Used 2009 Honda Civic Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Blue
I loved my little Honda. It was comfortable, fuel efficient, & fun! No problems in 15 years. Mine was a hybrid. I wanted another Civic Hybrid. They stopped making them.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Smooth like butter
Loved the drive
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
- LX-S SedanMSRP: $8,500172 mi away
- LX-S SedanMSRP: $10,025107 mi away
- EX SedanMSRP: $8,975176 mi away
Replacement for my Clunker
Thank you, taxpayers; my old Mercury Villager is no more! Being a college student, I needed a more reliable form of transportation, and that's exactly what I got. I looked at a few competitors as well as the Accord, but the Civic fit what I needed best. The Si badging added a little something something to the personal enjoyment factor. So far, I love my Civic. It has been impeccable in both build quality, initial reliability, and ownership satisfaction. Having never driven manual before and it being a new car, I was expecting some low MPGs on the first tanks. However, in my 2500 miles of driving, my lowest tank has been 28 and my best slightly above 33. Keep this car on your short list!
Still the best transmission
Got the dark gray color which meshes quite nicely with the Si wheels. The audio hookups are astounding - CD, XM, pc card, FM, AM, iPod, and USB key. The navigation graphics are dated (same or similar to those which debuted in 2006), but the system is integrated quite well and the information presented is all helpful. I have yet to get a single voice command to work, even after reading the manual. The engine is quite free revving and the transmission and clutch combo is sublime. It is not a particularly fast car, but the best version of a proven car with a fantastic stick.
Great Fun Car
This is my 6th Honda, first Hybrid. So naturally I like Honda's. I was surprised by the power, not like the original VW diesel of yesteryear. Car is fun to drive, but watch out don't get caught and wrapped up looking at the dashboard constantly showing data or you will be in an accident. I only have it for a couple weeks but the MPG is as good or better than the sticker rating. Usual Honda quality, not a thing wrong so far, there is no laundry list for the dealer to repair when first service come around.
Not thrilled for the price
Nice looking car, like the led tail lights and digital dash, but I'm 5'6 and smash my shin each and every time I enter this car. Poor design there, seats could be more comfortable, lots of rattles and squeaks and idles rough at red lights. I have the basic VP model, and although it features power windows, there are manual locks and mirrors! This was almost $19k at my dealer. I wish I had done more research on other cars before leasing this. It's really not worth the $$ at all.
Not Bad for an Econobox
I "traded down" from a Titan and 1 year/ 22k later, I am very pleased. I average 30 MPH in mixed driving, 36 MPG on the interstate at 80MPH with AC. The car handles VERY well. It's smooth with minimal body roll. In dry weather, it can stick to a 25mph cloverleaf at 55mph, no sweat. I don't like the sound of most 4cyls, but the R18 actually sounds pretty good. Do not expect this car (1.8 + auto) to be a rocket. It will move if you mash it past 3.5k, but at a serious fuel cost. There is minimal rolling resistance, so it is easy to glide up to and hold cruising speeds to save gas without any "hypermiling" nonsense. The interior is generally ergonomically correct, and can accommodate 4 adults.
Do your home work
I've always liked the Honda Civic. It's got great looks and the mag tests say it sets the standards for other small cars to match but I'm disappointed. The road noise in the cabin is just horrible with the Civic and for me it's really a big distraction that's keeping me from enjoying this car. Too much gear whine from the drivetrain too. Road noise in the cabin is the biggest flaw with this car. I like the rest of the car, but it's not really any better than the other cars in its class and you pay more for a Honda and get less features for your money compared to say a Toyota. The Civic is a nice car, but it's a noisy car and pricey for what you get. Do you homework before you buy.
Again an update -3
After driving since February having 16,000 miles on it, it still drives as I bought it. And my average is still 41 mpg, this is the max when driving carefully but still maxium speeds on back roads and highway. Saw the reviews of mazda2 drivers and Ford fiesta, they don't get that high mileage I would think of purchase such a car. As I told before, drive it till it falls apart, hope so at 300,000 miles. No hybrid can drive cheaper as this car!
Great Car
I am very pleased with my Honda Civic Hybrid it is better than I had hoped for. I purchased this vehicle to commute in Los Angeles traffic and it performs great - the comfort level is very good. I have been driving about 43 years and would recommend this vehicle to everyone who needs a great car at a very good price. I am considering purchasing a second one for my daughter.
