Honda Civic Towing Capacity: Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular sedans in the US and various other regions known for its reliability. Most owners report very few problems with the Civic and it’s been used as a multi-purpose car throughout its history, and towing has been one of its notable services. Still, there have been a lot of question marks about the exact towing capacity of this car. We’ll answer all the questions related to this capacity in this article, so let’s get started.

Honda Civic is offered in several small engine variations, with the two most popular variants of 1.5L and 2.0L. All models of this car have an unofficial braked towing capacity of 2,645 Pounds and an unbraked capacity of 1,100 pounds.

These numbers show that this car can provide decent towing performance, but more to its towing capabilities. Below, we’ll identify the exact weights of several types of trailers and find out if the Honda Accord can tow them all or do we have to look for other options in this regard.

Maximum Towing Capacity By Year

Honda does not provide exact towing details for this car as it is not primarily designed for this purpose. They recommend that you DO NOT use this car for regular towing purposes. It’s not uncommon to see the average Honda Civic with 200,000 miles, towing your RV around is going to cut that number…by a lot.

Still, this car has a decent towing capacity, as we found out from various unofficial sources.

Keep in mind that unofficial towing figures may not be necessarily accurate. Your car may tow more than what you find out from unofficial sources. But as a consequence, you may expose your car to increased wear and tear.

The following table outlines the towing capacities of several generations of this car. We have differentiated the braked and unbraked towing capacities so that you can equip the right type of trailer accordingly.

Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

Not all trailers have the same weight and size. Therefore, we have done an extensive research to identify the weighing limits of different types of trailers. We have then matched these weight limits against the towing capacity of the Honda Civic.

You can also see a real-world example of a Honda Civic towing an ATV in this video:

All models of the Honda Civic can tow small and medium-sized trailers with a maximum weight limit of 2645 pounds. These include Canoe/Kayak, Jet Ski, Teardrop, and Small Open Utility Trailers. However, if you have a warranty on your car, we recommend that you do not attempt towing with your car as it will violate the terms and conditions of your contract with Honda, and the underlying warranty will be ceased.

• Kayak: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow a kayak trailer. On average an empty kayak trailer will weigh 200 pounds. A loaded kayak trailer will weigh an average of 400 pounds with a maximum of 800 pounds which is well within the range of the Honda Civic.

• Jet Ski Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty jet ski trailer. On average an empty jet ski trailer will weigh 300 pounds. A loaded jet ski trailer will weigh an average of 1,800 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Motorcycle Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty motorcycle trailer. On average an empty motorcycle trailer will weigh 500 pounds. A loaded motorcycle trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 3,500 which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Teardrop Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow a teardrop trailer. On average an empty teardrop trailer will weigh 1,700 pounds. A loaded teardrop trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds which is within the range of the  Honda Civic. Some teardrop trailers will weigh a maximum of 6,000 pounds which is outside of the limits of the  Honda Civic.

• Small Open Utility Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty small open utility trailer. On average an empty small open utility trailer will weigh 700 pounds. A loaded small open utility trailer will weigh an average of 2,500 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• A-Frame Camper: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty a-frame camper. On average an empty a-frame camper weighs 1,700 pounds. A loaded a-frame camper will weigh an average of 2,900 pounds with a maximum of 3,600 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Small Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty small enclosed utility trailer. On average an empty small enclosed utility trailer weighs 1,000 pounds. A loaded small enclosed utility trailer will weigh an average of 3,200 pounds with a maximum of 7,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Fishing Boat Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty fishing boat trailer. On average an empty fishing boat trailer weighs 600 pounds. A loaded fishing boat trailer will weigh an average of 3,300 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Pop-Up Camper: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty pop-up camper. On average an empty pop-up camper weighs 2,300 pounds. A loaded pop-up camper will weigh an average of 3,400 pounds with a maximum of 4,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Tow Dolly: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty tow dolly. On average an empty tow dolly weighs 600 pounds. A loaded tow dolly will weigh an average of 4,000 pounds with a maximum of 5,000 pounds which is outside of the range of the Honda Civic.

• Car Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty car trailer. On average an empty car trailer weighs 1,900 pounds. A loaded car trailer weighs an average of 9,000 pounds with a maximum of 15,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

• Large Boat Trailer: All Honda Civic models will be able to tow an empty large boat trailer. On average an empty large boat trailer weighs 2,200 pounds. A loaded large boat trailer weighs an average of 13,600 pounds with a maximum of 34,000 pounds which is outside the range of the Honda Civic.

So, Can A Honda Civic Tow A Trailer?

Yes, a Honda Civic can tow a trailer. With its braked towing capacity at 2,645 pounds and unbraked at 1,100 pounds, the Civic is capable of handling light trailers. However, it’s essential to match the trailer weight to the car’s capacity for safety and optimal performance.

For heavier trailers, consider vehicles with higher towing capacities.

Should You Use Premium Fuel When Towing With Your Honda Civic?

Using premium fuel while towing is not typically mandated, just it isn’t for regular driving either. The Civic’s engine is designed primarily for efficiency and regular driving conditions using regular gasoline. However, towing can place added strain on the engine. Even so, while premium fuel might offer slight improvements in performance under demanding conditions, the difference in a Civic might not justify the added cost for most drivers.

Even the sporty Civic R-Type doesn’t require premium fuel so save the cash even if you’re towing.

How Well Can It Tow Compared To Its Competitors?

Generally, some cars are more capable of heavy-duty towing than others, and we observe a large gap between their towing capacities.

But the towing competition in the Honda Civic’s category is evenly spread. The following table mentions different cars in the same category as the Honda Accord and their towing capacities. Take a look.

Closing Thoughts

The Honda Civic, widely acknowledged for its dependability, surprisingly offers decent towing capacities for its size: 2,645 pounds braked and 1,100 pounds unbraked. These figures stem from its typical engine sizes, like the 1.5L and 2.0L.

While these numbers might seem impressive on paper for a sedan of its class, the Civic isn’t truly built for heavy-duty towing.

If you occasionally need to tow something light, sure, the Civic might manage. But for regular or more substantial towing needs, it’s advisable to consider a vehicle specifically designed for such tasks, like a truck or an SUV.

Leveraging the Civic for towing consistently might not only strain the engine and transmission but could also affect its famed reliability in the long run.

Bottom line: The Civic is a fantastic car, but if towing’s on your agenda, there are better-suited options out there.

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!