Porsche Cayman GT4 vs. Honda Civic Type R: which is better?
We take the battle to the track as we put hot hatch against performance coupé – should you get a Civic Type R or a Cayman GT4?
In this head-to-head, we pitch the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 against the incredibly popular Honda Civic Type R to find out which is best for you.
Knowing that you won’t spend all your time on the track, we also compare how these cars are to live with, considering things like practicality and technology.
If you’re looking for your next performance car and can’t decide whether to stay with something practical or push the boat out and get a more dedicated model, continue reading to see what makes these models different.
Honda Civic Type R vs. Porsche Cayman GT4: which has more style?
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Every manufacturer seems to have performance models of its mainstream cars these days, but few have the genuine appeal of the Honda Civic Type R and Porsche Cayman GT4 – and both for different reasons.
The Honda Civic Type R has an angular and aggressive design that’s very bold and out-there, which adds to its charm.
For example, the rear bumper has had huge revisions compared with the standard Civic and features three centrally mounted exhaust pipes. Above all of this is a ludicrously big spoiler.
This distinctive wing not only improves downforce at higher speeds, helping to make the Civic Type R more stable, but it also gives the car huge amounts of presence on the road or the track.
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Its side profile is one of its more surprising features because it reveals how long the Civic is.
At more than 4.5 metres long, it’s longer than your typical family hatchback, but that’s exactly what the Civic is beneath all of the extra styling of the Type R – a practical, five-door family hatch.
The Porsche Cayman GT4, on the other hand, has a much more familiar coupé design.
Because it sits very close to the top of the Cayman tree, just under the Cayman GT4 RS, you can expect significant styling enhancements.
Just like the Civic, this performance Cayman also has a large rear wing, but the overall design of the car is more understated.
There are other nods to this car’s fast-paced nature around the car, such as the large air intakes on the front bumper and the slit at the bottom of the bonnet.
What is it like to drive a Honda Civic Type R vs. Cayman GT4?
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Both of these models offer very different driving experiences, not just compared with other regular cars, but also compared with one another.
The Civic Type R is a front-wheel-drive hot hatch that’s designed to be practical and incredibly fun to drive.
It has a 320hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’s paired to a gearbox with relatively short ratios, meaning that you can engage yourself with changing gears more frequently.
Its brakes are also very confidence-inspiring, but there’s no escaping the fact that it’s a heavily tuned family car, so you’ll sit reasonably high.
Though less common, Honda also sold Limited Edition models, which are even lighter.
They’re hardcore hot hatches without air-conditioning and an infotainment system (all in the name of weight reduction), and have even firmer suspension.
Regular Type R models have slightly more forgiving suspension setups, which helps make them more comfortable if you plan on using your Type R as a daily driver.
The Cayman GT4 is clearly built with the driver in mind and has a well-thought-out setup. For example, it’s mid-engined and rear-wheel-drive, which gives it a good weight distribution for performance driving and responsiveness.
Although it has a large 420hp 4.0-litre, flat-six naturally aspirated engine, you can still find models with manual transmissions for the ultimate experience (though smooth-shifting automatics are just as good).
It feels planted and stable in corners, and drivers will be able to feel the road through the steering wheel and driving position.
What is the technology in the Porsche Cayman GT4 and Civic Type R?
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Despite its sporty nature, the Cayman is still a typical Porsche, which means it’s a premium product.
It has a very good touchscreen system that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options.
Because it’s a driver-first car, plenty of physical controls for things like climate control and other car settings sit on the centre console, which can be easier to use than a touchscreen on the go.
Moreover, the Porsche Cayman has plenty of car tech like adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, and a powerful sound system.
The Civic Type R is similarly impressive and benefits from its own infotainment system (except for Limited Edition models) with smartphone connectivity options.
The design of the digital instrument cluster is a nice touch – it puts the rev counter front and foremost, with a digital speedometer within.
Porsche Cayman GT4 vs. Civic Type R dimensions and boot space
The Porsche Cayman GT4 measures 4,456mm long, 1,994mm wide and 1,269mm tall. It’s similar in size to an Audi TT, but the Porsche is longer.
Similarly, the Honda Civic Type R is longer than most other family hatchbacks. It’s 4,557mm long, 2,076mm wide and 1,434mm tall.
Comparing boot space for both of these models isn’t necessarily fair, because one is a hot hatch and the other is a sporty coupé.
The Honda Civic’s 420-litre boot is pretty impressive by any standard, offering 40 litres more than the Volkswagen Golf.
The Porsche Cayman has a smaller 270-litre boot, but because the engine is mounted in the middle, it has additional storage under the bonnet.
A further 130 litres of storage in the Porsche’s ‘frunk’ is more than you’ll find in the front of a Tesla Model Y.
Cayman GT4 vs. Civic Type R: which is more reliable?
While both cars have good reputations when it comes to reliability, customer feedback can often vary given the price points.
For example, while few owners have any serious problems with a Porsche Cayman, those that do generally face higher repair bills.
The GT4 was a short-lived model – Porsche only sold it for four years, so there’s not an awful lot of data on this specific model, but it’s not too dissimilar from more standard Cayman variations.
Honda as a brand is consistently ranked highly in terms of dependability, and the Civic Type R benefits from that.
Remember, though, that all cars need proper maintenance, and this is especially true of sports cars, so be prepared to foot the bill for higher running costs than you would typically expect from a more sedate family car.
Used Honda Civic Type R vs. used Porsche Cayman GT4: which should I buy?
Comparing these cars isn’t like comparing apples with apples, and they both target different drivers – not least because the Porsche cost twice as much as the Honda when it was new.
Because it’s vastly more affordable, practical and familiar, the Honda Civic Type R has built up a large fan base and appeals to families and enthusiasts alike.
For something more unique and exhilarating, consider the Porsche Cayman GT4.