2009 Honda Civic Sedan User Reviews

Pros

Good fuel economy,good looking,good space

Cons

Noisy cabin, Poor brakes,some vibration in steering,can`t see the digital speed

not so good ,expecting better car ,
very boor curve handling not the best car you can drive,
only excellent looking and fuel economy

Pros

Style, overall quality, feels tight

Cons

gas millage not what expected

Gas millage after 300 miles: 20 MPG, city. I managed to obtain 32 MPG with my old Honda Civic, '94. I understand that new Honda has 300cc bigger engine, and it's couple hundred pounds heavier than the old model, but the millage of this car is not better than the millage of any other car of that size so do not consider only if you expect to get exceptional millage, buy Prius or some other hybrid....read morehide

Pros

Fuel economy, Brand Name, Resale Value

Cons

Cheapest possible Audio, Noisy cabin, Poor brakes, Poor front seats

I like the car's fuel economy and the little steering that does the turns very well. I bought this based on the experience of Honda cars that i drove back in India (we had a something called a Honda City). The City in India is a cheaper car, and I now think the overall quality and driving experience of City is far better than the Civic that I am driving here in US.

The car comes with an Audio System that is of unimaginably low grade. It is too old that it doesnt even have a proper 3 or 5 band EQ, or any one touch settings etc. The sound that comes from the speakers does not reflect the frequency ranges that was originally recorded, i mean to say, the speakers of such a low quality that it would not produce the recorded sound faithfully. The sound that comes from the speakers are similar to those of a mono speaker covered with a "broken tin".

Honda could have better given a good choice for speakers when many car manufacturers include Bose! Harman Kardon Etc.

The noise reduction within the cabin is too poor, i get to hear as if i am sitting right on the top of the wheel. A drive for 1 hour plus would put your ears definetely to a constant hiss and humm that would ring even after you get out of the car.

My only reason for sticking with the car is its good fuel economy and resale value!...read morehide

Pros

Gas mileage is excellent and mechanically dependable.

Cons

The worst road noise I have encountered in the 5 Hondas I have owned.

Very dependable, easy to repair, and the dealerships are very aware regarding owner satisfaction. The car gets great gas mileage. There are some detracting points however. The dealership is more concerned about how their sales department is doing than any thing else. Once you buy the car, Honda is not too concerned about what you think about the car, or what could be done to improve it. When I mentioned that out of the 5 Hondas I have owned, this 2008 Civic model had the worst road noise I have ever experienced. It is terrible. When I mentioned this to the dealership, I just got blank stares. It is because they know it takes a lot to improve this particular complaint. Honda isnt going to waste the time. They are more concerned about how the salesman are doing selling their vehicles and whether you are ever so happy that the service department reps have a nice smile than how to improve the automobile. I mean who is disatisfied with their oil change? Customers just care about the amt of time it takes to get out of there....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy, GPS comes standard

Cons

Ride is too rough, Brakes sometimes clank

Ride is too rough, Brakes sometimes clank
Good fuel economy, GPS comes standard
good design

Pros

Firm but comfortable ride, decent acceleration, cool design in/out, low NVH

Cons

Front seats need more travel for tall drivers, base stereo is very weak

Just got my 09 Civic LX-S about one week ago and am mostly happy with it so far. My previous car was a 2007 Mercedes C280 4matic which I had leased, and while that car was phenominal I wanted better fuel economy and the ability to use regular gas in my next car. Mercedes-Benz vehicles are known for being rock-solid on the road, exceptionally quiet, and very well built, and my C was no exception. However, it returned an average of 21 mpg on premium gas over my 27 month lease, and so I decided to go green this time around.

I had a difficult finding a stylish compact economy sedan that would not make me feel like I was "stepping down" too far, and considered the Corolla and Mazda 3 as well. The Civic had, by far, the best combination of sporty driving dynamics along with a quiet, compliant ride on the highway. To tell you the truth, the overall feeling of the build quality (stiffness of the structure, ride quality, suspension isolation) is not that dissimilar from the Mercedes. Also, the steering has that same well-weighted, accurate, and responsive feel of the Benz. I am very impressed with the driving dynamics of this vehicle.

The combination of 140hp and the 5 speed automatic provides perfectly adequate acceleration, though I would certainly not describe the car as being fast. I was worried that I would miss the V6 torque but so far I have no regrets. Perhaps If I lived in a hilly area (which I do not) it would be more of an issue.

My biggest complaint is the fact that the front seat track is not long enough to provide enough leg room for my tall (6'5") frame. I realize this is an economy car, but with the seat all the way back there is still a ton of rear legroom. 2-3 more inches of seat travel would be much appreciated for times when there are no rear passengers. Also, the seat bottom cushion can be lowered, but the angle of the cushion cannot be adjusted for additional thigh support. This is not a huge problem on the highway b/c I can use the cruise control and kick back, but my knees get cramped after driving for long periods around town.

Otherwise, the seats are comfortable, and the suede-like material used on seat bolsters, door panels, and center armrest on the new-for-09 LX-S model gives the interior a special feel. The LX-S does not include a sunroof or upgraded stereo like you will find in the EX, but it does come with the aforementioned interior changes along with sporty 16" alloys, a trunk lip spoiler, and chrome exhaust tip. This package gives me just enough sportiness so that I do not feel like I am driving an econobox.

Speaking of the stereo, the base 4-speaker system in this car is WEAK. I'm no audiophile, but the base system in my wife's 09 Matrix S is light-years better. The Civic does at least come standard with an AUX input port and CD player.

Otherwise, I think the interior ergonomics are cool, if a bit unusual, but I am really starting to appreciate the digital speedometer. Also, the car has tons of useful storage cubbies and bins.

Overall, I give the car 5 stars for its class but 4 out of 5 total for not accomodating drivers of all sizes. Seriously, 2 more inches of seat travel would not have broken Honda's bank....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy.

Cons

Rough ride, poor breaking and handling --not your typical honda ride.

This reveiw is for a recently purchased 2008 EX Civic model-essentially the same as the 2009 version with the exception of some exterior cosmetics. I presently have approximately 800 miles thus far logged. I did not test drive on the ASSUMPTION that the car would be every bit as good as my previous Honda purchases. Shame on me. At $20K+ the car leaves much to be desired in almost every way from what I have come to expect from this "trusted" brand. Brake force requirement is high; road noise is an everpresent partner; the radio sounds like a hundred dollar installed aftermarket special - but most important is that the solid secure roadability so typical of the track bred Honda brand, a feature set that I have come to know and love and expected here, has somehow escaped this vehicle. I wouldn't go so far to call it a "tin box" but I would suggest that you test drive this baby before you take her home....read morehide

Pros

good handling

Cons

road noise, car feels like it is made out of cardboard or paper mache

just bought the car disappointed with the feel, feels like you are riding in a tin can, car doesn't feel secure compared with other vehicles on the road. Handling is good, so is GPS. I made a mistake buying this car