9 Best Honda Civic EP3 Interior Modifications

In the past, we've covered the topic of Honda Civic EP3 modifications in terms of suspension, engine modifications, and fuel return systems; now it's time for a 9-point EP3 Interior guide.

As styling is a massive part of modifying, I felt it was only fitting that we make a guide for the most popular EP3 interior mods out there, from steering wheels to 6-speed gear knobs, to make your life that much easier!

We've got a 9-point guide to run through, including the most popular current products, for you to choose your next mod quickly!

Most of the products on this list are down to personal preference on whether you like the colour or style compared to another brand, but I'll include as many options as possible.

1. EP3 Steering Wheels

First up on the list is the most crucial part of the interior: choosing a steering wheel.

We've all seen some beautiful and awful steering wheels and many that don't suit the car's theme.

Although the steering wheel is solely down to personal preference, choosing a quality brand is necessary to avoid a situation like some of the bending and snapping horror stories out there!

Personal Steering Wheels

The first brand on my list would be Personal due to the incredible craftsmanship and materials used.

They aren't the cheapest steering wheels, but you'll see why when they arrive.

I actually have the Personal Grinta Kingston 350mm steering wheel, which I absolutely love, in my personal car. However, this wouldn't be the most popular EP3 steering wheel!

The most popular for the EP3 is the Personal Neo Grinta suede 330mm steering wheel.

With a beautiful suede finish, which feels fantastic, red stitching, and red button accents, it fits in with almost any Honda Civic EP3 interior!

Although this steering wheel is popular, you may choose another style, such as leather steering wheels or a different colour.

Personal has a massive range, which makes it at home in pretty much any Ep3 interior.

Nardi Steering Wheels

Next up on the list would be Nardi, who has been killing the steering wheel game for over 30 years and is most famous for its classic wooden-style steering wheels.

Although wooden steering wheels definitely have their place for period-correct cars, for the Honda Civic Ep3, a more modern design is more fitting.

Luckily, they also manufacture a range of newer style steering wheels, such as the Nardi deep corn leather steering wheel, which would be our top pick here.

Using perforated leather, this steering wheel feels amazing and would be the first EP3 interior modification we would choose.

If you need a bit more guidance, check out our how to choose a steering wheel guide which runs through everything you could ever need to know about them!

2. Ep3 Digital gauges

This section is relatively long, with multiple options and variables. Still, most gauges depend on precisely what you're using the car for and the setup.

For example, you would only add a boost gauge if you were turbocharged or supercharged!

Ep3 Dual Gauge Holder

Firstly, you need to choose a gauge holder to mount your gauges, and we have 3 options for you. Either the T7Design V2 dual or quad gauge holder or the Tegiwa dash mount option.

The T7Design option is unique and one of the most popular products we sell, as they were specifically designed to fit in the centre console air vent.

The only downside here is that to make sure they will fit with the correct angle, the only gauge which currently fits would be the AEM 52mm X-Series slimline gauges.

Alternatively, suppose you are running a deeper gauge, such as a Depo Racing. In that case, the V1 is what you would need, but it comes with a shallower angle, which is sometimes hard to see as it points pretty high.

Next is the Tegiwa dash mount option, situated on top of the dash and sits perfectly in eyesight.

Being made from fibreglass means it has been moulded to perfectly fit, so it should have a snug fit on top of the centre console.

The only problem with the Tegiwa option is that it can sometimes obstruct the view, but that is the trade-off going with this style of gauge holder.

Also, the Tegiwa option allows for 3 gauges, which is the most popular amount, so you wouldn't have an empty slot as if you went with the quad T7Design option.

Again all of this is totally down to personal preference and depends on how many gauges you choose to install.

Which Ep3 Gauges Should I Use?

The next one is to decide which gauges you're going to run.

This again boils down to exactly what you're using the car for or the most necessary gauges for you.

If you are naturally aspirated, we suggest going with oil pressure, oil temperature and air-fuel ratio.

And if you are turbocharged or supercharged, we recommend going with oil pressure, air-fuel ratio, and boost pressure. Any other gauges here are a plus!

The most popular overall options would be:

1. Aem 52mm X-Series Oil Pressure Gauge
2. Aem 52mm X-Series Air Fuel Ratio Gauge
3. Aem 52mm X-Series Boost Pressure Gauge
4. Aem 52mm X-Series Oil Temperature Gauge

As I've mentioned a few times, these are all down to personal preference, and there isn't a correct option for everyone.

