Honda Civic Type R sold out for two years, Civic and HR-V hybrid wait times hit nine months – UPDATE

UPDATE, 17 February 2023: Wait times for the 2023 Honda Civic Type R are now up to two years – up from 20 months two weeks ago – amid high demand and limited supply for Honda's new hot hatch.

A notice published on Honda Australia's website reads: "Some wait times for the Civic Type R are expected to be up to 24 months, please contact your nearest Honda Centre for more information about expected wait times."

Our original story continues below.

30 January 2023: The new 2024 Honda Civic Type R hot hatch is sold out until late 2024 – and wait times on hybrid versions of the Civic hatch and HR-V small SUV now stretch nine months.

In a media statement issued on Monday evening, Honda Australia said some models – in certain model grades – were in stock, such as the Honda CR-V mid-size SUV, and petrol-only versions of the Honda Civic hatchback and Honda HR-V small SUV.

However, Honda Australia confirmed wait times for the new Honda Civic Type R hot hatch – which opened for orders on 1 December 2022, and is due in showrooms this month – are estimated at "up to 20 months" due to high demand and limited supply.

The latest wait times on hybrid versions of the Honda Civic hatch and HR-V small SUV are estimated at nine months – just weeks after hybrid variants of the Civic arrived in local showrooms.

Based on current production schedules – which are subject to change – buyers in Australia who order a Honda Civic Type R today are estimated to take delivery in September or October 2024, while new Honda Civic and Honda HR-V hybrid variants are estimated to arrive in October or November 2023.

As reported earlier this month, Honda Australia dealers canvassed by Drive said they were taking Honda Civic Type R orders for early to mid-2024 delivery – a wait of up to 18 months – before anyone has seen the car in Australia, or taken a test drive.

Honda dealers canvassed by Drive estimate Australia is scheduled to receive 600 to 700 Civic Type R hot hatches in 2023. Before orders opened, Honda Australia said it had received 4000 expressions of interest.

Meanwhile, a Honda Australia spokesperson told Drive wait times for hybrid examples of the HR-V SUV and Accord sedan vehicles were estimated at 10 months.

An update on Honda Accord hybrid wait times has not been provided in the latest announcement.

"The overall state of e:HEV models and the all-new Civic Type R however is tight ... Honda Australia are continuously seeking to shorten these wait times and are regularly monitoring the situation," Honda Australia says in its media bulletin.

Honda Australia posted its lowest sales on record last year, its first full year of non-negotiable fixed-price sales after making the switch to the new business model in July 2021.