Japan. 

Reasons for shifting away from RWD

• Cost and efficiency: FWD platforms are generally cheaper to produce, require less complex drivetrains, and are more space-efficient, which allows for more interior and cargo room. 
• Strategic focus: Honda's current strategy prioritizes FWD, AWD, and hybrid/electric powertrains, which are seen as more central to their future business. 
• Market trends: The demand for traditional sports car platforms has decreased, and Honda has focused on other vehicle segments. 

Potential future RWD models

• Electrification: The nature of electric powertrains makes it easier to implement RWD by placing a motor at the rear, and some new models in China have RWD as a standard feature. This could lead to a greater presence of RWD in Honda's future lineup. 

Is the Honda Civic Type R rear-wheel drive?

The front-drive-only Honda uses an innovative dual-axis strut front suspension that does a terrific job of suppressing the kind of annoying torque steer that can make the front end dart under hard acceleration.

What is the difference between Type R and Type R GT?

Honda Civic Type R vs Type R GT
The Type R GT is also essentially a more well-equipped version of the standard Type R, featuring extras such as blind-spot monitoring and a more premium sound system.