These 10 Hondas Should Have Been Illegal—They Were That Good

2. Honda Civic Type R (EK9, 1997-2000)

The EK9 Civic Type R rewrote the rulebook for hot hatches, thanks to its screaming VTEC engine and razor-sharp handling.
Honda’s engineers packed this lightweight hatchback with a race-tuned chassis and a 1.6-liter engine that revved past 8,000 rpm, creating a car that felt track-ready right off the showroom floor.
As Top Gear notes, the EK9 quickly became a cult favorite, celebrated for its purity and raw driving thrills.