The Honda Civic Type R Secures Hat-Trick at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2025

The Honda Civic Type R has claimed the coveted Hot Hatch of the Year title for the third year running at the 2025 Auto Express New Car Awards, further solidifying its status as the ultimate performance hatchback.

Now in its sixth generation, the Civic Type R continues to set the benchmark for hot hatches. This latest win marks a hat-trick of consecutive awards—2023, 2024, and 2025—highlighting the model’s exhilarating performance, razor-sharp handling, and deep motorsport pedigree.

The Auto Express New Car Awards remain a standout in the automotive industry calendar, recognizing excellence across 27 categories. The awards focus on what truly matters to buyers, including practicality, efficiency, affordability, reliability, and of course, driving pleasure. Judged by a panel of seasoned automotive experts, the awards aim to guide consumers toward the most outstanding cars on the market.

“Honda is incredibly proud to see the Civic Type R achieve a third consecutive win as Hot Hatch of the Year,” said Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda Motor Europe - UK. “These accolades highlight the strength of the Type R, and we’re now excited for what the future holds with our driver-focused hybrid models.”

Auto Express Editor Paul Barker echoed the praise: “It’s testament to the Civic Type R’s world-class engineering that it has held off some excellent competition to grab a hat-trick of Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year awards. This level of chassis balance and performance shouldn’t be possible in a family car, but it’s a wonderful combination of all that is good about a hot hatch.”

A Celebrated Legacy Draws to a Close in Europe

While the Civic Type R continues to impress, 2025 also marks the final chapter for the iconic hot hatch in Europe. Honda has confirmed that sales of the Type R will end across the continent, as the brand pivots toward its electrified future and tightens its focus on hybrid and full-electric vehicles to meet evolving emissions regulations.

The departure of the Type R from European showrooms signals the end of an era for performance enthusiasts. Revered for its purist driving experience, manual gearbox, and track-honed dynamics, the Civic Type R has built a loyal fan base since its European debut in 2001. Although enthusiasts may mourn its exit, Honda has made it clear that performance will remain at the heart of its electrified strategy.

As the Civic Type R bows out from Europe on a high note—with a third consecutive Auto Express title—it leaves a legacy few rivals can match.

View Civic Type-R

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