Great little car!
I went from minivan to this fun to drive car. The tiered dashboard was easy to adjust to. It has enough pep for getting on the freeway. Great a/c for living in Texas. Bought this over one year ago with no regrets. Get 28-30 mpg combined heavy city traffic and suburbs. Easiest car to wash on the driveway!
Good work car.
Good work car, getting 26 mpg in city. Dislike the 2 level dash, but hey, it's a work car. Honda paint finish is sub par- but I knew that at purchase from past experience. Meets it's purpose, Civics have historically been a reliable work car for me.
Good car but.
This car has been fine.BUT after having car for one year, accessory port started blowing fuses.I have been to dealer several times and they insist it is due to a verizon cell phone charger.I purchased an adapter per dealership fuses still blowing. Piazza honda in Drexel Hill, PA.GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND. Still trying to get fixed.
Love my first hybrid
Gave up my Acura TL after 7 great years. Was a little worried about "trading down" to Honda, but I couldn't be happier. Was looking for a commuter car, & this definitely fits the bill. It's very well built, nice interior, and easily fits 4 people (5 might be cozy, we haven't tried it yet). While not the most powerful car, it delivers what it needs to in most situations. It's quite loud around 3- 4K RPM (going up steep hills). But by far the best feature - 42MPG, as advertised. Got 51MPG today on a 74 mile drive. I don't mind sitting at stop lights as much anymore, since the car shuts off. It does lack in some "luxury" things (push button start, HID, etc), but for 22K, can't complain. Great car.
Amazing Car
Amazing car, made the right choice. Price a little steep but worth the money. Wouldn't have gotten a different car if had to choose again. It was the right vehicle for me.
Early Review - Only Driven 400 Miles
Honda makes one of the best stick shifts in the auto business with the Civic Si. Short throws and creamy smooth shifts. Performance is great for a 4 cylinder (2 liter) engine without a turbo. It's a rev happy car which performs best at 6,000+ rpm's, and the engine sound is sweet at higher revs. My car is black which is hard to keep clean but looks great when it has a bath. It's a head turner. Gave it a 9 on reliability but that's just based on Honda's past reputation cause I've only had it a week with 400 miles driven so far. I leased it for 3 years so it's covered by limited warranty. If it proves reliable I will purchase another 3 year lease.
Not bad but not ideal
After 6 months the Civic is almost exactly as expected. Reliable, great mileage, solid build. There are a few things that will drive you nuts. If you are tall, the parking brake handle sticks up and you will whack your leg. It is impossible to see any part of the outside of the car from the inside so for a small car it is more difficult to park then you would expect. The rear seat is not divided so you have to fold down the whole seat - a difficult task with the release mounted in the trunk. The key has become the joke of my department at work. It is huge (gold plate it and it could be the key to the city). It also costs over $100 to duplicate. So solid car with some design issues.
great car
It is a great little car. Drives well, fast, good gas mileage. Only thing I need to mention is a side miller came off from its frame on the right side 2 weeks after purchase but dealer fixed it with no charge. Highly recommended!
best car we have owned
Bough this car with 55K on it my boyfriend drives 100 miles to work and tis car is amazing we got it in september 2011 an have put 10 K on it and nothing wrong it has amazing gas mileage the only thing i dont like is the driver side door molding we had to replace it pulled away from the frame it was a 20 dollar fix i would tell anyone needng a good reliable car to go to hondas im a ford truck girl i love them but for theprice and reliabillity and our 2 kids fit in the back perfect with a car seat with an older child sitting in the middle love this car so much and all the reviews helped us so much thank you all
Great Car
I traded in my S2000 for this car. I know its slower but can't tell from driving it. This car feels faster than it is. Its as much fun to drive as the S2000 was. I considered other cars but owned many Hondas in the past and haven't been disappointed by my decision to take this over WRX and MS3. I commute 82 miles round trip each day and enjoy every minute of it.
