Honda Civic EX Vs. LX: What Are The Differences? (2024)

Updated on September 19, 2023

The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling hatchbacks in the US and worldwide. And being so popular, it naturally has a lot of different trim levels that range anywhere between $24,000 and $45,000. LX and EX are one of the cheaper trim levels but they still get you a lot of standard equipment.

Honda Civic LX is the entry-level trim that starts at $22,550, and EX is the next trim level that starts at $25,550. The EX gets a more powerful and more fuel-efficient engine, more standard equipment, and bigger wheels among other cosmetic differences.

Civic EX vs LX: Drivetrain

Both the EX and LX Honda Civics get a CVT automatic transmission as standard. There is an optional manual transmission for both trims and it knocks about $250 off the total price. As for the engines, the EX gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 180 horsepower. The LX gets a 2-liter gasoline with 158 horsepower. The horsepower difference isn’t that big, but the turbocharger on the 1.5 liter gives it 177 lb-ft of torque.

The 2 liter only gets 138 lb-ft and it’s available at higher RPMs which makes the 1.5 a much more usable engine. The 1.5 also has a 7.5 second 0-60 time which is 0.2 seconds faster than the 2.0. The 1.5 also gets a better fuel economy. The only downside to the 1.5 is that it’s more complicated and the maintenance costs will be somewhat higher, especially in the future.

But that’s not to say the 1.5 is not reliable, far from it. With everything said and done, the 1.5 is a much better engine than the 2.0 by all accounts. It’s faster, more elastic, more comfortable if you get a manual transmission, and more economical. And during the first 150,000 to 200,000 miles, the maintenance cost will be hardly different from that of the 2-liter.

Engine Difference

• Civic EX – 1.5 Turbocharged Gasoline
• Civic LX – 2.0 Naturally Aspirated Gasoline

Transmission Difference

• Civic EX – CVT Automatic (Optional Manual)
• Civic LX – CVT Automatic (Optional Manual)

Horsepower Difference

• Civic EX – 180hp
• Civic LX – 158hp

Torque Difference

• Civic EX – 177 ft-lb
• Civic LX – 138 ft-lb

Performance Difference

• Civic EX – 7.5 Seconds to 60 MPH
• Civic LX – 7.7 Seconds to 60 MPH

Civic EX vs LX: Fuel Economy

Even though the EX Civic gets a higher horsepower rating, more torque, and better performance, it still gets better fuel economy thanks to the turbocharger. The Civic EX gets 32 mpg of city driving, 42 mpg of highway driving, and 36 mpg combined. Not great for such a small car, but remember that it has 180 horsepower and it’s not diesel.

The LX liter being naturally aspirated has to be revved higher to get any usable torque which slightly increases fuel consumption. The LX gets 31 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined. The difference is almost negligible on paper, but in the real world, the LX will have a considerably higher fuel consumption than the EX.

The biggest difference in consumption is on the highway and the faster you go, the bigger the difference will be. The turbocharger in the 1.5 Civic lets it have longer gear ratios and gives it more torque at lower RPMs. That means the 1.5 can drive at lower RPMs at the same speed, or at least with a lower gas pedal input in case the gear ratios are the same.

Fuel Consumption Difference

• Civic EX – 32/42/36 (City/Highway/Combined)
• Civic LX – 31/40/35 (City/Highway/Combined)

Civic EX vs LX: Standard Equipment

When it comes to optional equipment, both the EX and LX get a lot of it as standard. But extra equipment is what draws most customers to spend the extra money on the EX which is why this will be the biggest difference. The LX gets Honda Sensing Technologies, Bluetooth, Streaming Audio, HandsFreeLink, Auto High Beam headlights, and a four-speaker sound system.

Those are some pretty neat safety and comfort features, plus the LX also gets an automatic climate. But the EX gets all that equipment plus Apple Car Play, Android Auto, a nine-inch touchscreen display, rearview camera, HondaLink, Sirius, HD Radio, dual-zone climate, and an eight-speaker sound system. The difference between the LX and EX when it comes to standard equipment is huge.

The multi-angle rearview camera is a $1,000 or more option at some manufacturers, and so is the eight-speaker sound system. The dual-zone climate control is another several-thousand-dollar option if you go for premium brands. And each of those options will increase the comfort of your car significantly, it will retain its value better, and make it easier to sell later.

Civic EX Standard Equipment

• Apple Car Play
• Android Auto
• 9 Inch Touch Screen
• Multi-Angle Rear View Camera
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• 8 Speakers
• SiriusXM
• HD Radio
• HondaLink

Civic LX Standard Equipment

• Bluetooth Connectivity
• HandsFreeLink
• Streaming Audio
• 4 Speakers
• Auto High Beam
• Honda Sensing Technologies

Civic EX vs LX: Exterior & Interior Differences Plus Optional Equipment

Starting off with the interior, the Civic LX gets cloth seats as standard and they come in two different colors. That’s either black or grey. But picking between the two isn’t available in the configurator which tells me the seat color changes according to the exterior color. But you can check that at the dealer to get more accurate information. The EX on the other hand offers a lot of different seats and interior colors.