It also depends on which gauge holder you decide to go for as to which are the most crucial gauges to run and how many of them.

Digital Dash

The next one is an outlier, but the best overall option to go with is the digital dash.

You can fit nearly every sensor you could possibly need on one screen, and you can also have multiple preset options on some digital dashes, such as the Haltech IC-7.

This way, you eliminate the need for running specific gauges, and overall, it won't cost much more than if you went with 3 x AEM X-Series gauges.

The only downside is that you must be running a CAN-based ECU, such as a link or Haltech, to connect it. If you went with the OBDII Option, full compatibility cannot be guaranteed, although it is the best option if you're on an ECU which doesn't have CAN ports.

If, for example, you are already running something such as a Haltech or Link ECU, then the situation changes where providing you're happy getting rid of the OEM clocks, you can see any information you want.

If a sensor is plugged in and reading a signal, you can see the data on the digital dash, making it the most potent gauge option.

3. Ep3 Short Shifters

Now, onto the part which will make the most significant difference to your driving: the short shifter.

Unfortunately, there aren't as many options as the Honda Integra DC5 here, but there are still 2 perfect choices!

Most of the time, this would be your first pick, even over the steering wheel, as this affects the driving performance and look of your interior.

Does a Short Shifter Make a Difference?

The first thing to look at is how much difference they make.

Suppose you were to go for something such as the Hybrid Racing V2 short shifter. In that case, it can reduce throw by up to 50% and is fully adjustable to perfectly match your driving style.

We will only go so deep into short shifters in this guide, but if you would like to learn everything about them, head over to our short shifter guide.

Hybrid Racing Ep3 Short Shifter

The first option on the list would be the best option for your EP3 interior, the Hybrid Racing EP3 V2 short shifter.

This is regarded as one of the best short shifters on the market currently, and it is available in dust black to match whatever theme you've decided to go for.

With up to a massive 20%-50% in throw reduction, strong internal springs for centring, and the fact they are fully adjustable make them the best option here.

With all the features packed into this shifter, you can see why they are the best on the market, but they also come with a price tag!

At the time of writing, they are currently £473, but if you've ever used one, you will know they are well worth the money!

Tegiwa Ep3 Short Shifter

The next option on the short shifter list is a much more budget-friendly option, but still a massive upgrade over stock.

This would be the Tegiwa Ep3 short shifter, which shortens the throw by up to 30%, less than the hybrid racing option, but at a considerable price decrease, being only £66 at the time of writing.

This is more of a budget-friendly option to get you up and running as fast as possible for the least amount of investment.

The Tegiwa EP3 short shifter is also much smaller and easier to install, so it is a strong option if you're using some of your car's budget for multiple parts and don't want the most expensive option.

4. Ep3 6 Speed Gear knobs

Next up on the 9 Best Honda Civic Type R EP3 Interior Modifications list would be the gear knob.

There are thousands of different designs, materials and styles on the market, but we've narrowed it down to 3 options.

Now, these may not necessarily be the most popular gear knobs worldwide. Still, they would be the common options for a Honda Civic EP3.

Each option differs from the next, so choosing which one you prefer should be easy!

Hybrid Racing Delrin and Billet Gear Knobs

As with most parts on this list, Hybrid Racing is one of the favourites.

There are actually a good few options here to choose from, such as:

1. Hybrid Racing Delrin Gear Knobs
2. Hybrid Racing Aluminium Maxim Gear knobs
3. Hybrid Racing Stainless Steel Maxim Gear Knobs

Each option will have its own unique feel and purpose.

For example, if you're going for the heaviest gear knob, you would choose the stainless steel option, whereas if you want the gear knob to be lightweight but not metal, then you would go with Delrin.

Each option will be helpful for different EP3 owners. Still, the most popular out of their entire range would be the red Maxim billet aluminium gear knob.

This fits the best into the EP3 interior, and being aluminium is the middle of the road in terms of weight and feel.

Also, at only £62 currently, they aren't the most expensive option on this list.

Acuity Gear Knob

Next on the most popular gear knob list would be the Acuity Poco or Esco-T6, which are both great options.

Acuity is best known for its purple company colour scheme and superb quality and fitting products, specifically for the Honda K-Series.

For the Honda Civic EP3, the most popular option out of the two would be the Poco low-profile gear knob.

This design is totally different to the others on this list, the most unique being perfectly spherical and the closest option to the OEM gear knob.

This is also the most expensive on the list, currently at £112, and available in either anodised black or red.