Overrated
It's Honda reliability and there is no disputing that. But in reality, the car is overrated. The car rides very rough and road noise is horrible. No vanity lights is an oversight on Honda's part. The car handles good but is lacking in some basic features like: vanity lights, power seats, in- dash 6 disc changer, and homelink. It has good power unless you're merging into traffic and need to get out there (you may be in trouble). When you compare the Civic, Corolla, & Mazda3, dollar for dollar and feature for feature I think Honda ends up in last place. I think they are relying too much on a legacy and have become too complacent. Would not have another one that's for sure.
Best car I have ever owned
I have had my 09 Civic hybrid for 8 months and absolutely love it. I get significantly better fuel economy than the epa estimates, averaging around 53 mpg, though I drive conservatively and make a game out of trying to get the best fuel economy I can. The car's sweet spot for fuel economy is 35-50 mph (around 60-65 mpg), and driving around 70 - 75 you'll see your fuel economy drop to the low 40's (one drawback). The hybrid assist-regen system works well on small to moderate hills but doesn't sustain on large hills, leaving you with a small engine that has to work hard to get up long inclines. Another potential drawback is the back seat doesn't fold down, but it only an occasional problem.
Reliable transportation
I have put on 151,000 miles on my car and beyond the normal service and the recommended maintenance, it still is running strong. Dependable car. Highly recommend this vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Everything You Need for the Price
I selected the LX-S based on the options that comes standard on it as opposed to the LX and even some options not on the EX (leather-wrapped steering wheel). I wanted a spoiler, alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and Automatic Transmission in a 4 door. The LX-S was tailor made for me. I originally was looking at a Fit based on price, but the LX-S was quoted lower than the Fit. I couldn't believe it. Several hundred below Edmunds TMV. Car feels very solid. Not very powerful, but I'm looking for fuel economy and couldn't care less about power. Backseat is large enough for my 2 car seats. Trunk is adequate. Based on price + mpg + reliability I'm looking forward to racking up the miles.
Great Little Car
Bought this as an efficient second vehicle and find myself using it every time I go out the door. Easy to handle, plenty of zip, quick to park and not one issue in 10,000 miles. Plenty of room for my 6'3" 250 body.
50 MPG Urban Assault Tank
I had forgotten how superb Honda cars are. The Civic Hybrid w/leather and NAV has all the features that my former Camry Hybrid had... at $10K less, based on actual purchase prices. The Civic is a handsome design in/out. My first tank returned 50 MPG average, and I expect to do better over time. Polished Metal exterior was a great choice. This car is SOLID and a pleasure to drive. It FAR exceeds my expectations.
Never disappoints!
My Civic Si is now 15 years old. It has never failed to deliver all I could ask for in a car. Absolutely NO major repair issues; just regularly recommended maintenance. It's easily good for another 30 years!
This was a Trooper
I say was because I just sold it. It still ran extremely well after 14 years and 280000 miles. I just felt like it was time to trade up.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Disgusted with Honda
I will never buy another Honda. Honda ought to be embarrassed to have their name on this car. Although I just bought the car last year, I have had it at the dealership to have numerous flaws repaired or replaced under the warranty: (1)windshield replaced due to distortions; (2) door handles and side mirrors replaced due to the lack of quality paint job; (3) front and rear bumpers painted due to lack of quality paint job; (4) the regulators in the front doors had to be replaced when the windows stopped going down all the way; and (5) the moldings that cover-up the front side airbags show gaps when it should be flush mounted.
It's An Economy Car, People!
We have only owned Hondas for the past 12 years because we don't want the hassle, headache and maintenance woes associated with other vehicles. Honda has not disappointed. We recently purchased the new 2009 Civic LX-S to replace our 1997 Civic as a work/commuter car. In reading other reviews, I am surprised to see complaints like "no lighted vanity mirrors," "no keyless entry for the trunk," etc. Are we missing the boat here? This is excellent for what it is, an economy car. If you want a car for under $19,000 with reliability, great fuel economy, look no further. If you want heated seats with your keyless entry, buy something else and stop complaining.
Get in and go.
Excellent car to own as a second vehicle. Extremely reliable, excellent mpg,easy to drive, park and maneuver around traffic. Low low maintenance just the norm oil change tires battery brakes wipers etc. Money saver for those close quick in town trips with high mpg. Keeper till it falls apart which at present has no sign of happening anytime soon.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Owned for 4 good years!
