2009 Honda Civic Hybrid CVT AT-PZEV w/ Leather and Navigation

Pros

Nav, Bluetooth, Controls, Dash, Seating, Fuel Mileage

Cons

Braking, Audio, Trunk, Service Interval, Boring Colors

Purchased As New

This is our second Civic Hybrid, other one is nav but no leather or heated seats (2007). We looked at the Fit and Insight but for our needs, Civic is still the best choice. The biggest change is the addition of VSA (vehicle stability assist) and rear disc brakes, and now you have bluetooth hands free and USB in the glove box with the 2009 at this trim point.

My first impression of the 2009 is that there is nothing to dislike but that this is also not the most exciting ride around. I like everything especially the integration of audio, nav, hands free, satellite radio. The seating is good esp. if you are small and don't need a lot of room. In other words, if you have a big spread down below you might not be comfortable. But this car will never have the knockout appeal of some other cars. It is the stealthy quiet hybrid.

Small complaints: brakes do not have the progressive omph of non-hybrids. Audio doesn't have enough bass. Trunk is small, no fold down seats. Service interval (oil change) can be under 7,000 miles if you do constant city driving. Hills and mountains expose the problem of an uncharged battery pack.

Pros: Fuel mileage is anywhere from 30 to 44 mpg, with the exception of cold weather. Now listen up lunk heads. Honda DOES NOT PROMISE fuel mileage - those numbers come from the EPA. If you live in a cold climate and have a cold winter like this year, you will get some low mileage unless you have a heated garage. This is because the fuel mixture is rich and the engine keeps running until the catalytic converter gets hot. This is done to reduce emissions.
Winter is rough on hybrids because they don't heat up fast and the batteries don't charge when cold either. Hybrids do best in moderate temperatures say between 45 and 85 degrees. Also if you drive only a couple of miles to work, there is the chance that you will never even have the engine shut off mitigating the 10% advantage you get from shutting off the engine while stopped.

Having said that, I think all my cars will be hybrids from now on. Being able to commute and go on vacation and only use 180 gallons of fuel a year and only produce 3409 pounds of CO2 is cool. A Ford Explorer will create over 11000 pounds of Polar Bear killing emissions, not to mention the fact that they use more gasoline and take up more road.

Other bonuses: Fit and finish are amazing. Honda knows how to put these together and don't give me this BS that they are not American made. Even a hybrid made in Japan has 60% American content! Most other Civics are made in USA or Canada. So get a grip on this, Americans in Ohio make these cars and do a great job.