Skunk2 Gear Knob

Last on the gear knob list would be Skunk2, which has been around for years and is by far the most popular on our list.

Skunk2 only offer their gear knobs in stainless steel, and weighing in at 440 grams, they feel excellent to use!

They use a dark titanium coating to give them their signature look, which you can notice a mile off.

The Skunk2 gear knobs have been massively popular in the Honda community for years, and once you use one, you'll find out why. 

Using an extra heavy gear knob helps to promote smoother, positive gear changes and currently, at £72, they aren't the most expensive modification either.

5. Ep3 Shift Collars

Now you've chosen which gear knob to go with and have it installed, you might notice that the gaitor is sagging around the gear knob.

Don't worry; we have the perfect option for you!

Ep3 shift collars are designed to sit between the gear knob and the shift boot to close the gap and make the gaitor work as intended.

Hybrid Racing Shift Collar

There are two good options here, and the first one would be Hybrid Racing.

They manufacture a few options, such as red or black, made from aluminium and stainless steel.

If you want to be really fancy, they now offer a burnt titanium shift boot collar.

Usually, this is down to your preference.

Still, most people would match the colour to their gear knob so everything flows correctly.

If you went with the red Hybrid Racing maxim gear knob above, then we would recommend going with the red shift collar.

Acuity Shift Collar

The last shift collar on the list would be from Acuity, which would match perfectly with their Poco or Esco-T6 gear knob.

Acuity offers the same options as Hybrid Racing but minus the red option. They have black, burnt titanium or stainless steel to match whichever theme you're going for.

The Acuity design can actually be flipped to match either a 22mm or 28mm gear knob base, which sets it apart from the Hybrid shift collar, but again this is down to personal preference.

Personally, if I went for the Black Poco gear knob, then I would match it with their beautiful black shift collar to tie everything together and finish off the interior.

6. Ep3 Head Unit Upgrade

The next upgrade I want to discuss is replacing your stock Ep3 head unit.

The OEM unit could be better, and although it has a CD player, there are many much better aftermarket options, especially as, nowadays, connecting to your phone via Bluetooth is convenient.

This step only really applies to road cars. If you own a track car, you would have binned the head unit a long time ago!

So you can either replace the OEM head unit with an upgraded version or go with the route most people are taking now, which is a double-din touch screen unit.

There is enough space to do this with the stock fascia, and many head unit product listings even include the face plate and mounting hardware to make this simple and easy.

For anywhere between £200-£300, with a quick search on Google, you can find a double din unit which bolts straight in and is entirely compatible with nearly every smartphone to get the music you want and fast.

For complete installation, watch the Olly Ross video below, where he does an incredible job installing the Eonon android head unit.

Whilst you're there, subscribe to him, as he has a whole heap of helpful information regarding the EP3.

7. EP3 Seats

Now it's time for one of the most expensive parts of the 9-point list: the seats.

There are thousands of options here, but we'll run through the most common, from OEM options to aftermarket.

OEM Ep3 Seat Options

So, there are two good options here for OEM direct bolt-in seats, depending on what you currently have.

As these cars age, the OEM seats are getting more expensive by the year, so this is something to bear in mind.

At this point, it may be cheaper to go with aftermarket options, but as the prices are constantly rising, OEM seats are a good investment.

Photo: Instagram @dat_gray_ep3

The first option would be the EP3 premier edition seats, which are black and red Recaros.

Although these seats are sought after, they are less pricey than the second option on the list, the 30th-anniversary Recaros.

These Recaros are only red and the rarest OEM option, as they were only released with the 30th-anniversary edition of the Honda Civic EP3.

For a price reference, right now, there is a set on eBay for £1200!

Aftermarket Ep3 Seat Options

We've been over OEM seat options for the EP3, and now we move onto the aftermarket world with thousands of options.

We aren't going to go into detail on every single one, but we will in a future article.

I've listed the most popular manufacturers here and the most common ones we see daily, but the specific model is totally down to you.

The main thing here is budget, as there are too many variations to list.

This is our top 5 Ep3 aftermarket seats list:

1. Bride
2. Cobra
3. Corbeau
4. OMP
5. Recaro

The last thing to mention here would be to make sure that the seats you are using are compatible with your seat rails.

If they aren't and you have gone for a side-mounted seat, for example, you will need side-mounted seat rails.

Most companies sell them as optional extras with the seats; make sure they are correct for your EP3 and are a direct bolt-in.

