2023 Honda Civic Type R & 2024 Buick Envista

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Ride shotgun as we wring out the latest Honda Civic Type R... Then, coast into the garage for a fresh look at under hood detailing... We'll head out west for a rally where women lead the charge... Then, return home for Buick's new attention grabber, the Envista...

So, come drive with us, next!

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Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: Most folks are familiar with the practical, reliable, family-oriented side of Honda.

So, they might be surprised to know that performance models, of all types, have been a part of their DNA since day one.

So, what better way to get everyone up to speed than with the latest hot-rod Honda, the new Civic Type R. ♪ ♪ If you own the typical Honda, you may not think twice about letting your neighbor's kid take it out for a test drive.

But this 2023 Honda Civic Type R is not your typical Honda, so you might want to use better judgement depending on how many wings he has on his own car, and especially if it has more inches of negative camber than inches of ground clearance.

Based on the 11th gen Civic that arrived last year, the Type R is once again hatchback only, just like last gen when it was the first Type R to officially make it here to the US.

It's bigger than the last gen though, with a 1.4 inch stretched wheelbase, and a look that's more polished and perhaps more grown up.

Aerodynamics remains a priority with additional airflow up front, through the aluminum hood, and past the rear diffuser with triple exhausts.

It rides on 19 inch alloys with 265/30 high performance summer tires.

The look may be more mild-mannered, but under the hood lurks the most fury that Honda has ever unleashed in a US production car, or in any car over 30 years of Type R performance.

This 2.0 liter I4 gets a new turbocharger with 25.2 psi of max boost, plus improved intake and exhaust airflow and some Ilmor-like wizardry to produce 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

Nine more horsepower than last year and 15 additional pound-feet of torque.

It sounds fantastic at start up and only gets better from there.

Otherwise, there's nothing earth-shattering or new added into the equation; the Type R remains front-wheel-drive with a 6-speed manual transmission; just an overall refinement of the theme, with a handful of torque steer thrown in, which we're not complaining about.

At our Mason Dixon Dragway handling course, it seemed to respond better the harder we pushed it, feeling about as fun and capable as you can get in a front-wheel-drive economy car.

Steering was ridiculously direct, the tires gripped incredibly well, virtually no body roll at all, and seats that hold you in tight the whole time.

Abilities that are borderline unbelievable for any Honda.

The shifter is so good, it makes you wish Honda would put it in every car they make, or every car everyone else makes for that matter.

Updates for '23 include a lighter flywheel and revised rev-matching.

It does come with the typical Honda-soft clutch though, so launching can be tricky, trying to find the sweet spot where aggressiveness, massive wheel hop, torque steer, and speed can all coexist.

It all came together for us with a 5.2 second 0-60.

Could they improve that with some sort of dual-clutch automatic?

Probably, but the overall experience is so great here, we'd change nothing about it.

The engine revs freely, turbo lag is minimal, and it was just a joy to work down the track for a 13.8 second quarter-mile, ending at 105 miles per hour.

The Brembo brakes were more than up to the task of dealing with those speeds, stopping us from 60 in just 105 feet.

Pedal feel was good, nosedive was minimal, and stops were fade free.

There are four Drive modes to choose from, but all offer varying shades of roughness; if you need a softer edge to your performance, we'd suggest the Acura Integra Type S. Honda calls the Type R's cockpit an immersion experience, one that's loosely aligned with Touring trim; meaning 9.0 inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless phone charging, dual zone climate, and 12-speaker Bose premium audio are all standard.

And it's a Civic hatchback, so there's plenty of room to share the fun.

The Type R is priced at $44,890, with not much you can add on from there.

We automotive journalists love to use words like culmination, as in "this 2023 Honda Civic Type R is the culmination of 30 years of Type R performance and 50 years of Honda engineering ingenuity."

But you don't have to make it that complicated or lofty sounding.

Simply put, the Civic Type R is the perfect sports car in a daily-driver package.

If you've lost the joy of driving, we can't think of a better place to get it back.

♪ ♪ The annual Rebelle Rally is a unique event.

Not only is it the longest off-road rally in the US, but the competitors are all-women.

This year, 10 automakers, including Ford, Rivian, and BMW, were vying for the podium.

Our Stephanie Hart met up with the competitors in the middle of the California desert to show us how the Rebelle Rally blends their love of driving with the ultimate challenge of precise navigation.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: It's so peaceful and beautiful out here.

