2009 Honda Civic: What's New

Vehicle Overview
Honda’s compact Civic is available in coupe and sedan body styles; it’s positioned between the subcompact Fit hatchback and midsize Accord in Honda’s lineup. Civics compete with the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra. Five distinct models are available: the Civic sedan and coupe, Civic Si sedan and coupe and the Civic Hybrid sedan, which is covered separately in the Cars.com Research section. In addition, approved Honda dealers in California and New York carry a Civic GX that’s powered by natural gas. Civic Si models feature a high-performance 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

New for 2009
Changes for 2009 include additional trim levels — LX-S and DX-VP — that create new equipment packages for sport-minded and value-minded consumers, respectively. Also added is an electronic stability system on new trim levels, as well as Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB audio options. Styling changes include a front bumper redesign with larger openings.

Exterior
Honda says the Civic features an “expressive and futuristic design.” Design touches include a steeply raked windshield, minimal front and rear overhangs and reduced gaps between the tires and fenders.

• Redesigned front bumper with more pronounced grille openings
• 15-inch wheels on DX and DX-VP
• 16-inch wheels on LX, LX-S, EX and EX-L
• Power moonroof on EX and EX-L
• LX-S adds rear deck spoiler and chrome exhaust finisher

Interior
Inside each five-passenger Civic, the driver faces a two-tier instrument panel and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. There is a multifunction center console.

• Power windows
• Power locks on LX and above trims
• DX-VP models adds air conditioning and audio system to least-expensive DX
• Navigation system with voice recognition available in EX and EX-L
• Bluetooth limited to navigation-equipped vehicles
• USB audio interface for iPods and flash drives is available in EX and EX-L
• Auxiliary stereo input jack standard on DX-VP and higher trim levels
• Leather interior included on EX-L
• Available XM Satellite Radio
• 12.0 cubic feet of trunk space
• LX-S adds black seats with bolsters and leather-wrapped steering wheel

Under the Hood
Regular Civic coupes and sedans use a 1.8-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder. All models use drive-by-wire throttle control.

• 140 horsepower and 128 pounds-feet of torque
• Five-speed manual transmission
• Optional five-speed automatic
• MacPherson strut front suspension and a compact multilink double-wishbone rear suspension

Safety
In previous years, an electronic stability system was only available on the high-performance Si. For 2009, that system has been extended as standard equipment on the EX-L but remains unavailable on lower trim levels.

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution
• Side-impact and side curtain airbags
• Active head restraints in front seats

Civic Si
Honda’s performance-oriented Si model — offered as both a sedan and a conventional two-door coupe — features a rear deck spoiler, cladding and Si badging that’s different from the coupe’s rear spoiler and cladding.

• 2.0-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder
• 197 hp at 7,800 rpm and 139 pounds-feet of torque at 6,200 rpm
• Six-speed manual gearbox
• Limited-slip differential
• Deeply bolstered seats with red fabric stitching
• Alloy wheels with 17-inch tires
• Navigation system with voice recognition available
• Available USB audio interface for iPods and flash drives