2009 Honda Civic

Review

When the first Honda Civic was introduced over 30 years ago, it made waves with its overall efficiency and sporty look, especially compared to the common American vehicles on the road. To this day, the Civic remains one of the most popular coupes and small sedans among drivers everywhere. However, you don't need a history lesson to see that the 2009 Honda Civic is near the top of its class. Here's our review of Honda's latest offering:

Exterior Design

Over the last several years, the Honda Civic's appearance hasn't been altered too much. In this case, Honda likely doesn't want to mess with a good thing. If there's one complaint to be made though, it's that the vehicle can take on a min-van like appearance with its sloped front-end and windshield. The coupe and Si models can help remedy this with their sport-inspired appearance, especially with an added spoiler.

Interior Design

While the interior design of the 2009 Honda Civic is pretty standard fare, it does have one feature that you're sure to either absolutely hate or completely love. Unlike nearly every other vehicle out there, the Civic's speedometer and gas gauge are located at the base of the windshield. In theory, their placement is meant to allow drivers to more easily check their speed and gas tank, without taking their eyes off the road. It works for some people, while others find it more of a distraction. As always, the Civic makes the most out of its spacious cabin and trunk space.

Fuel Efficiency

While Honda offers several different types of engines that provide various degrees of fuel efficiency, it's safe to say that the 2009 Honda Civic is one of the "greener" gas powered vehicles out there. Those with 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engines, the smallest available, are estimated to receive 25 MPG city and 36 MPG highway. Some of the other models, like the Civic Si, pack a more powerful engine at the expense of fuel economy. Naturally, the hybrid version of the Civic gets the best gas mileage, at 40 MPG city and 45 MPG highway

Safety

We've come to expect great things in terms of safety from the Honda Civic and the 2009 models live up to their reputation. Government testing shows that the Civic received a perfect score for front side impacts and a near perfect score for side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave the vehicle one of its top ratings for crash tests. Drivers can take peace of mind in knowing that all 2009 Civics come standard with side curtain airbags and front-seat side airbags. You can see how this changes your insurance costs by getting a free auto insurance quote.

Civic Hybrid

For years, the Honda Civic has lived in the shadow of big brother Accord, hoping one day to make its mark. With the 2009 Hybrid, the time has come for little brother to drive in the sun.

To start, consider the mileage. Anyone who has driven a regular gasoline-powered Civic no doubt has bragged about its mileage. The new Hybrid gets up to a whopping 60 percent more mileage. It is rated 40 mpg around town, 45 mpg on the highway and 42 mpg in mixed driving.

Such numbers are generated mainly by an efficient gasoline engine. The 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine kicks out 110 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. At 1,000 rpm, drivers can get 123 pounds-feet of torque.

When more power is required, the small electric motor positioned between the transmission and engine gets to work. This motor is rated at 20 horsepower and 76 pounds-feet of torque. Anyone who has driven other hybrid models gets accustomed to the shimmy that occurs when the gasoline engine restarts and goes online while the car is being driven. Honda engineers have figured out a way to say good-bye to that annoyance in the 2009 Civic Hybrid.

The electric motor is at the heart of the Civic Hybrid's Integrated Motor Assist system. There are five different ways that it operates. One mode lets the car run only on electric power, but not from a standing start. When you add together the additional horsepower, bigger motor and aerodynamic front fascia, you won't have to move over for anyone on the highway.

Keeping tabs on the hybrid system is not a chore. The bars that move up and down on a vertical gauge tell you what's happening in the system. The Civic Hybrid's driver can tell how the electric motor is draining when it's helping the gas engine with passing, merging and simply moving. In turn, charging can be monitored when coasting and braking. In fact, the process of regenerative braking actually gives a boost to the process of slowing down.

To stay safe on the road, the Honda Civic Hybrid has an electronic stability control, antilock brakes, and dual, side and side curtain airbags. It also carries a federal government crash test rating of five stars for front impacts.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the 2009 Hybrid starts at about $23,650 but still has the features usually found on higher-priced cars. One standard feature is a set of four-wheel disc brakes. For those people wondering whether to stick with a Civic that's solely gasoline powered instead of splurging on the Hybrid, note the Hybrid-L priced at $24,850 is only $3,100 more than the regular Civic EX-L with the same features plus boosts mileage far beyond 26 mpg around town and 34 mpg on the highway.

With fuel prices rising once again, spending a little more upfront for the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid will save you thousands of dollars in the long run as you pass by the pumps and stay on the road.

Bottom Line

By now, you probably know what to expect from the Honda Civic. It may not be particularly flashy, but whatever the car is lacking in style is made up for in nearly every other area. Like its early predecessors, the 2009 Honda Civic remains a great choice for drivers in the market for a reliable, safe, and economical vehicle. Overall, it's worthy of our highest recommendation as it continues Honda's long tradition of producing fantastic vehicles.