If you’re under thirty, you might remember the early-’00’s Honda Civics as the mundane, everyday car your parents drove. But the 2000 Honda Civic EX might just be the most underrated vehicle of its time. It delivers solid performance in a dependable, efficient, affordable, safe package.
What does 2000 Honda Civic EX mean?
Officially, EX means “extended.” That is, you get more features with the EX than you do with the base model. Many Hondas actually start at the EX trim level, but with a 2000 Honda Civic, the base model would be the CX, which lacks moonroof and cruise control.
We’ll get into exactly what you’re getting with a 2000 Honda Civic EX below, including what sets it apart from other trim levels, and what makes this car so dependable. We’ll tell you right up front that a 2000 Civic is a surprisingly good buy. We’ll tell you why below.
The 2000 Honda Civic
The 2000 model Honda Civic was the last of the sixth generation. These Civics can be easily identified by their very-’90s hatchback bodies, before the sleeker redesign of the 2001 Civic. The sixth-generation look remains a favorite for many Honda fans.
Under the hood of the CX model, you have a 1.6L SOHC 16 engine producing 103 ft. lbs. of torque and 106 horsepower, and delivering 32/37 mpg city/highway.
Civics have always been known to be efficient. But the 2000’s 32/37mpg is even more impressive when you consider that this car came out around twenty years ago and still performs better than a lot of cars in its class today.
This gets to the heart of what the Civic is all about: This car isn’t gonna be a money pit. With proper maintenance, it’s going to outlast almost anything in its class, and you’re going to be spending thousands of dollars less on gas over the years.
Interior features and other attractions are pretty basic in the CX trim level, but to be fair, these features are pretty basic across the board for early ’00’s Civics.
In Canada, you might find an Si or SE with a few extra bonuses. But if you really want a stylish, comfortable ride, your best bet is to buy whatever Civic you can find in good condition with low miles and deck it out with aftermarket accessories.
That’s not to say that there aren’t a few reasons you might go for an EX over a CX, though.
How Exactly is the EX Extended?
At a glance, these are the same car. But the cruise control and the moonroof are nice features to have, and you can get a slight performance boost with the EX if you find one with a 1.6L SOHC VTEC 16 engine.
The VTEC 16 delivers 127 horsepower and 107 ft. lbs. of torque, the tradeoff being that it gets 30/35 mpg instead of 32/37. A modest difference, but worth shopping for if you have a lot of inclines on the morning commute.
Both trim levels are front-wheel drive with 4-speed automatic, both have seating for five, an 11.9-gallon tank, adjustable steering columns and rear window defrosters. If you like the CX, you’ll like the EX, and if you like the EX, you’ll like the CX.
The EX offers a few more conveniences like seatback pockets and a center console storage with armrest. But the most dramatic difference really does come down to cruise control and a little extra horsepower.
The Kelley Blue Book values are only marginally different, as well: $2,545 – $3,818 for the CX, and $2685 – $3916 for the EX.
While the differences between trim levels are, for the most part, fairly minor, cruise control may just be the tiebreaker if you find a CX and an EX in similar shape at similar prices.
Confirming Your Guesses
When you see a 2000 Honda Civic EX on the road, you think “Wow, that car must be built to last.” But you never know if that’s because someone is taking care of it like a classic or if it’s actually built to last — until you read the Vehicle History.