Sixty-five teams of two will be competing in 4x4 and X-Cross stock vehicles.

The women will be driving up to 200 miles a day, navigating a variety of checkpoints, and they're doing it the old school way with just a map and a compass.

The fierce Rebelle Rally competition takes place over eight days covering more than 1,300 miles of iconic off-road terrain.

It's not a race for speed.

It's a competition where precision driving and navigation take the driver's seat.

The 130 competitors start at Mammoth Mountain in California and end up at the California/Mexican border in the Glamis Imperial Sand Dunes.

Along the way, the terrain is stunning, but also intimidating.

A combination of dirt roads, double tracks, trails, and sand dunes.

EMILY MILLER: The best way to be a badge of honor is to make it tough.

To be something that they're proud of winning or that they're proud of just crossing the finish line.

STEPHANIE: Training to just get here is intense and typically takes months.

LAURA WANLASS: We had seat time.

We practiced navigation techniques.

So, it's a lot of preparation if you want to be successful.

STEPHANIE: There are compass and map challenges, and endurance challenges; either being on route or on time.

There's a lot of stopping along the way to problem solve; and getting stuck, like this, happens.

In the end, the highest score wins.

KRIS VOCKLER: It's like a cold plunge for six days, seven days.

What brings me back is this makes me a better leader, better mom, and a better friend.

STEPHANIE: Participants come from a broad range of professions with a large number of women in science, technology, engineering, and math.

This year temperature fluctuations along the way were insane.

It was only 14 degrees at the start of the rally and 110 degrees at the end.

The rally is a rigorous test for people and vehicles, especially EVs.

Along the way, Renewable Innovations used green hydrogen to charge the EVs.

LILLY MACARUSO: It's a game of time versus efficiency versus a lot of control with your skinny pedal to make sure you have efficiency throughout the day.

STEPHANIE: I had the opportunity to experience what it was like to be a competitor; taking a few off-road adventures in the sand dunes and learning how to navigate tough terrain without any tech.

One of the really cool things about the Rebelle Rally is it shows you just how capable the adventure vehicles in your driveway really are!

(opens car door) (closes car door) It's an unpredictable journey out here in the Glamis Sand Dunes and that's half the fun of it.

Needless to say, off-roading in the sand dunes in the extreme heat had me drinking more Gatorades than I could carry on most days.

And I camped out in these tents for three nights nearby the teams.

Clearly, I was very grateful for this nearby industrial fan and took full advantage.

(engine noise/horn blowing) From mud to mascara, the Rebelle Rally finale kicks off with a red-carpet event, music, a Michelin star chef dinner, and an awards ceremony.

In the 4x4 class, Lilly Macaruso and Alex Anderson won first place in a 2023 Rivian R1T.

This is the first time an EV has ever won the Rebelle Rally.

The women have come a long way, last year they were rookies in the competition.

Both are Rivian employees.

ALEX ANDERSON: We have a really unique perspective on it.

We know these vehicles ins and out and we worked on it so it's a little bit of an honor there.

STEPHANIE: In the X cross class, Melissa Clark and Jessica Moore won first place in a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport.

Congratulations!

JOHN: You've spent all day cleaning the outside and the inside of your pride and joy; and now the big question: do you really want to tackle the dirt and grim under the hood?

After all, most will never see it; plus, where do you start, what precautions do you take, and what tools are right for the job?

Well, Dan Maffett has all the undercover answers on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ LOGAN MCCOMBS: Keeping your ride clean is about more than just cosmetics, and that is especially true under the hood.

All the dirt and grease that builds up on your engine and related parts does a number of things: it can deteriorate hoses, belts, insulation on wiring, anything made of rubber does not like grease and oil.

Dirt on the engine can cause it to run hotter because heavier deposits like grease and grime can act as an insulator and trap heat inside the engine.

Another benefit of routinely cleaning under the hood is to help spot small fluid leaks and to get them fixed before they become big ones and lead to even bigger problems.

Now, how do you do it?

First, a little prep work goes a long way.

Let your engine cool off, disconnect the negative battery cable, remove dry dirt, debris, and loose dust under the hood with a brush or a shop vac, or even a blower.

Protect carburetors, air intakes, and wire connectors with a plastic bag or tightly wound plastic food wrap.

