The Honda Civic Type R beats the competition to earn Motor Authority’s 2023 Best Car To Buy honors. It took on a wide field of competitors and won unanimously.
Each nominee has equipment and/or defining characteristics that we like.
Finalists ranged from the incredible off-road capability of the Ford Bronco Raptor to the luxurious electric Cadillac Lyriq to the wild turbo-5 powered Audi RS 3 to three hot hatchbacks with their own personalities.
In a perfect world, the Honda Civic Type R would blend aspects of each of our finalists. Call it whimsy. We call it Frankencar, and it’s so fun to think about.
Join us as we piece together the 2023 Frankencar, a car with Motor Authority’s 2023 Best Car To Buy finalist.
GM’s BEV3 platform and Ultium batteries
2022 Ford Mustang Raptor
2022 Audi RS 3
Powertrain
The 2023 Frankencar’s powertrain will combine the best aspects of our internal combustion engine and electric competitors. We wanted the instant torque of Cadillac’s Lyriq electric powertrain, so start with the Lyriq’s single electric motor, but boost output to the Braptor’s 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. Give it the sound and fury of an Audi RS 3 turbo-5, and keep the Lyriq’s EPA ratings of 97 MPGe city, 82 highway, and 89 combined with 312 miles of range.
2023 Honda Civic Type R
We’re still #GiveAShift around these parts, so we’ll retain the Civic Type R’s 6-speed manual transmission’s smooth shifting, aggressive engagement and short throw. We might make the clutch a little heavier, though. Yes, we know of no electric powertrain that sounds like a turbo 5 with a manual transmission. We said it was a fantasy, didn’t we?
2022 Ford Mustang Raptor
modeling
This is definitely subjective, but we may have to live with Braptor’s face brick design. The door fell. The roof fell off. Hell, it’s 7 feet wide and has 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain K02 tires. It’s hard to miss, however, and those unaware might think it’s just another Bronco. Our winner, the Civic Type R, is a very usable hatchback with a ride height that allows for excellent handling. Maybe our Frankencar could look like a Braptor and maintain a high ride height off-road before sniffing the road for handling. Someone call Multimatic and let them work on something like this stat.
2023 Honda Civic Type R at Sonoma Raceway
2022 Audi RS 3
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
dynamics
The Civic Type R offers incredible cornering prowess, especially considering it’s a front-wheel-drive car. We’ll stick with the Type R’s exhilarating stability and its mind-blowing overdrive prowess. We’d add the RS 3’s drift mode for rear-end fun, complemented by the Lyriq’s supple ride quality.
2022 Ford Mustang Raptor
But our Frankenstein car has another side to its personality: the Braptor’s off-road abilities. This Bronco is too fucking high for the assembly line. We definitely want to see its crazy stance with 13.0 inches off the ground and 8.6 inches wider than the standard Bronco. Then we want its 13.0 inches of front and 14.0 inches of rear suspension travel, as well as its split sway bars, front and rear lockers, and eight-mode four-wheel-drive system with a 2-speed transfer case. There’s nothing stopping this year’s Frankencar from being driven on or off the road.
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
2022 Audi RS 3
2022 Ford Mustang Raptor
2023 Honda Civic Type R
Internal
The Lyriq’s interior simplicity and wow factor cannot be overlooked. It’s mostly made of high-quality materials and has the most room, but it also has some cheap plastic on the low, unseen surfaces. We can spruce it up with some nicer materials from RS 3 instead. We’d also add the Civic Type R’s high-back bucket front seats and metal shift knob, and take advantage of the durability of the Braptor’s purpose-built interior. Spacious, sporty, luxurious and practical all in one cabin.
2022 Hyundai Kona N
value
The Civic Type R costs $43,990, so it’s no longer what it was when it arrived in the US for the 2017 model year. Our Frankencar would be an amazing deal, with a Hyundai Kona N at $35,495. That would put it very close to the 2017 Civic Type R’s $34,775 price tag. Ah, the good old days.
Welcome to our fantasy. Now, someone flipped a switch, energized the tubes, and placed the metal patient on the table to bring this Frankenka back to life.