Honda has confirmed wait times for its Civic Type R hot hatch have been cut significantly in Australia.

    A company spokesperson confirmed anyone who orders a Civic Type R in December 2023 should get the keys in March 2024, equivalent to a wait of around three months.

    It’s a significant improvement on the 20 months Honda expected you’d be waiting for a Type R at the beginning of 2023, and provides some relief from the hot hatch shortage holding back enthusiast buyers locally.

    The Volkswagen Golf R has been off sale since February 2023, although stock of the less powerful Golf GTI is available, while Hyundai has only recently started taking orders of its i20 N and i30 N hatchbacks after working through a significant backlog.

    With the Toyota GR Corolla and GR Yaris still hot property, the Ford Focus ST gone from Australia, and the Renault Megane RS about to be retired for good, times remain tough for anyone keen on a pocket rocket.

    If you’re willing to go electric, MG will sell you the MG 4 XPower for just shy of $60,000 before on-roads. It does the 100km/h sprint in just 3.8 seconds, making it significantly faster than any of its rivals, although it’s not a corner carver like a Type R.

    MORE: Everything Honda Civic

    Scott Collie

    Scott Collie is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Scott studied journalism at RMIT University and, after a lifelong obsession with everything automotive, started covering the car industry shortly afterwards. He has a passion for travel, and is an avid Melbourne Demons supporter.

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