Engine degreasers are popular and effective: you spray them on, let the chemical soak for a bit and then rinse them off with a bare minimum of water using a mist setting.

As with any chemical used around your car, you have to read and follow the label directions.

In most cities and states there are rules for disposing of used automotive fluids, and that may include the residue from cleaning your engine.

You can use a household multi-surface cleaner on a lot of the plastic parts under the hood, but remember, unless you use a brush and scrub the parts clean, they will look great while they're wet and look as nasty as ever once they dry.

High pressure washers and under hood areas typically don't mix, but if you must, be sure to dial back the pressure and use a wide fan spray setting.

High pressures can force water inside wire connectors, light housings, and even under wire insulation, leading to corrosion down the road, or starting problems right away.

To avoid these problems, dry and blow off any remaining water under the hood.

A blower will work, compressed air; but again, be careful not to overdo the pressure.

Also, anytime you unplug a wire connector to do any repair, or change a bulb or something like that, apply some dialectic grease to the inside of the connector to help keep moisture out.

And if you have any questions or comments, reach out to us, right here at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Now, let's join Stephanie Hart and catch up on all the latest MotorNews!

STEPHANIE: We're back with the biggest reveals from the Los Angeles Auto Show, starting with two new people movers.

The popular Toyota Camry sedan enters its 9th generation.

The 5th gen hybrid system is standard, with all-wheel-drive available on all grades.

It's joined by a new SUV version of the still-fresh Crown sedan, hybrid-powered with all-wheel-drive.

The Crown Signia will eventually replace the Venza.

Honda's Prelude Concept made its North American debut; a 2-door coupe with an expected hybrid powertrain.

Clearly, the near future of Honda sports cars.

Subaru unveiled the 2025 Forester.

This 6th generation model has a 2.5 liter BOXER 4-cylinder and all-wheel-drive standard.

It also has a stiffer chassis, enhanced steering, and more tech; expected to arrive this spring with a hybrid model waiting in the wings.

Electric vehicle startup Lucid debuted their long awaited Gravity SUV.

Lucid says, "Gravity's range is in excess of 440 miles."

With a 6,000 pounds tow rating, the Gravity blends SUV versatility with Lucid luxury; all starting under $80,000, launching late 2024.

South Korean motoring was represented with new and updated models.

Hyundai showed off the new Santa Fe XRT.

Expect all-terrain tires and extra cladding for an off-road vibe.

Ground clearance is up 1.5 inches, and towing is up to 4,500 pounds.

The all-electric IONIQ 5 N was flexed as their next big performance offering.

The first N badged EV, rates up to 641 horsepower with a 0-to-60 time of three and a quarter seconds.

Kia showcased the 2024 Sorento, including a new X-Pro model.

The X-Pro wears BF Goodrich all-terrain tires on 17 inch wheels, and it ups towing to 4,000 pounds.

Expect it in early 2024.

And Genesis showed off the updated GV80 SUV and the all-new Coupe variant.

It can be outfitted with a 3.5 liter twin-turbo engine paired with a 48 volt electric supercharger, rated over 400 horsepower.

That's it for L.A. and this week's MotorNews.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: As the fall season peaks, we're finding ourselves commuting more in the dark.

Normally, that'd be a little sad; but, behind the wheel of our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, things aren't so gloomy.

Another 3,500 miles gets us close to the 15,000 mile mark.

So far, it's been almost entirely smooth sailing.

As you can imagine, we spend a lot of time driving; so, a comfortable cruiser is greatly appreciated, and our Outlander is exactly that.

The seats leave you well rested after hours of driving, and the ride is mostly quiet, aside from the occasional electric hum from the plug-in hybrid system.

Our fuel efficiency has only slightly dropped since last update, now 30.9 MPGs.

Still decent, and something we can overlook considering how easy it is to charge up the battery without actually needing a plug.

In one example, the Outlander's "EV Charge Mode" was able to put nearly 30 miles worth of juice back into the battery after 150 miles of highway driving.

Having the Outlander PHEV's gas engine to fall back on when electricity runs low is nice, but we still prefer to keep those pistons in place.

The obvious reason for that is fuel economy.

But it's also because it's a real pleasure to drive this thing in full-electric mode.

It's not like a sports car where I want to hear the engine.

I'm totally fine piloting an SUV in near silence.

