Honda Civic EX Vs Touring: Which Trim is Right for You?

The Honda Civic is a car which needs no introduction. But it comes in a variety of flavors—so which trim is right for you?

The nation’s second-best-selling compact car of 2022—the Toyota Corolla pipped it last year—is one of our highest-rated four-doors here at AutoGuide. A full new generation launched for 2022, bringing more refinement and stretching the definition of “compact car.” There are a still a lot of options, which raises the age-old question: which should you get?

To help you decide, we’re taking a closer look at two of the more popular, uplevel trims available. Both of these models use the Civic’s more powerful optional engine, but naturally vary a bit more in terms of trim (and price). Read on for our Honda Civic EX versus Touring comparison.

The 2023 Honda Civic features clean, classic styling outside. The front-end treatment plays the hits: a pair of simple, rectangular headlights frame a modest, similarly-shaped grille. A character line that starts at the base of the central lower air intake slowly rises up the flanks of the car, meeting up with the reflectors on the rear bumper. Honda gave this generation a more classic shape, elongating the nose and increasing the size of the glasshouse; the latter improving visibility.

Visually, there’s not a lot that separates these two trims. The only clues are slightly smoked headlights on the Touring, its fancier 18-inch alloy wheels (compared to the 17s on the EX), and the eponymous badge on the tail.

As we mentioned before, both of these Civic trims feature the brand’s popular 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder—at least in the US. The official figures are a healthy 180 horsepower, with a thick 177 pound-feet of torque available from 1700–4500 rpm. Both models use a continuously variable transmission as well, the only option available on the Civic sedan (other than the Si). The Touring does gain wheel-mounted paddle shifters, however. All Civics are front-wheel drive.

Fuel economy is the EX’s strength, with the top scores across the Civic range. The EPA rates the Civic EX at 33 mpg city and 42 mpg highway, for a combined 36 mpg rating. The Touring’s wider, taller tires blunt its scores: it hits 31, 38, and 34 mpg, respectively.

Canada does things differently: the EX uses the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four cylinder. Thus, the ratings are nearly the same: 7.7, 6.0, and 6.9 L/100 km for the EX, and 7.6, 6.1, and 6.9 L/100 km for the Touring.

Since there are no dimensional differences between these two, and they feature the same 60/40 folding rear seat, cargo capacity should be the same too, right?

Not quite. The Touring’s fancy up-spec stereo (more on that later) nibbles into cargo space. We’re talking 14.4 cubic feet (408 liters) against 14.8 cubes (419 L), though.

Neither Civic trim is rated for towing—for that, you’ll want to look at the CR-V.

All of the latest Civic models come with a full battery of modern safety features, all under the Honda Sensing banner. This includes an automated pre-collision system, lane departure assist, lane trace assist, traffic sign recognition, auto high beams, adaptive cruise control, and traffic jam assist. There’s also a driver attention monitor.

The EX and Touring add blind spot monitoring to the roster. The Touring then goes beyond that with low-speed auto-braking and parking sensors at both ends.

As these two top the trim lineup in the Civic family, they come with most of the best bits. Whether it’s either EX or Touring, both include dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated side mirrors, HondaLink app capability, and cupholders in both rows—hey, that matters!

It’s the tech side where the Touring really separates itself. While the EX has an 8.0-inch central touchscreen and a 7.0-inch info display between its dials, the Touring adds an extra inch to the touchscreen, and swaps in a fully digital instrument cluster. That larger touchscreen houses native navigation, Sirius XM, and HD Radio, plus has the ability to handle Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. To that end, the Touring even gets a wireless charger. As mentioned before, the Touring gets an exclusive Bose sound system with 12 speakers.

Lastly, the Touring adds rain-sensing wipers, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and HomeLink.

The Honda Civic EX begins at $27,845 including destination. There are no real options beyond that, unless buyers spring for the premium paint options, which are an additional $455. The same is true for the Honda Civic Touring, which lists for $31,445. Strangely, there is one oddity: Sonic Gray Pearl is a premium paint on the Touring, but not the EX.

In Canada, the Honda Civic EX runs to $30,980 CAD, including destination. The Touring will cost buyers $35,180 CAD. Both also only have premium paints as the only extra cost, though which hues quality as such are different here (and cost just $300 CAD).

Honda keeps things relatively simple with the Civic. Picking trims locks buyers to specific engines, and there are no options packages to muddy the comparison waters. Buyers who want a sportier drive have the option of either the hatchback or the Si, where the manual transmission is optional or standard, respectively.

But back to the Civic EX and Touring. As is often the case with these trim-on-trim questions, it boils down to value for money. The Touring commands a few grand more from its buyers, but packs in a lot of extra creature comforts. On the flip side, the EX saves you cash both at the lot and at every gas station, being the most fuel-efficient pure-gas Honda you can buy today. And let’s not forget that some people simply prefer cloth to leather seats. In Canada, you also have to contend with the different engine.

If it was our money, we’d go for the Civic Touring. It’s a pricey compact car, but it’s nearly mid-sized spacious, and that translates to an upscale feel, too. Those added goodies are worth it in our eyes.

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