The Honda Civic Type R beat the competition and was named “Best Car To Buy 2023” by the Motor Authority. She prevailed against a wide field of competitors and won unanimously.
Each of the nominees had features and/or characteristics that we liked.
Finalists ranged from the Ford Bronco Raptor, with its incredible off-road capability, to the luxurious electric Cadillac Lyriq, to the fierce Turbo 5-powered Audi RS 3 and a trio of hot hatches, each with their own strengths.
In a perfect world, the Honda Civic Type R would include aspects from each of our finalists. Call it a flight of fancy. We call it the Frankencar, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun to think about.
Join us as we put together the Frankencar 2023, a vehicle featuring the best parts from the Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2023 finalists.
General Motors BEV3 platform and Ultium batteries
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
2022 Audi RS3
powertrain
The powertrain for the Frankencar 2023 would combine the best aspects of our internal combustion engine and electric competitors. We want the instantaneous torque of the Cadillac Lyriq’s electric powertrain, so start with the Lyriq’s single electric motor, but ramp up the power to the Braptor’s 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. Give it the sound and fury of the Audi RS 3 Turbo-5 and retain the Lyriq’s EPA ratings of 97 MPGe City, 82 Highway and 89 along with its 312-mile range.
2023 Honda Civic Type R
We’re still #GiveAShift around these parts so we keep the Civic Type R’s smooth-shifting 6-speed manual with its positive engagement and short gears. However, we could make the clutch a little heavier. Yes, we know there’s no such thing as an electric powertrain that sounds like a turbo-5 and comes with a manual gearbox. We said that’s a high, right?
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
styling
That’s totally subjective, but we’d probably have to go with the Braptor’s eye-catching brick design. The doors open. The roof comes off. Hell, it’s seven feet wide with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain K02 tires. It’s hard to miss, and yet those who don’t know might think it’s just another Bronco. Our winner, the Civic Type R, is a very functional hatchback with a ride height that allows for fantastic handling. Perhaps our Frankencar could look like the Braptor and maintain its high ride height off-road and then sniff the pavement for handling. Someone calls Multimatic and has them work on something like this statistic.
2023 Honda Civic Type R at Sonoma Raceway
2022 Audi RS3
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
dynamics
The Civic Type R has incredible cornering ability, especially considering it’s a front-wheel drive car. We stick with the Type R’s confidence-inspiring stability and its shocking ability to carry speed through Esses. We’ll add the RS 3’s Drift mode for rear-end fun and opt for the Lyriq’s smooth ride quality.
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
But our Frankencar would have another side to its personality: the off-road capability of the Braptor. This Bronco is too damn big for the assembly line. We definitely want access to its insane stance, which sits 13.0 inches off the ground and is 8.6 inches wider than a standard Bronco. Then we’d like its 13.0 inches of front and 14.0 inches of rear travel, as well as its separating anti-roll bar, front and rear lockers, and eight-mode all-wheel-drive system with a 2-speed transfer case. Nothing could stop this year’s Frankencar on-road or off-road.
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
2022 Audi RS3
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
2023 Honda Civic Type R
Inner
The Lyriq’s inner simplicity and wow factor cannot be ignored. It’s built mostly of premium materials and has the most space, but there are a few cheap plastics on low-set, non-visible surfaces. We can trade in some of the RS 3’s better materials to beef it up. We’ll also add the Civic Type R’s high-back bucket seats and metal shift knob, and leverage the durability of the Braptor’s custom interior. It’s spacious, sporty, luxurious and practical, all in one cabin.
2022 Hyundai KonaN
value
The Civic Type R retails for $43,990, so it’s not what it was when it arrived in the US for the 2017 model year. Our Frankencar would be a screaming deal, with the Hyundai Kona N priced at $35,495. That would make it very close to the 2017 Civic Type R’s price of $34,775. Ah, the good old days.
Welcome to our imagination. Now someone flips the switches, turns on the tubes, and puts the metal patient on the table to bring this Frankencar to life.