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By KBB Editors
Updated March 22, 2024
If you appreciate world-class refinement (along with impressive mileage), and you’re looking to spend anywhere from $16,000 to $24,000 for a new car, your test-drive schedule might not continue past the Honda dealer.
If the Civic’s $16,000 starting price is the most you want to spend, you might be disappointed to find out the least-expensive DX model doesn’t include a factory-installed audio system, air conditioning, power locks, center console or even map lights.
The entire Civic lineup benefits from a freshening of the front and rear ends, new alloy wheel designs and new colors. Two new trims are added to the DX and LX sedan lines. The DX-VP adds air conditioning and an AM/FM/CD audio system, while the LX-S gains alloy wheels, a sportier interior and a rear spoiler. EX-L models now feature electronic stability control as well as Bluetooth connectivity with the optional navigation system.
As Honda’s best-known and best-loved car line, the 2009 Civic Sedan and Coupe continue to set the bar in the compact-car arena. Long considered the standard by which all other compacts are measured, the Civic is able to lure buyers thanks to its impressive fuel economy, unrivaled reliability and repair history and class-leading resale values. Once considered the Civic’s only weak point, exterior styling is now one of the car’s most appealing attributes. With its sharply raked windshield and low profile, the sleek Civic Coupe looks like nothing else on the road. The car’s appeal to younger drivers has put Honda back into the good graces of the tuner and aftermarket crowd.
Used 2009 Honda Civic pricing starts at $5,423 for the Civic DX Coupe 2D, which had a starting MSRP of $16,015 when new. The range-topping 2009 Civic GX Sedan 4D starts at $5,715 today, originally priced from $25,900.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$16,015 | $5,423 | |||
$16,215 | $6,356 | |||
$16,965 | $5,107 | |||
$17,965 | $5,812 | |||
$18,165 | $6,383 | |||
$18,765 | $6,845 | |||
$20,015 | $6,084 | |||
$20,015 | $6,305 | |||
$21,565 | $6,394 | |||
$21,565 | $6,787 | |||
$22,615 | $7,196 | |||
$22,815 | $8,797 | |||
$24,360 | $5,950 | |||
$25,900 | $5,715 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2009 Honda Civic models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Which Model is Right for Me?
Power windows
Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
Driver’s seat height adjustment
Folding rear seat
15-inch wheels
Air conditioning
160-watt AM/FM/CD system with auxiliary input
Power door locks
Cruise control
Center console with armrest and storage
16-inch wheels
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Rear spoiler
16-inch alloy wheels
Power moonroof
6-speaker audio system with USB input
Security system with remote entry
60/40-split fold rear seats
Leather-trimmed interior
Heated front seats
Heated side mirrors
Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control
Gas-electric hybrid powertrain with continuously variable transmission
Automatic climate control
6-speaker audio system
Rear spoiler
Compressed natural gas (CNG) powertrain
5-speed automatic transmission
Cruise control
2-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo
197-horsepower engine with 6-speed manual transmission
Limited-slip differential
Power moonroof
350-watt audio system with subwoofer
We drove the Civic in both coupe and sedan form and found them both notable for what you don’t hear or feel – the ride is smooth and quiet, while cornering and acceleration are easy and nearly effortless. The whole experience is more in line with what you’d expect from a bigger or pricier vehicle. The refined 140-horsepower engine never overwhelms you with power, but even when you run the tachometer up to its redline you don’t feel like you’re bullying the car. The coupe version gets a slightly sportier suspension to go with its decidedly sportier posture, but we found it to be still comfortable after hour-plus drives. Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or one of the Civic’s other seating positions, the 2009 Honda Civic is a perfectly enjoyable way to travel.
In addition to offering more in-cabin technology than we’ve come to expect, the 2009 Honda Civic also features the most visually futuristic interior of any vehicle on the market. Take a seat behind the wheel and your first impression is dominated by a uniquely sculpted steering wheel and an unconventional two-tier instrument panel. Technological highlights include an available navigation system and a broad array of digital audio options. Third, fourth and fifth passengers would be happier in the sedan’s backseat than in the coupe’s, because the sedan features about four more inches of legroom and two more inches of headroom than the cozy coupe. The fit, finish and design found inside the Civic are first-rate.
Although the 2009 Honda Civic Coupe and Sedan are both distinguished by a low-profile front end, short hood and long, laid-back windshield, the two models have never been more different. The taller sedan rides on a longer wheelbase than the sleeker, sportier coupe that also includes a decklid spoiler as standard equipment. Small gaps between the tires and body contribute to each model having a stance with better proportions and more balance. Beneath the sheet metal, the Civic features an advanced body structure designed to better absorb and distribute collision forces, especially in impacts involving taller sport utility vehicles and the like.