The only complaints involve our personal devices; namely, we still find the wireless charger to be a bit finnicky, and hooking up an older Apple device to CarPlay is not always simple.

Still, these hardly detract from the overall positive experience.

As one logbook comment put it, "Nice SUV, Great PHEV."

We'll keep bringing you more updates soon; but first, a look at our Acura Integra on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test update.

JOHN: In case you missed it, Buick is now an all SUV brand.

That's right, no more new LeSabres or Regals prowling American streets.

But with the new utility-minded mission also comes a new focus on style, and they're about to shake things up in the small crossover segment with the all-new Envista.

♪ ♪ If you're like us, the first thing you notice about this all-new 2024 Buick Envista is that it's gorgeous.

While, everyone else in the SUV world seems to be trying to "out rugged" one another, Buick creates their sleekest and best-looking SUV ever, then drops it right into the hot premium small crossover segment.

It's low slung, has a long wheelbase, and a tall rear; but whatever you do, don't call it a hatchback, even though there is no rear wiper.

Minimal headlights are the most emphatic presentation yet of Buick's "wing lighting."

Starting with base Preferred trim, you can than either go sporty with an ST, or premium with this Avenir, which gets a Black Ice chrome grille and Pearl Nickel 19 inch alloy wheels.

For now, this Envista is front-wheel-drive only, working with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

And producing the power is a tiny 1.2 liter inline 3-cylinder turbo engine rated at just 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque.

Despite the low numbers, it feels peppy off the line, and seems to be more than adequate when scooting around the urban environments that Buick claims the Envista was designed for.

The extra-long wheelbase allows for a good amount of space inside including for the rear seat occupants of this 5-passenger utility, and lots of side glass helps to lend a spacious feel.

We found front seats very comfortable.

The dashtop features an ultrawide display enclosure that is made up of separate screens, 11 inch for infotainment, and a very simple 8.0 inch driver display.

The central touchscreen works well, and both screens are easy to read quickly.

Avenir luxury touches include unique stitching on the leather heated front seats, wireless phone charging, and a heated steering wheel, but a sporty-flair is present as well, with flat-bottom steering wheel and big traditional shifter.

Cargo capacity in back is 20.7 cubic-feet, expanding to 42.0 with the rear seatbacks folded.

A power liftgate is standard with Avenir, but can be added relatively inexpensively to other trims.

Buick has applied their "Quiet Tuning" to the Chevrolet Trax chassis used here.

It's perhaps not quite as effective as in their larger utilities, but there was surprisingly little road and engine noise in the cabin.

Avenir also has an upgraded Watts link added to the simple torsion beam rear suspension; not necessarily to improve handling but for better road isolation enabling a smoother experience.

Though, it seemed to hold up just fine in our handling course; but aggressive stability control did step in well-before we could really get a true sense of its limitations.

At a moderate pace with smooth inputs, there was very little understeer and a tolerable amount of body roll.

That peppiness we experienced on the street was present at the track too; but primarily just for getting you going.

Once, you got rolling and kept the throttle pinned, power delivery plateaued quickly and it was a lengthy 9.0 second trip to 60.

The thing that seemed to be in the biggest hurry here was the transmission trying to get into high gear as soon as possible; something you'll appreciate more on your commute than at the dragstrip where it manifested itself with a 16.8 second quarter-mile at 81 miles per hour.

There was a bit of a disconnected feel in panic braking, as the Envista seemed a little slow to respond.

Still, stable 120 foot stops from 60 miles per hour rate good.

Pricing starts at $23,495 and reaches $29,695 for the Avenir.

Obviously, sticking with base to mid-level will get you the best value, but the top Avenir makes the premium case just about as well as any rival and makes for legitimate cross shopping with an awful lot of non-luxury brands.

Though, no all-wheel-drive will surely be a deal breaker in northern climes.

You may have noticed there's no longer a circle around Buick's tri-shield logo, and much like they've visually set the shields free, Buick has unleashed their designers to make a statement in the small crossover segment.

All in all, we'd say the 2024 Buick Envista is a great effort, continuing the Buick tradition of making premium vehicles attainable.

If this is what they can do with their entry-level model, we can't wait to see what comes next.

And it sure is good looking.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time when we go on tour in a Porsche coupe on a diet, the 911 Carrera T. And we'll get a lift in the updated 2024 Jeep Wrangler.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

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(engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.