Honda Civic EX

Introduced by Honda in 1973, the once-subcompact now-compact Civic is one of the bestselling cars in North America. Honda offers it in a wide range of configurations, the premier of which is the Honda Civic EX. Powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, Honda offers the front-wheel-drive EX in both sedan and coupé body styles.

The EX includes a five-speed manual transmission standard but an optional five-speed automatic transmission is available. With the automatic transmission, the EX provides 25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. EX’s with manual transmissions get 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, as well as providing noticeably quicker acceleration.

From the DX trim and DX Value package, the EX inherits air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, and an auxiliary audio jack. LX features include keyless entry, full power accessories, cruise control, a center console, and sliding armrests.

Features native to the upscale EX or Executive trim are 16-inch alloy wheels, ambient console lighting, a 60/40-split rear seatback with fold-down armrests, a sunroof, a USB input, six-speaker sound system, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. Audio systems in the coupés feature an exclusive subwoofer.

The L in EX-L stands for luxury and this package adds a host of luxury amenities to the standard Honda Civic EX. Notable amenities include leather upholstery, front heated seats, and heated exterior mirrors. Options available to the EX and EX-L include a navigation system with Bluetooth phone connectivity and satellite radio. The navigation system is the only way to get Bluetooth connectivity on a Civic.

Standard Civic safety features include front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and antilock brakes. The EXs have four-wheel disc brakes as opposed to the rear drums on the other models. The EX-L includes stability control.