Bought mine pre owned with 60k miles back in 2013 and just sold mine December 2017 and it’s the best first car ever to own. No major problems other than my coolant hoses blowing but that’s it! I’ve done the oil changes myself using Mobil 1 full synthetic and k&n oil filters and it ran like a champ! I was modded as well with the eibach pro kit suspension, spec d tuning exhaust, momo steering wheel, and injen cold air intake. I did about 7 road trips in that car and ended up selling it with 132k I loved that car to death but I upgraded to an S2000 now. The only complaint was power 1.8 I4 I believe was pushing 140hp many other cars were pushing slightly more but the car did rev up to almost 7k with a very light vtec so you’d really have to drive it hard to make it some what fun
Some short Comings!!!
After owning for 5 months, some of the glamor has worn off. I bought it for economy and it is very good in that department. As far as driving I hate the fact that you can't see the right side to judge or even the left front, thats a minus. Also with the hybrid I would not recommend it if you live in hilly country, has little or no power on grades. Seats are not comfortable, esp if you're over 21.
The best subcompact out there
Concerned about going from a V-6 to a 4 cylinder. Not anymore. A zippy little car with great stopping power. Urban Titanium color gets great remarks and some say the body style looks European. I like the double decker dashboard. Can't be accused of telling a police offer I didn't know how fast I was going.
Love it!
I traded in my 2007 civic EX for the 2009 version. That's how much I like these cars. It's always been my practice to buy the car that depreciates the least (even if you have to pay list), end trade every other year. I spend practically nothing on maintenance, and my cost is only minimal depreciation.
Not as much pop, but overall a great car
I previously owned a 1.8 Turbo Volkswagen Jetta that had some serious pep for a 4cyl engine. However, the thing was falling apart and overall my experience was poor. I was drawn to the Civic because of its reputation for reliability, fuel economy, and its nice design. After nearly 3,000 miles on the car, I'm happy with my purchase. It's not as much fun to drive as the Jetta, but the 5 speed manual offers some excitement and better all-around control over the car. I ended up going with the EX-L because on the 2009's it's the only version that offers stability control (VSA). Also, it's worth noting that I'm relatively tall (6'4"), and I fit very comfortably in the driver's seat.
Great car for the money!
Had my mind set to buy a 4 door, but when I saw the 2-dr coupe, my reaction was "Wow!". I've been driving it for less than a month, and just loving it! For the price, you can't beat it. Averaging about 32mpg, probably due to mix of city & hwy driving.
I love this car!
I've only had higher end vehicles, audi and volvos. I wanted something that was a little more suited for a commuter. At first I wasn't excited about going to a Civic. I gave it a chance, and I LOVE IT! I can't believe I didn't own one earlier. It is so zippy, and fun to drive. I love the oil life indicator, as a woman, that takes the guess work out of maintenance. The interior is HUGE! My daughter's car seat has plenty of room, and my husband, a bigger guy, fits great as well. If you need a commuter car, try a civic, you will love it!
Some minor quirks for a fantastic car
Hondas just seem to get better and better. I do however have two minor comments regarding my new Civic. First, the accelerator's new throttle-by wire technology performs well, yet the feel of the accelerator is awkward to me. The pedal is hinged from the floor and I find it a little uncomfortable situating my foot at times. The other item relates to the transmission. The automatic tranny seems confused at times whether to stay in second gear or revert to first when executing slow turns or "California stops". This confusion can at times result in an abrupt shift of the gears. Other than that, not much to complain about. Hats off to Honda for building yet another great car!
Economic and reliable, but terribly built
The car handles well enough and has decent power. A 6th gear would have been welcome, but there 5spd auto is sufficient. It's a good looking car with good featured and it gets good gas mileage. The area where the civic FAILS is I'm build quality. My rear LED brake light had to be replaced due to a bad solder point - a known defect. The interior rattles more than it should. The clearcoat on the hood was cracking and failing, but thankfully was fixed when I got a new hood due to hail damage. The driver seat has started squeaking loudly when I go over a bump, sometimes while entering and exiting the vehicle as well. This is a known issue with seat frame and I'm working with the dealer.
nice car for younger people
I have driven this car since 2009 and my other vehicle is a Subaru Outback then Crosstek. THe honda sits low to the ground. Getting in and out can be challenging. There is no real pickup when trying to enter the highway so you must be careful. Gas mileage is OK. A good car to commute but I would not buy another one.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I got a lemon
I was extremely disappointed with this Civic. It regularly left me abandoned, unable to start. I don't know how many times I had to be towed, and the dealership here in Oregon blew me off. This kept happening and happening, that the battery after just a few weeks would suddenly stop holding a charge. After over a year of this, the dealership finally put in a new battery. It still had problems. Something else was wrong with the electrical system somewhere, and the dealership wasn't going to help me out. Then a rock made its way into the brake area somehow, and caused damage. After I wanted out from such an unreliable vehicle, I sold it as a loss. The lemon is someone else's problem.
