I had a search span of 2 months on civic, cudnt find any cleaner in my budget, plus had some research abt maintenance, fuel cost and re-sale (in future) .... those all things pushed me to go for City, with newer model that what I was settling for Civic's....
No doubt Civic is comforter than City.... But the 1st thing is choice, drive both 05-07 city and 05 civic. Rest, the experts here might able to help more ....
Good luck...