Photo: Instagram @tim.j123

8. EP3 Roll Cages

Next up, we are moving more into a motorsport-level product, which would be the roll cage.

Although many people run them on the road, they come into their own on the track, where they increase the rigidity of the chassis and can save your life in a significant crash.

There are two options here, but also a few others on the market you can choose; I wanted to keep it simple with a bolt-in and weld-in design.

Safety Devices Bolt In Roll Cage

The Safety Devices cage is the first one up on the list and by far the most popular bolt-in option that I see daily.

We know multiple race-winning cars running a safety devices cage and actually made their first cages back in 1960!

Almost every design they manufacture meets FIA standards and is regularly updated to meet new rules year by year.

If going for this cage and using it for race use, then always double-check that it meets the current standards for safety and FIA approval.

Currently, a rear cage with cross bars and harness bar is retailing for around £700, so it is relatively inexpensive for their importance.

Photo: Instagram @tim.j123

Custom EP3 Roll Cage

The next option you can choose for your EP3 interior is the fully custom roll cage, and it far outweighs the bolt-in cage by popularity.

If you can get them exactly how you want, being fully custom, you will always be able to ensure the perfect fit for what you're using the car for.

Although a fully custom roll cage is generally more expensive than a bolt-in option, they are also more rigid, having no flex points, and if done correctly, would be your best option here.

For finding a fabricator to do this, you're best off looking for someone who specialises in roll cages to make sure that it meets the requirements you are going for.

9. Ep3 Battery Relocation Kit

The last EP3 interior modification on this list is an outlier, as the battery was originally in the engine bay. Still, most people move it behind the rear seats or boot for weight transfer/corner weighting.

When deciding to move your battery, you will need a battery, battery relocation kit, and a battery tray.

Odyssey PC680 Lightweight Battery

The first thing to choose would be the battery. Although you can use the OEM battery, generally, you're better off upgrading whilst you're having to move it anyway, and there is a better option out there.

One of the best options would be the Odyssey PC680 lightweight battery.

With a massive saving of up to 7kg over a stock battery, this is also an added benefit when swapping out your old battery.

T7Design PC680 Billet Battery Tray

Luckily for mounting options, there are a few options here. There are a few battery trays specifically for the Odyssey PC680.

Still, the most complete option would be the T7Design PC680 billet battery tray.

Specifically fitting the Honda EP3 and DC5, they can be mounted using the laser cut plate to hold onto the chassis leg, or if you want to fit inside the car, you already have a mounting plate.

These are offered in raw or anodised black, with or without a mounting plate and buzz bar, for a complete installation.

Tegiwa Battery Relocation Kit

Last, you will need a relocation kit to extend the OEM positive wire, and the best option off the shelf would be the Tegiwa 4m battery relocation kit.

Although this is a universal kit, there is everything you need here for a clean install, whether you're using the stock or upgraded battery.

One thing to note, though, is that if you have upgraded to any Odyssey battery, you will need to go with the Tegiwa Odyssey battery terminals as they use a different style than OEM.

Once you have all these parts, you can start assembling, moving your battery and creating a much cleaner engine bay and better overall weight distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any other product or brand options not on this list?

Of course! You can choose any brand that you decide to go with or even OEM options. This guide is more to point you in the right direction, as everyone likes adding their own flare to their car.

Which EP3 interior modification would be your top pick?

So, out of everything, my first go-to is typically a steering wheel, as they are relatively easy to install and have one of the most significant impacts on the interior.

How much does everything cost?

So, I have added as many prices as I could. Still, these always increase yearly, so you are best contacting us if you need a quote on anything in this guide or hit the product links to take you directly to the products themselves.

Should I modify my EP3 interior myself?

I would only recommend this if you are competent in modifying it. If not, you should always get a mechanic to either check over your work first or get them to install everything for you.

Obviously, for parts such as the roll cage, ensure you get a professional to either install or assemble the roll cage, as safety is the top priority.

Photo: Instagram @george_ep3

Conclusion

So there it is, my 9 best picks to upgrade your Honda Civic EP3 interior.

Hopefully, we've given you some inspiration and product ideas to modify your interior to your heart's content for a much nicer place to sit in and experience.

If there is anything you aren't sure of here, please drop us a message below or head over to our contact form.

Also, if you're looking for more guides like this for your EP3, then head over to our 6 best EP3 braking upgrades guide, our how to build an EP3 fuel return system guide, or our ultimate EP3 engine tuning guide.