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2009 Honda Civic Sedan Quality Review

April 24, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Coupes do not isolate noise nearly as well as sedans
ConsumerGuide

Improved cloth seating surfaces and patterns, and matching trim on the door linings and armrests
Motor Trend

Fit and finish are good, and the cabin utilizes nice materials
Cars.com

When consumers think of Honda, the words "reliability" and "quality" usually spring to mind. These associations are far from accidental, as Honda has built a reputation on the quality of its vehicles, and the 2009 Honda Civic is no exception. Edmunds sums it up nicely: The Honda Civic's "success can be attributed to its consistently high level of fit and finish and an impressive reputation for reliability and low running costs."

Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com rave about what Car and Driver calls the Honda Civic's "roomy interior," while Edmunds hails the Honda 2009 Civic as "one of the best small cars in terms of room, interior storage and refinement." Beginning with the front seats, ConsumerGuide reviewers find that "the seats astutely blend support and comfort," and the Honda Civic "Si's seats are further bolstered for a glued-in-place feel in fast cornering." Cars.com is less enthusiastic, noting that "the leather bucket seats in front have firm cushioning, but they didn't initially seem to fit my back that well...I adapted to the seat in time, but it still wasn't ideal." In the rear seats, ConsumerGuide says that "sedans have adequate adult headroom" and "a flat floor aids overall comfort," but on the coupe, the "tiny, hard-to-access rear seat is best left to toddlers."

The 2009 Honda Civic packs an impressive amount of cargo space into its tidy dimensions; Motor Trend reports "surprising vastness" inside the cabin and coos that "the Civic's storage solutions [are] impressive." ConsumerGuide also says "interior storage is very good" and notes that "sedans have a wide, tall trunk with a generous opening and low liftover" and "the coupe's trunk has the same attributes, but slightly less volume." Cars.com agrees enthusiastically, claiming "the trunk is huge (12 cubic feet), and it has 60/40-split folding rear seats."

When it comes to build and materials quality, consumers will be hard-pressed to find a vehicle to top the 2009 Honda Civic. Motor Trend simply says "it's a step up," while Car and Driver notes that the EX-L version of the 2009 Honda Civic boasts "a handsome leather interior." ConsumerGuide reviewers claim no competitor can match the Honda 2009 Civic's "reputation for reliability and strong resale value," and they praise the "laudable mix of high-grade plastics and fabrics" inside the Honda Civic.

Wind noise is minimal within the 2009 Honda Civic, especially in sedan form. ConsumerGuide, which tends toward the conservative side, proclaims that "sedans are near the top of the class in suppression of road and wind noise," although "coupes do not isolate nearly as well as sedans."

Conclusion

The Honda Civic isn’t the most comfortable, but with its near-bulletproof reputation for reliability, expect to see the 2009s on the road decades from now.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Coupes do not isolate noise nearly as well as sedansConsumerGuideImproved cloth seating surfaces and patterns, and matching trim on the door linings and armrestsMotor TrendFit and finish are good, and the cabin utilizes nice materialsCars.com When consumers think of Honda, the words "reliability" and "quality" usually spring to mind. These associations are far from accidental, as Honda has built a reputation on the quality of its vehicles, and the 2009 Honda Civic is no exception. Edmunds sums it up nicely: The Honda Civic's "success can be attributed to its consistently high level of fit and finish and an impressive reputation for reliability and low running costs." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com rave about what Car and Driver calls the Honda Civic's "roomy interior," while Edmunds hails the Honda 2009 Civic as "one of the best small cars in terms of room, interior storage and refinement." Beginning with the front seats, ConsumerGuide reviewers find that "the seats astutely blend support and comfort," and the Honda Civic "Si's seats are further bolstered for a glued-in-place feel in fast cornering." Cars.com is less enthusiastic, noting that "the leather bucket seats in front have firm cushioning, but they didn't initially seem to fit my back that well...I adapted to the seat in time, but it still wasn't ideal." In the rear seats, ConsumerGuide says that "sedans have adequate adult headroom" and "a flat floor aids overall comfort," but on the coupe, the "tiny, hard-to-access rear seat is best left to toddlers." The 2009 Honda Civic packs an impressive amount of cargo space into its tidy dimensions; Motor Trend reports "surprising vastness" inside the cabin and coos that "the Civic's storage solutions [are] impressive." ConsumerGuide also says "interior storage is very good" and notes that "sedans have a wide, tall trunk with a generous opening and low liftover" and "the coupe's trunk has the same attributes, but slightly less volume." Cars.com agrees enthusiastically, claiming "the trunk is huge (12 cubic feet), and it has 60/40-split folding rear seats." When it comes to build and materials quality, consumers will be hard-pressed to find a vehicle to top the 2009 Honda Civic. Motor Trend simply says "it's a step up," while Car and Driver notes that the EX-L version of the 2009 Honda Civic boasts "a handsome leather interior." ConsumerGuide reviewers claim no competitor can match the Honda 2009 Civic's "reputation for reliability and strong resale value," and they praise the "laudable mix of high-grade plastics and fabrics" inside the Honda Civic. Wind noise is minimal within the 2009 Honda Civic, especially in sedan form. ConsumerGuide, which tends toward the conservative side, proclaims that "sedans are near the top of the class in suppression of road and wind noise," although "coupes do not isolate nearly as well as sedans." ConclusionThe Honda Civic isn’t the most comfortable, but with its near-bulletproof reputation for reliability, expect to see the 2009s on the road decades from now. 2009 HONDA CIVIC STYLING | [7 out of 10] ConsumerGuide: "Interior is innovative, entertaining even, without sacrificing functionality" Motor Trend: "Changes are minor, including a new bumper that now incorporates three air intakes" Cars.com: "Instantly recognizable and much ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Mazda3 has a reputation for the best handling in this class; there’s a new Mazda3 arriving as an early ’10 model, and it’s even better in refinement and interior materials. The Toyota Corolla is new for the 2009 model year and gets more refined and more expensive, though base versions can have a plasticky interior. The Ford Focus was restyled for the 2008 model year, and while most reviewers think it's a step backward, the Focus has new features like Ford's SYNC entertainment and hands-free phone controller. Finally, shoppers of standard-version Civic sedans owe it to themselves to check out the Hyundai Elantra sedan, which is arguably a step above the Corolla in refinement, yet roomier and more comfortable than the Civic.

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See the Honda Civic Sedan in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

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