Every Honda Sports Car You Should Know
Honda’s line of sports cars goes beyond the Civic—but of course, the tuner favorite is on our list, too.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
While the Honda brand is known for its practicality and reliability, the carmaker got its break in the West by marketing a new kind of sports car—one that middle-class families could afford: the S600.
The
Honda Motor Company
got its start making bicycle engines, motorcycles, and tiny utility pickup trucks in post-WWII Japan. Out of the carnage of the war, the company grew to become a household name in Japan and abroad, comfortably securing its position in the U.S. car market. When you hear Honda, you probably think of the
Civic
—a model beloved by weekday commuters and hot rod tuners alike for its durability, reliability, and performance. But Honda has developed an admirable line of sports cars beyond the Civic, including some that have outperformed elite European sports cars on the track. Read on to find out more about every Honda sports car you should know from
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversDoes Honda make sports cars?
Yes, you can get a Honda sports car right off the factory line without modifying or tuning a single thing (although Honda has secured a large share of
car modding
culture in the U.S., too). If you’re looking for something powerful, fast, and affordable, you can find it in a Honda. For instance, take a look at the 2022
Honda Civic Si
. This little turbocharged four-cylinder compact sports car goes 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds with 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, all for a starting price of $28,595. Keep reading to check out some of the best Honda sports cars on the road, and one that’s slated to come out soon.
1966-1970 Honda S800
The Honda S800 was intended for eventual export to American markets, but it sadly never made it that far. However, the buggy-looking little coupe roadster made it to Britain to compete with contemporaries like the famed MG Midget and Austin-Healey Sprite.
It had a remarkable 791-cc (that’s less than 1.0-liter) straight-four engine that was married to a four-speed manual synchromesh transmission with a redline of 9,500 rpm. Oddly, it relied on a chain drive, like those typically used for motorcycles, when it debuted, but Honda eventually switched it over to a traditional driveshaft.
The S800 was Honda’s third attempt at marketing a car. Previously, they’d made motorcycles and small work trucks before jumping into the S500 and S600, which perfected the use of an all-aluminum engine to save weight.
What sets the S800 apart from its predecessors is that it was Honda’s first car to hit 100 mph—blasting past its British counterparts. In 1967, Honda started selling the S800 in Britain, sparking worldwide interest in the new 70-horsepower two-seater from Japan.
2009 Honda S2000
Sadly discontinued in 2009, the
Honda S2000
likely peaked in its model year 2004, when a few tweaks upped its performance while maintaining the bare-bones, tough styling of a true track-ready sports car. Its four-cylinder, all-aluminum engine achieved 240 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 161 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm, taking the hard-top convertible from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. Even though it was made to be more comfortable and highway-friendly than prior generations of the S2000, the 2004 model still hit a top speed of 160 mph. It was no slouch!
With stiffer springs, better shocks, and a wider set of rear tires introduced in 2004, the S2000 tempered its wild reputation as a track car by offering a little more handling control. These changes made the S2000 more pleasurable to drive—but it was still a serious sports car.
With only two seats, two cup holders, and practically no insulation, the S2000 isn’t a comfortable daily driver, though. It’s a toy for people who love performance.
2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition
The Honda Civic Type R makes one thing clear: It’s a car for people who love to drive. This is obvious by the fact that you can only get one with a six-speed manual transmission.
It would seem a crime to stick an automatic transmission on the Civic Type R’s 306-horsepower, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. It’s a powerful beast with front-wheel drive that has somehow eliminated the phenomenon of torque-steer while delivering 295 pound-feet at 2,500 rpm, with a top speed of 169 mph.
And the Civic Type R isn’t just fast. It’s quick, achieving a 0 to 60 time of just 4.8 seconds. This four-door performance hatchback has earned worthy comparisons to the
Volkswagen Golf R
and the Subaru WRX STI
. And, keeping in line with Honda’s economically accessible tradition, the Civic Type R Limited Edition starts at just $45,010. The 2021
Civic Type R Touring
is much cheaper, at $38,910, but this trim lacks the Limited Edition performance tires and weighs about 38 more pounds. Honda didn’t produce a Type R for 2022, but the company has teased the upcoming 2023 Type R, which thankfully, will only come with a manual transmission.
A history of the Honda sports car
The Honda S800, S2000, Civic Si, and Civic Type R are just a few of the carmaker’s long list of performance vehicles. Here’s a brief rundown of the Honda’s sports car development:
1963-1970: After making motorcycles and Kei pickup trucks, Honda launched its first-ever roadster: the S500. Its 531-cc engine hit 9,500 rpm. This was followed by continuing improvements for the S600 and ultimately the S800, which was marketed as a coupe and roadster in Britain. Production for the S-line ceased in 1970.
1978: By this time, Honda had established itself in the American market with economical, practical models like the Civic and Accord. But the Prelude was a sporty game-changer. Built on the Accord’s drivetrain and suspension, the Prelude sat much lower to the ground and had a shorter wheelbase, improving its speed and handling.
1983: Following the Prelude, Honda developed the CRX, which borrowed a lot from the Civic. But, similarly to the Prelude, it featured a lower profile and shorter wheelbase. In 1985, Honda introduced the 1.5-liter fuel-injected CRX, which gave drivers a sporty yet economical and comfortable hatchback option.
1984: Inspired by the performance and comfort of the CRX, in 1984, Honda debuted the Civic Si, featuring something the CRX didn’t offer: back seats. Ultimately, the CRX would be discontinued as the Civic Si offered optimal performance and comfort to budget car shoppers.
1997: The Civic Type R was launched, taking the practical, comfortable Honda Civic and souping it up for compact sports car performance. The first generation’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine got 182 horsepower.
1999: The Honda S2000 was launched in time for the new millennium, paying homage to the S-Series that started it all in 1966. The S2000 was a two-seater mid-engine sports car. Despite offering the most powerful engine in its class, it was discontinued in 2009.
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How to save money on Honda insurance
It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a Honda for comfort, for speed, or both—you’ll still want to get the best car insurance at the best price available to cover this iconic car.
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