SPORTING a look reminiscent of the wildly outrageous vehicles in the action film Mad Max, the Honda Civic Type R is not a car for the shy and retiring.

The latest version of this legendary hot hatch has been newly-engineered from the ground up with the aim of delivering the most rewarding driving experience in the segment.

Honda describes the car’s silhouette as “aggressive and confident” – a statement you’d find hard to dispute once your mind has processed the armoury of extra bits and pieces bolted on to this car.

There are skirts, splitters, 20-inch alloys, ducts, diffusers, an immense back spoiler, the imposing bonnet scoop, and the eye-catching exhaust pipes – all three of them.

Yes, this is a car that shouts very loudly about its sporty pedigree and, in the eyes of some observers, may seem a little over the top in terms of appearance.

But it’s not all show. When it comes to performance, the Civic Type R offers the kind of acceleration and top speed that nobody of sound mind would consider using to its full potential on the public roads.

Indeed, its blistering 0-62mph acceleration of 5.8 seconds and top speed of 169mph are clearly best reserved for track days.

And that’s exactly where the Type R confirmed its sporty credentials in 2017 when a development car lapped the Nurburgring circuit in a record time for a front wheel drive car – seven minutes and 43.8 seconds.

In real world driving conditions, the 320ps of power and 400Nm of torque can be enjoyed in a more conservative manner, offering superb grunt out of corners and allowing overtaking manoeuvres to be completed more swiftly.

Peak power can be found at 6,500rpm, just before the red line, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine also pulls nicely from lower down the rev range.

In slippery conditions, the Type R can struggle to put all that power down on the road through the front wheels alone.

When accelerating through corners in lower gears, there’s also a bit of torque steer to be aware of.

That said, the overall handling of the latest generation Type R has unquestionably improved and isn’t as twitchy as on previous incarnations. The steering feels accurate and weighty, with decent feedback, while body roll is very well contained in the tighter corners.

Inside the Type R, it’s not difficult to get comfortable. The body-hugging seats are mounted in a low driving position, while the steering wheel has a wide range of adjustment. The interior is full of nice touches, including the stylish metal-topped gearstick, which looks and feels just as smooth as the gear changes it produces.

Soft-touch materials can be found in abundance, with red stitching picking out some of the key features.

The eight-speaker audio system produces a crisp sound, especially when listening to music, while the seven-inch touchscreen is clear and user-friendly.

The location of the USB ports is interesting. If you like them to be tucked out of the way, you’ll like what Honda have done, but those who like them a little closer to hand may grumble.

For all its extravagance, it’s worth noting that the Civic Type R is quite usable on a daily basis. It’s spacious, with the room in the rear meaning it can double as a practical family car. It also offers a decent-sized boot and a very generous loading space with the back seats down.

Ride-quality can be a little bumpy due to the firm suspension setting, although the car becomes less crashy over the bumps when you engage comfort mode. Fuel economy also becomes more favourable in comfort mode, although it’s nothing to celebrate as I struggled to get above 30mpg in most everyday driving conditions.

In conclusion, the Type R is loud and proud, fast and fun, yet still practical enough to transport the family from A to B in comfort.

The Lowdown

Honda Civic Type R GT

PRICE: £33,525 on the road

ENGINE: 2.0-litre VTEC turbo

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds and top speed of 169mph

EMISSIONS: 176g/km

FUEL: 36.7mpg combined

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, front wheel drive