Honda Civic Type R FL5 or VW Golf R Mk8? They're rivals, so owners often weigh one against the other. Here's how far each one goes, using the makers' and tuners' own figures from our two guides.
At a glance
| Honda Civic Type R FL5 | VW Golf R Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2022– (US model year 2023 on) | 2021– |
| Engine | 2.0 turbo four K20C1 | 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen 4 |
| Stock power | 315 hp / 310 lb-ft (US) | 315 hp / 310 lb-ft (US) |
Power by stage
| Honda Civic Type R FL5 | VW Golf R Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | 303 whp | 315 hp |
| Stage 1 | 320–338 whp | 386–442 hp |
| Stage 2 | 335–361 whp | 410–455 hp |
| Stage 3 | 500–525 whp | 500+ hp |
| Stage 4 | 600–750+ whp | 600+ hp |
Careful: one car's figures are at the wheels (whp) and the other's at the engine (hp), so they aren't directly comparable. Convert with the crank to wheel calculator.
Typical parts cost
| Honda Civic Type R FL5 | VW Golf R Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Cobb Accessport $770 or Hondata FlashPro $795; DTE €799; Mishimoto intercooler $1,300. | APR $600, or $1,600 as APR Plus with a powertrain warranty; Unitronic CAD 700 at a Canadian dealer (its gearbox tune and intercooler are extra). |
| Stage 2 | PRL intake $490 and front pipe $429; TSP tune $295 (needs a FlashPro); Hondata fuel system $2,995. | the same APR file ($600); Unitronic Stage 2 CAD 750; APR intake $450. |
| Stage 3 | turbos $2,200–$4,800 (27WON, PRL, Full-Race); PLM's full package $11,995; Exedy clutch £638. | — |
List prices from the guides, before shipping, import tax and fitting. "—" means that guide has no cost line for the stage.
Where each one ends up
At Stage 4 the Honda Civic Type R FL5 reaches 600–750+ whp and the VW Golf R Mk8 600+ hp.