Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Honda Civic
In a brutal car market, the Honda Civic remains one of the few bright spots: A small, affordable, fuel-efficient car that doesn't make you feel like you're riding around in a glorified tin can. Enjoying a banner year after having briefly become the best-selling car in the country in May, the 2009 Civic looks to keep up its momentum. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley explains why it is likely to do so, but how a few minor irritants might also trip up buyers.
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The Civic is a fine car, but it looks like a doorstop on four wheels, and costs as much as the much larger Chevy Malibu. The Four cylinder Malibu with the six speed automatic gets the same mileage as the Civic and is much more luxurious. I know brand loyalty is a big thing with Honda buyers, and with good reason, but some serious comparison shopping right now would do Detroit and consumers a lot of good. Please do your part for the domestic manufacturers by at least looking at American cars before buying.
Trainer,
I look at my car as an investment. In 5 years, what will the trade in value of the Malibu be as compared to the Civic?
I have limited funds and need to invest in an automobile that I know has a reliable track record, good resale/trade in value and will not make me wonder if my local dealer will even be in business a couple years down the road. I simply don't feel as if a domestic vehicle will do that for me right now.
i prefer the Euro civic better!
Costs as much as the larger Malibu?
hm...last time I checked, the 4 cylinder Malibu that can mate with the 6AT starts at about 24 grand.
The Civic on the other hand, starts at about 15 grand on the stripped-down-bare-bone model, and fully loaded (if you can have it without leather) at 20 grand plus 5 bucks for a EX 5AT.
So, what does that mean "costs as much"?
The Malibu doesn't get anywhere near the Civic in terms of mileage.
You can get 30/40 if you drive like a Grandma.
You can get over 40mpg is you know how the R18 engine works, and you have a sensitive right foot.
J, I'm talking the red tag sale price for the Malibu with the six speed of just over 20K - that's Civic territory. The Malibu might cost a touch more than the Civic, but its mileage is really good and it rides nicer than the Civic.
George, according to the EPA the 33 mpg Malibu nearly matches the highway mileage of not just the Civic, but the Fit as well - in a much safer package.
I've driven a civic (I hate the civic) on a 300mile road trip.
The overall mileage was 44mpg, and that is on E10 regular grade fuel, and we saw 90mph.
Trainer,
If you have to go as far as including all the bargain pricing just to get it close to the price range of the Civic, I have nothing else to say to you; and that is NOT Civic territory.
You are using a rebated starter car comparing to a fully loaded model. And saying so righteously that it is in the same price range. Nice try.
One last note, try driving that Malibu and beat my city mileage number of 36mpg in the winter before spouting any nonsense might help.
I bought 2009 Honda Civic EX thinking I was going to save money on gas compared to my small truck 1996. The civic was very disappointing to me. It is giving me 23 miles in city. You have to drive like an 90 year old grandma if you expect to get 25 or more. I think HONDA is a ripoff. Way too much money for this type of car. And trust me you folks out there who think you can get a better resale value on honda or toyota for that matter you don't. Been there done it. It was very very disappointed how much I could get on my toyota after 3 years. Its value lost more than 7000 dollars in 3 years. Do your research people. To add to this the Honda civic insurance will go up much more than a toyota.
David,
You either have a rare Honda that has issues or you need to take another look at how you drive. I have a 2009 Honda Civic EX and the worst MPG it got was 26 mpg in the middle of winter when I would also let the car run 15 minutes or so to warm up as there were several days below 0 degrees. You are also wrong about the resale value. The resale value blows away most "domestic" cars. Another note: the Honda Civic is built in Ohio with 60% US made parts. Many so-called American made cars have 60% parts made from other countries. Some Fords are made in Mexico. So, yes buying a Civic is buying American and helping American jobs.
I traded my 2009 Honda Accord EX-L today for a more basic 2009 Honda Civic LX-S. I hate the hard leather seats in the Accord. It got 31mpg on 3 separate road trips and I drove it hard. I'm hoping that my new Civic will set more comfortable.
Just traded in 1998 CRV with a broken axial and got 4K for it as a tradin on an EX-L. It needs 1,200 work. By the way I have a 2004 Volvo S60T (turbo) that gets 30 on flat highway. It's fairly heavy, fast, luxurious and SAFE.
i had a 98 chevy malibu, and it was a piece of junk from day 1. a month after i bought it would randomly stall going down hills and the dealor couldnt figure out why.
