All About the 2005 Honda Civic EX Special Edition
The 2005 Honda Civic EX Special Edition spruces up a somewhat plain car into something sportier and more fun to drive.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The Honda Civic EX Special Edition is a value-packed option for drivers who are looking for some extra features on a budget without pinching pennies with basic trim levels like LX. Standout features include an exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy wheels, and an upgraded sound system that plays MP3s in addition to CDs and radio.
When it comes to popular sedans, no car comes to mind quicker than the ubiquitous Honda Civic. This iconic car has been a practical choice for consumers for half a century ever since its introduction in 1972. When it comes to balancing value and features, no one excels like Honda. The Honda Civic suffers from just one flaw—it’s a little boring.
The 2005 EX Special Edition trim set out to change that stereotype. Here with all the information you need on this trim level is
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison super app designed to save you money. Jerry has all the information you need, like specs and pricing, plus some nitty-gritty details like fuel economy and passenger space. We'll even show you the easiest way to reduce your Honda Civic insurance cost.
What is the Honda Civic EX Special Edition?
The Honda Civic EX Special Edition is the middle ground between the base LX and premium trims like GX and Type R. Priced about $3,000 cheaper than the premium trims, the EX Special Edition still offers premium features like a 6-disc CD changer with MP3 capability, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and auxiliary jack.
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2005 Honda Civic overview
Before we examine the EX Special Edition, let’s take a brief look at the complete picture of a Honda Civic.
Throw every popular sedan into a bag and shake it around to see what comes out—it’ll be roughly the same as the Honda Civic. The Honda Civic is the average of other sedans like the
Toyota Corolla
, Ford Focus
, and Hyundai Elantra
. It expertly balances great performance and sporty handling against more practical aspects like fuel efficiency and cargo space.That being said, nothing really makes the Honda Civic stand out from its competitors. It’s a little ho-hum in the excitement department, but the result is a quality, dependable car that won’t let you down when you need it most. For this reason, a used Civic is
an excellent first car
for a young driver.The 2005 Honda Civic offers quick acceleration. Sure, the engine revs loudly when you really press on the accelerator, but the 4-cylinder engine kicks into gear and is able to catch up without lacking power.
The Civic also offers a smooth ride thanks to its MacPherson strut suspension. You can take tight turns without feeling like the car is going to lift off the ground or roll over. Coupled with precise tracking, you’d really have to work to send the Honda Civic off-kilter.
One of the best aspects of the 2005 Honda Civic is its fuel economy: 31 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. That’s great even by today’s standards—especially with gas over four dollars a gallon.
Key specs:
- $16,460 starting MSRP; $5,251 max used price
- 1.7- or 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine
- 115 to 160 horsepower
- 110 to 132 lb-ft torque
- Good rating from IIHS
MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?
What’s special about the EX Special Edition?
The drawback of the Honda Civic is that it’s boring. Yes, it’s a solid sedan that can get you safely to your destination on a dark, stormy night without skipping a beat, but is it a car you’d stunt on in front of your friends? Not quite.
What could spruce it up? Well, the EX Special Edition features top sound technologies of its time like MP3 capability and auxiliary input. It also includes alloy wheels and a body-colored wing spoiler to add a little excitement to the exterior. There’s also a moonroof with tilt feature and remote entry.
You also get standards like air conditioning and cruise control in addition to a 12-volt power outlet. The Honda Civic EX Special Edition has power windows and locks.
2005 Honda Civic EX Special Edition vs. LX
While the EX Special Edition adds a lot of excitement, some consumers will be happy with the basic LX trim. Choosing this trim in 2005 would have shaved about $3,000 off the sticker price. These are the standard features on the LX:
- Single-disc CD player
- Steel wheels
- 32 mpg city, 38 mpg highway
- Manual windows and locks
As you can see, you’re losing a lot of what makes the 2005 Honda Civic so special when you downgrade the trim to LX. Sure, you’ll save a few thousand dollars, but at what price? Most consumers would say the convenience of power windows and locks alone is worth the jump in price.
The bottom line is, if you’re buying a 2005 Honda Civic today, it won’t cost as much as it did in 2005 to upgrade your trim level to enjoy these features. Purchasing the EX Special Edition trim improves the quality of your drive without putting too huge a dent in your wallet.
How to find the best Honda Civic EX Special Edition insurance
When you’re buying and insuring a used car, you’re saving thousands of dollars both on sticker price and on your car insurance—but the savings don’t have to stop there. When you turn to a
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