You can pick between different materials, colors, color combinations, and trim finishes. Some of those do come at an extra charge, but at least you have those options. What doesn’t come at an extra charge in the EX is a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. While we are in the interior we have to mention the climate controls again. The dual-zone climate control that comes standard in the EX is divided between the front and rear seats.

That will save you a lot of headaches when going on longer trips. The LX does get automatic climate controls, but that’s as far as it goes, and that’s pretty much a standard feature even on smaller models. As for the exterior, apart from the wheels, there are no real differences. Both trims get everything painted in the same color including the wing mirrors and door handles. Both trims also get chrome around the windows.

But the wheels do make a huge difference on a car and the LX gets 16-inch wheels as standard, while the EX gets 17-inch wheels. The wheels on the LX are also painted gray, while in the EX they are diamond cut over black. That adds a whole new dimension to how the EX looks and makes it comparable to more expensive cars or higher trim levels, at least when it comes to the outside of the car.

Exterior Difference

• Civic EX – 17 Inch Diamond Cut Wheels
• Civic LX – 16 Inch Painted Wheels

Interior Difference

• EX – Leather Steering Wheel, Leather Shift Knob, Several Color Options
• LX – Black or Grey Cloth Seats

Civic EX vs LX: Price Difference & Is the EX Worth It

The price difference between the Civic EX and LX is negligible. The entry-level LX starts at $22,550 while the EX starts at $25,550. That’s a $3,000 difference, or a 13% increase. Considering what you get for only $3,000, the EX is a bargain of the century. Again, you get all the extra equipment, better interior quality, better engine, better fuel economy, more power, etc.

If you were to similarly spec out a VW Golf, the price would increase by at least $6,000 compared to the base model. Not to mention that the extra money you spend when purchasing it will definitely pay back once it’s time to sell it and through better fuel economy. Not to mention that selling a base model car is almost impossible if you don’t drop the price well below what the car is actually worth.

Price Difference

• Civic EX – Starts At $25,550
• Civic LX – Starts At – $22,550

Is Civic LX the Lowest Model?

The Civic LX is the lowest or entry-level model that costs the least and also has the least optional equipment, the weakest engine, and worse fuel economy compared to some higher trims. But the LX trim will soon be discontinued and the next lowest trim will be Sport. The Civic Sport will cost more than the LX which means the sub $22,000 Civic will be gone. But the Sport trim gets more equipment and better exterior and interior materials.

What Does LX Mean on Civic?

The LX trim designation doesn’t carry a meaning behind it. LX used to be an abbreviation for Honda in the nineties and eighties, but that’s no longer the case. LX used to stand for Luxury, which doesn’t make any sense today since the LX trim is the cheapest one. The same goes for the EX which used to stand for Executive. The current EX lineup does feature a lot more equipment than the LX, but whether it can be called Executive is up for debate.

What’s the Difference Between Honda Civic EX and EXL?

The Civic EX trim level is positioned right in the middle of the Civic lineup. It features more optional equipment as standard than the LX and Sport trims, and it gets a better engine than the LX. EXL is one level higher than the EX, right behind the top-of-the-line Touring trim.

The ELX features all the optional equipment you get in the EX plus it adds full leather and eight-way power-adjustable seats. That’s about the only difference, but the ELX allows for more optional equipment.

Which Is Better Civic LX or Civic Sport?

The Civic Sport is better and more expensive than the LX. The LX Civic is the entry-level trim that features only the standard equipment with very little room for adding more features. The LX also gets the least powerful engine.

The Sport trim is the next highest one so it doesn’t add a lot of equipment to the mix, but it does get more aggressive-looking bumpers, side skirts, dual exhaust tips, and bigger wheels. It’s worth mentioning that the Sport trim doesn’t upgrade to the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, and retains the same 2.0 N/A from the LX.

Which Honda Civic Is the Fastest?

The fastest Honda Civic you can buy is the Type R. The Type R gets a 2-liter turbocharged engine with 315 horsepower going to the front wheels. It also makes 310 ft-lb of torque and accelerates from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds. The price for this model starts at $44,000.

The second fastest Civic is the Si which features the same 1.5-liter engine available in other trim levels, only the Si makes 200 horsepower. The price for the Si starts at $28,300 and for that, you get a zero to 60 time of 6.8 seconds.

Do LX Civics Have VTEC?

The LX Civic gets the naturally aspirated 2 liter K series engine, also called Earth Dreams, and it does the latest i-VTEC technology. The engine makes 158 horsepower which is enough for an entry-level hatchback. And the great thing about this engine is that it goes back to 2001 and is one of the most reliable, if not the most reliable Honda engines.

Which Honda Civic Is Better Ex or Sport?

The Honda Civic EX is a more expensive trim than the Sport which technically makes it better, but it’s not that simple. The two trims cost almost the same but it all comes down to personal preference. With the EX, your money goes to better interior materials, more comfort, and more technical features. With the Sport, your money goes to better-looking bumpers, bigger wheels, and sportier suspension.

Final Words

There are a lot of differences between the EX and LX Civic even though the price difference isn’t that big. The EX costs $3,000 more on top of the base LX price of $22,550.

The price difference will get a lot more interior equipment, bigger wheels, a reverse camera, dual-zone climate control, double the number of speakers, and better interior materials. You also get a more powerful and more fuel-efficient engine in the EX. All things considered, the EX is well worth the cost.

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