2nd honda and still best car ever
7 months ago I bought a 2009 Honda fit with 5 speed manual, I decided to sell it and get a faster Honda civic coupe dx. I cant believe how much faster the civic coupe is with manual transmission than the fit and it handles so much better and looks better. I will never ever buy any other car than a Honda civic coupe. It feels like you are driving the fastest car on the road all while using no gas. Honda makes best cars in the world PERIOD.
Honda Quality sucks specially made in North America
I used to own a couple of Hondas and an Acura. This one honda civic made in North America is really a Lemon. I have only like 36,000 miles and\the following were done to my honda civic. 1) remote control transmitter two times. 2) Evaporator for aircondition gave way. 3) Right axel was replaced. 4) Tirod was also replaced. 5) Front air bag plastic got crack. 6)Front driver's sun visor replaced. I was forced to buy an extended warranty and I am not sure what is next problem? I am tired of going to the dealer. Mileate is also bad, I am only getting only 22 to 25 miles in the city on normal driving and the tires are almost gone. My old Hondas and Acura seldom see the dealer.
Going Green
This is my 6th Honda, my first Hybrid, so far the fuel mileage exceeds the sticker. Been getting 46 plus, city & highway. Typical Honda, very solid and fun to drive. I did notice for some reason the brakes are not as good as my last couple Hondas.
Brake failure at 15,000 miles
My 2009 Honda Civic is a year old with 15,000 miles. Took it to the dealer for brake problems and was told the brakes are dirty and rusting at 15,000 miles? This is inexcusable. I paid over $600 for repairs on a new car. Now I'm hearing many complaints and am afraid I will soon have to replace the brakes at my expense. I've driven a Honda for 15 years and will never buy another one. I'm thinking of trading my new Civic in for a reliable car.
Great car for a great price
I had always lusted after the Civic Si back when the 2000's were new. Once Honda went back to the hatch-style I moved on to other cars since it didn't fit my life. As soon as the new "Si Sedan" came out I knew what my next car would be. I purchased my 09' in June and have loved every second of it. This has got to be one of the funnest daily drivers out there, despite requiring premium gas I am still getting upwards of 26+MPG with very aggressive driving. The seats are a magnet for cat hair so I am going to need to upgrade these to leather soon :-) I have also (Eibach) dropped my car about 1.4" in front and back and the handling is much improved.
Civic - What you expect no surprises
So far so good. This car is everything that I expected. Great gas mileage 33miles/gallon mix city/highway. Not especially sporty or exciting to drive but to get to work and around town works well. This car doesn't accelerate from a stop very well but then this is part of the gas saving component. I believe a model equipped manual transmission would improve this and be more fun to drive. But for me not practical since I drive in stop and go rush hour traffic daily. This car does have a significant amount of road noise but no more so than other cars in its size class. One other item that is an annoyance, the fabric (black) on my LX-S attracts lint and hair like a magnet. Is hard to keep clean.
Excellent car
Great overall car. Has enough power to have some fun with yet still maintain its reliability and great gas mileage. No problems as of yet but still breaking the car in. Get comments from enthusiasts all the time about how clean it looks. This car serves and supports the reason why it was built. I love the interior but some may wish to have a different color as it is quite hard to keep clean.
Fun Ride with Good Mileage
I really like the dashboard layout. Having the digital speedometer on the second tier, I would actually consider a safety feature. It allows me to keep my eyes more on the road, by not having to look down as far to see my speed. I love the black seating in the LX-S, but as others have stated, it does attract the lint. Really love the gas mileage and the handling. It has the typical Honda suspension that you feel the road bumps and hear the road noise. It is fun to drive. Great visibility all around.