Audio Options
Listen to MP3s on CD. Listen to MP3s on a memory card. Listen to MP3s on an iPod. Listen to XM Satellite Radio. Listen through a 350-watt system with a subwoofer (coupe only). When you’re feeling nostalgic, you can even listen to AM and FM radio broadcasts.
Two-Tier Instrument Panel
While some non-traditional instrument panel layouts come across as gimmicky, the Civic’s two-tier execution seems to make all the sense in the world.
Notable standard equipment on the base Civic Sedan and Coupe models includes power windows, a four-way adjustable steering column, height-adjustable driver’s seat, fold-down rear seatback and an impressive list of safety equipment such as front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, active head restraints, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and more. The DX-VP adds to the base DX trim an AM/FM/CD stereo and air conditioning, but still lacks power locks/mirrors.
The Civic’s list of optional equipment is highlighted by a navigation system with voice-recognition software and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. An advanced 350-watt AM/FM/XM/CD sound system with subwoofer is available on the Si Sedan and EX, EX-L and Si Coupe, but there are several iterations of a 160-watt CD sound system – and all audio systems have MP3/WMA CD playback capability and, on LX and higher trims, an auxiliary audio input jack. Getting the navigation system also gives you the ability to play music stored on a variety of digital media cards. More familiar options are included within the various trim levels and include an automatic transmission, one-touch power moonroof, leather seating, power door locks with keyless remote, power mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted cruise/audio/navigation controls.
Bridging the gap between the 197-horsepower high-output engine in the Civic Si and the 45-miles per gallon powerplant in the Civic Hybrid, the Civic sedan and coupe feature a 140-horsepower unit that delivers impressive city/highway mileage of up to 25/36-miles per gallon. A five-speed manual is standard, but a five-speed automatic mitigates the performance penalty normally associated with combining a small four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. Performance fans who can’t work a manual gearbox are shut out of the Si, as no automatic is offered.
1.8-liter in-line 4
140 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
128 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 (manual), 25/36 (automatic)
2.0-liter in-line 4
197 horsepower @ 7800 rpm
139 lb.-ft. of torque @ 6100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
2021 Honda Civic
The 2021 Civic Sedan features aggressive lines and refined features that make it stand out from the crowd. Signature C-shaped taillights, a sleek profile and a bold Sport trim add to its fierce personality.
Curb Weight | 2648 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 90.9 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 39.4 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.2 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Overall Length | 177.3 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 53.7 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 12.0 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 106.3 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 69.0 inches |
Number of Doors | 4 doors |
---|
City | 25 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 36 mpg | ||
Combined | 29 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
5 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 140 @ 6300 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 128 @ 4300 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, VTEC, 1.8 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Airbags
The 2009 Honda Civic has dual-stage frontal airbags, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
Vehicle Stability Assist
Standard in EX-L, hybrid and Si models, this system helps reduce loss of traction and wheel slip on slick roads and in other situations where slip can occur.
Anti-lock brakes
All 2009 Civic models have this system that prevents brake lockup during intense braking. EX-L, hybrid and Si models also have brake assist, which can deliver stronger braking faster in an emergency.
Used 2009 Honda Civic | Used 2011 Mercury Milan | Used 2013 Nissan Sentra | Used 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $5,607 | $5,101 | $5,082 | $5,084 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | N/A | 3.8 | N/A | |
Consumer Rating | 4.5 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | |
Fuel Economy | City 25/Hwy 36/Comb 29 MPG | City 41/Hwy 36/Comb 39 MPG | City 30/Hwy 39/Comb 34 MPG | City 24/Hwy 33/Comb 27 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Hybrid | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 4.0 | 4.0 | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 140 @ 6300 RPM | 191 @ 6000 RPM | 130 @ 6000 RPM | 155 @ 6100 RPM | |
Engine | 4-Cyl, VTEC, 1.8 Liter | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 1.8 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.2 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
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Yes. When it debuted, the Civic set the benchmark among compact sedans and coupes. What was great then is still good now, given Honda’s penchant for making well-mannered, reliable cars.
Yes, hands-free Bluetooth connectivity is available on EX, hybrid and Si models equipped with navigation.
All models of the 2009 Civic are powered by some form of 4-cylinder engine. But there’s a wide variety of powertrains. Most use a 140-horsepower 1.8-liter. The hybrid pairs a 1.3-liter engine with a battery-fed electric motor, and the sporty 2009 Honda Civic Si packs a 197-horsepower 2.0-liter. The Honda Civic GX uses a 113-horsepower 1.8-liter that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).