Honda Civic Type R vs Renault Megane RS 265 vs Volkswagen Golf R: War of the Hot Hatches

Hatchback body style has been marketed worldwide with size ranging from superminis to small family cars, as well as executive cars and sports cars. This segment has always managed to capture a majority of the market in Malaysia's automotive industry. Being known for their impressive fuel economies, these cars are also a personal favourate among people looking for family cars. Malaysians prefer this body style for their compact size and value for money aspect as well.

Currently, the trio which is a dream for every hatch lover in Malaysia includes Honda Civic Type R, Renault Megane RS 265 and Volkswagen Golf R. All three of them have their own appeal and hence give head to head competition to each other. That is where the confusion starts. Thus to make your decision-making task easier, we have drawn a basic comparison between these mean machines. You would be able to get a general idea about their engine specifications, interior, exterior and dimensions.

Price

Dimensions

Engine

Exterior

Interior

The new Civic Type R is Honda's latest salvo in the ongoing hot hatchback war. It features a sporty body which is further accentuated by its huge alloy wheels and rear spoiler. This car also gets the Honda's all-new 'H' badge which defines a new body style. It also debuts Honda's first ever direct-injected turbocharged engine and a new 'R' mode. This new engine is a part of Honda's next-generation Earth Dreams Technology series.

There has been much excitement in the hot-hatch world due to Renault Megane RS 265. This car differentiates itself with its limited-slip front differential and Cup chassis. As soon as you push its 'RS' button, the revolutions rise, the steering gets heavier, exhaust noise from the back gets a little louder and throttle response becomes sharper. Renault Megane RS 265 cements its place as one of the best of its kind in terms of sheer dynamic ability and thrills. It is a superb package when it comes to driving with conviction.

The Volkswagen Golf R has managed to grab the attention of all hatch lovers throughout the world. This car is the fastest, most powerful and most agile variant of Golf platform that you can buy today. Using a combination of German engineering and electronic witchcraft, this car is quick when you want it and comfy when you need it. With such a blend of sophistication and rawness, it’s hard to escape the feeling that this Golf R is a cult classic in the making.

Verdict

Although all of them feature a similar engine, the most powerful one turns out to be Honda Civic Type R with an impressive power and torque figures. For all those speed lovers, Volkswagen Golf R would be a good option as it is the fastest in the lot with a century sprint timing of 5 seconds. Apart from being fastest, this car also delivers best in class mileage of 6.9 L/100 Km. With the price comes features, so if you are ready to shell out a whopping amount of RM251,888 then you could be a proud owner of Volkswagen Golf R which is most expensive among the lot. But if you think, why to invest extra 50k for some additional features then you can opt for Renault Megane RS 265. Apart from these two, Honda Civic Type R also turns out to be a good option as a car worth its price.

*Price of Honda Civic Type R is an expected price from Carbay, while other two are confirmed.