2009 Honda Civic Review

by Chuck Giametta

Table of Contents
2009 Honda Civic Prices
2009 Honda Civic Road Test
2009 Honda Civic Competition

2009 Honda Civic buying advice
The 2009 Honda Civic is roomy and comfortable, economical to own, and enjoyable to drive. It scores top marks for quality, reliability, and resale value. Its styling is slyly futuristic inside and out, and is slightly revised for 2009.

Civic is not likely to be changed in any substantial way for the 2010 model year, so if this compact car is on your shopping list, there’s little reason not to buy a 2009 model. Despite slight alterations to its appearance and features, the 2009 Civic retains the basic 2006-generation engineering and dimensions until the ninth generation arrives for 2011.

The best overall value in the 2009 Honda Civic line is the LX sedan. The LX trim level is one rung up from the entry-level DX, and Civic’s sedan body style is more sensible than its coupe.

Civic’s basic goodness is baked into every model in the lineup, but numerous small-car rivals beat the entry-level $15,000 DX version in terms of basic accessories for the money.

With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $18,025 with manual transmission, $18,825 with automatic, a Civic LX sedan includes every key feature and is a formidable entry in this class. (Prices quoted here include destination fees.) Civic’s fundamental goodness is baked into every model in the lineup, but in terms of basic accessories for the money, numerous small-car rivals beat the entry-level DX versions, which start around $16,000.

Above LX level, Civic is priced at $19,000 and up. For that money, you’re better off moving to a larger car, starting with Honda’s own midsize Accord. An exception to this strategy is Civic’s sporty Si-trim models, which start around $22,000 and are great values in precision-performance small cars.

The gas-electric Civic Hybrid delivers on its promise of great fuel economy and low emissions. But its sales are falling as those of other Civics are rising, an indication perhaps that it just doesn’t look distinctly green enough to justify a starting price of around $24,220.

What you’ve got to know about the 2009 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic does not owe its small-car sales leadership to the diversity of its model lineup. But it can’t hurt that America’s most-popular compact is available in a bounty of flavors.

Civic offers some 10 models, ranging from fuel-sipper to racetrack-ripper. It comes in two body styles (four-door sedan, two-door coupe), and is available with four engines, including a gas-electric hybrid and one that runs on compressed natural gas. All Civics have a four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive.

With annual sales regularly topping 300,000, Civic is the perennial leader among compact cars in the U.S. Roughly 80 percent of Civics sold in America are produced at Honda plants in this country, the rest are built in Japan.

The Civic lineage stretches back to the 1973 model year, when Honda introduced a tiny two-door powered by a 1.2-liter engine. The car grew steadily in size, power, and features. The current model, the eighth design generation of the Civic, was introduced for the 2006 model year. The 2009 Honda Civic release date is August 2008.

2009 Honda Civic Changes
The 2009 Honda Civic gets “mid-cycle” updates that include revised styling inside and out, as well as two new trim lines. These changes are timed to refresh the Civic at the midway point between its last full redesign for the 2006 model year and its next full redesign, slated for the 2011 model year.

Changes to the 2009 Honda Civic include introduction of a DX Value Package (DX-VP) sedan, which builds on the entry-level Civic DX sedan’s standard features by adding air conditioning and an audio system. Near the top of the lineup, a Civic LX-S sedan debuts with alloy wheels and sportier interior styling.

All 2009 Civics get a new front bumper cover and grille design and new headlight and taillight color combinations featuring clear turn indicator lenses with amber bulbs. New alloy wheel designs are introduced on the Civic EX, Civic EX-L and Civic Si models, along with the addition of fog lamps for the Civic Si model.

On the technology front, Bluetooth hands free connectivity is added to Civics equipped with the factory navigation system. And a USB audio interface is added to Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Si models. The Civic Hybrid gains the option of leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats and side mirrors. Additionally, new cloth materials and patterns on seats, door linings and armrests (when equipped) have been updated to further enhance the interior’s look and feel.

Finally, antiskid control is now standard on the Civic EX-L and Civic Hybrid; it had been exclusive to the Civic Si.