I had it for 10 years and there wasnt a year when i didnt spend over 1000 dollars in repairs. I made a mistake of being sentimental and tried to keep that car as long as i did. It was fun to drive and was spacious but sucuked at gas and after 160,000 miles and 10 years ther head gasket was starting to crack and there were somany problems.
I had a chevy celibrity before this (1987) which lasted me over 200,000 miles and was a great car I dont know what the heck GM is doing making horrible cars. I wanted to by another GM car but I just dont have enough money to fix cars. So last week I bought a 2009 civic-ex and its a great car so far. gives me very good gas mileage 35 so far and its drives really well, and has as much room as my 98 malibu, and I am also very impressed with its acceleration considering its only a 1.8L and it feels like a solid car to drive. and i am just happy my dashboard doesnt vibrate and my car wont die going down hills.
So if Chevy doesnt care about its consumers by making such horrible cars then why should i care about Chevy.
I bought a New 2009 Civic EX on April 28, 2009 from my local Honda dealer for $16788 plus tax. I can't tell you how delighted I am. I've had 3 Volvos (before Ford ruined them)and several Buicks. My love affair for both ended 5 minutes after the dealer handed me my new keys. The seamless blending of ride/handling, performance/economy, luxury/economy makes me drop my jaw every time I throw it into a sharp turn at high speed. It's like they gave me a baby beemer without the extra horsepower in exchange for much better gas mileage ... at half the price. I can't even imagine where a Malibu would enter into a logical comparison.
I'm 95 percent the way to trading in my 98 Honda Civic for a '09 LX. One thing that bothers me is the speedometer being above the dashboard and above the steering wheel. I'm short and it's hard to see it there. Also, is it easily visible in bright daylight?
We just purchased a 2009 Honda Civic LX this weekend, it appears to be every bit as good as the reviews state. I tried many different models before buying including the Chevy Malibu. The Malibu pricing in our area is 5K more than the Civic LX. I drove the Malibu, there is no way anyone can convince me it will be as fuel efficient and reliable as the Honda Civic. The Civic's cool blue speedometer above the dash is very nice, easy to see in the daytime,and I am only 5 foot 5 and can see if perfectly.
Debbie, You shouldn't have a problem seeing the speedometer. The driver's seat adjusts for height. It is easily seen day or night. I live in Florida, and even with sunglasses, I see it fine. It's a great car! Take a look at the EX. You'll get a sunroof and larger tires.
The argument that you are doing your part as an American by buying a GM is bunk.
As a tax payer, I already own a piece of every single POS new GM rolling off the lots. The last thing I need is to own another POS GM.
I just bought a 2009 Civic EX, and I supported REAL American working families who built my car in East Liberty, OHIO!!!
Real Americans don't work for companies that are run by a bunch of crooked Union Thugs that turn around and steal tax payer money.
Yeah, I bought AMERICAN! It just happens to have a Japanese brand on it;)
I am 6000 miles into my 2009 Honda Civic EX and I'm extremely disapointed in my MPG. I still have not averaged > 30 MPG yet. The dealer tells me it should get better after the first 5000 miles, but so far I have not seen any improvment.
Other than the MPG, it's the best car I have ever owned.
yea but profit is sent overseas, sure its not built there, but the profits FROM the sale go overseas.
My sister bought an 08 Civic Sedan. What a pile. Has been in for warrenty work from the axle breakin, to the wheel bearings going bad, to airbag lights, and inoperative power windows. The speedometer is retarded. The engine is a gutless noisy rice box. The auto transmission seems to get confused and gear hunt. The interior REEKS of cheap awful plastic, stereos positiond too far away, the seats are about as plush as a carboard box.....Some value.....
I just bought a Civic LX the other day. I love it overall, especially the interior. However, the engine seems to rev more than expected, I am feeling some vibration coming from the rear right side, and the rear defogger seems to take a long time to work. Oh, and I feel a little nudge when it changes gears, too. I am still observing it and am hoping that it is all due to its being new and all, but is anyone having the same observations?
I rented the Malibu a couple weeks ago. So silent you can't even hear the 4 cylinder idling. Average mileage was 31 mpg over the week. The review points out the Civic's lousy ride and the road noise that Honda is now famous for. The Malibu is more of a grown up car with a beautiful interior and a silent smooth ride. Trainer makes a good point that the Malibu gets the same or better mileage than the civic without the penalty box feel.