6. Honda Civic Type R
The latest addition to the powerful four-cylinder car club is the fifth generation Honda Civic Type R. The new performance Civic looks like every racer’s dream with numerous spoilers, scoops and air vents all over the body. The aggressive design, great performance and JDM appeal make this Civic a valuable and highly sought-after addition to the hot hatch class.
For long, Honda has resisted the temptation to turbocharge its performance engines. But now, the Civic Type R has exactly that under the hood, which is the same as any other competitor in the class. The 2.0-liter turbo four delivers 306 HP and can propel the nasty-looking Civic Type R to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and top 170 mph.
The acceleration times are somewhat slower than its competitors because the Civic is front-wheel drive and not AWD like most other models in its class. However, the absence of heavy all-wheel-drive hardware makes the Civic Type R a light and nimble car, which is something hardcore performance driving enthusiasts will appreciate.