THE Honda Civic Type R is famed for its outlandish, hardcore looks and for being the fastest front-drive car around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. So its performance credentials were never in doubt when we were handed the keys.

What we never expected was just how practical, comfortable and easy to drive the Type R would be. Looks really can be deceiving.

Further surprises emerged when we drove it as Honda’s engineers intended, too. Read on to find out why.