2009 Honda Civic LX-S sedan test drive

The Honda Civic is the car I most often recommend to people who want simple, economical and reliable transportation. A week with a mid-range 2009 Honda Civic sedan reminded me why it's such a sensible buy -- but it also reminded me that the Civic is not the perfect car, and that buyers should consider its imperfections carefully before signing on the dotted line. $15,975 base, $19,525 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 25-26 MPG city, 34-36 MPG highway.

First Glance: Disturbingly good
I've always liked the Civic, but as a car enthusiast, I'm a little disturbed by just how much I enjoyed this most recent week-long test drive of the 2009 Honda Civic sedan. The Civic is the epitome of bland, soulless, sensible transportation -- but my word, is it ever good at it. After seven days with the Honda Civic, I started wondering why everyone doesn't own one. Actually, if I'm going to be honest, I started wondering why I don't own one.

The Civic I drove is the LX-S model, a new-for-2009 addition to the Civic lineup that builds on the mid-level ($18,125) Civic LX. For an extra $600, the LX-S adds 16" alloy wheels (link goes to photo) in place of the LX's plastic wheel covers, a trunk spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an all-black interior that Honda describes as "Sport Trimmed" (having sat in it for a week, I have no clue what that means). The idea is to give the Civic a sporty look, hence the "S". I can't really say it works -- that's the problem with the Civic sedan's blob-from-the-future shape; even the hot-rod Civic Si sedan doesn't look all that sporty -- but $600 is a good deal just for the alloy wheels alone, if you're into that sort of thing. Incidentally, all Civic models get mild exterior changes for 2009, including a revised front bumper and headlights, taillights with yellow turn signals, a new chrome strip between the taillights, and -- Hello? Hello... oh dear, I think I've put you to sleep.

In the Driver's Seat: Split level dash, pet-hair-magnet seats
I love the Civic's interior, especially the split-level dashboard, which puts digital speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges above the steering wheel rim, just below the driver's line of sight, and secondary gauges in a bin below. It looks cool as all get-out, plus it promotes distraction-free driving, as do the simple, clearly-marked climate and stereo controls. But I wasn't so crazy about the cloth on the upholstery -- it acted like giant lint roller, picking up all the dog hair from my clothes and making it look like our boxer Bayla had taken up residence in the driver's seat.

The Civic makes a great family car thanks to a roomy back seat with a completely flat floor -- it seats three kids across with no fighting about who has to straddle the hump. (There's plenty of room for adults, too.) The trunk is on the small side at 12 cubic feet, though, and there's no trunk release on the remote key fob. Annoying.

Civics have no factory options; the model you buy (DX, LX, EX, etc.) determines what you get (aside from pricey dealer-installed accessories -- watch out for those). The LX comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, keyless entry, cruise control, A/C, and a CD player with audio input jack. (Cheapskate's tip: If you can do without power locks, keyless entry, and cruise, check out the $16,925 Civic DX-VP.) All Civics come with six airbags, antilock brakes, and a body structure designed to withstand impacts with bigger, heavier vehicles. Unfortunately, electronic stability control isn't available on the LX.

On the Road: Better than expected
I spent the month before my Civic review driving hot-rod sports cars, so I steeled myself to be disappointed by the leisurely acceleration of the economy-minded Civic's 1.8 liter engine. Except the Civic wasn't nearly as leisurely as I remembered from my last Civic test drive -- in fact, it felt surprisingly quick and powerful around town, even with its five-speed automatic transmission, though picking up speed on the freeway did require liberal contact between the accelerator pedal and the floorboard. I even took the Civic up on the About.com Top Secret Curvy Test Road. I wasn't expecting a thrilling drive and the Civic didn't deliver one, but I was impressed by the Civic's agility -- it offers the kind of stability and quick response you want when you have to swerve suddenly to avoid an accident. The Civic's ride is smooth and comfortable, though it's a bit noisy, especially on the highway.

My test routine usually involves a fairly even mix of city and freeway driving, but virtually all of my time in the Civic was spent in town, and my one fairly-long freeway journey was done with a full load of passengers. The reason I'm boring you with all this is to explain my week-long fuel economy of 24.8 MPG, which doesn't sound all that impressive for an economy sedan. Considering how I used the Civic, I think that was a pretty decent showing, and I'm sure that with a more typical mix of city and highway driving the Civic would have come closer to 30 MPG.

Journey's End: All is not perfect in Civic-land... but it's close
My biggest gripe about the Civic is that electronic stability control (ESC) is available -- but only on the most expensive Civics (the leather-lined Civic EX-L, the hot-rod Civic Si, and the eco-chic Civic Hybrid). ESC is a life-saving technology that can help prevent a driver from losing control of the car on slick roads or in a sudden swerve. Several cars in the Civic LX-S's price range, like the Subaru Impreza and Pontiac Vibe, offer ESC as standard. Even the cheapest version of the Civic's closest rival, the Toyota Corolla, offers it as a $250 option. Honda advertises "Safety for all" -- so why is the best safety equipment restricted to those who can afford to spend $21,000 or more?

Shame, because aside from the lack of ESC and a couple other minor issues, the Civic sedan is pretty much the perfect budget-minded family car. It's roomy, decent to drive, reasonably priced, and gets great gas mileage, and I think it has more style and personality than most of its rivals, with the possible exception of the 2010 Mazda3. The Civic even supports the US economy: Honda builds Civic sedans in a new plant in Indiana, which will eventually employ 2,000 workers, and 60 to 70% of the Civic's parts, including the engine, are made in the USA. (Civics are also built in Japan and Canada; the window sticker shows where the car was made.) The Civic is simple, reliable and economical, and while I'd stop short of calling it perfect, it's pretty darn close. One of these days, I might just wise up and buy one. -- Aaron Gold

What I liked about the Honda Civic sedan:

• Roomy, space-efficient interior
• Innovative dash
• Nice balance between engine power and fuel economy
  

What I didn't like:

• Electronic stability control only offered in priciest models
• Small trunk
• Lack of factory options and overpriced dealer-installed accessories
  

Who should buy the Honda Civic sedan:
Buyers who want an economical car that will last forever

Who should not buy the Honda Civic sedan:
Those who want best-in-class safety equipment or a more invigorating driving experience
Details and specs:

• Body style: 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan
• Seating capacity: 5
• Trim levels: DX, DX-VP, LX, LX-S, EX, EX-L
• Price range (including destination and options): $15,975 - $24,325
• Test car model/price: Civic LX-S automatic, $19,525
• Base engine: 1.8 liter inline four-cylinder, 140 hp @ 6,300 RPM, 128 lb-ft @ 4,300 RPM
• Optional engine: None
• Drivetrain: Front engine, front-wheel-drive
• Premium fuel required? No
• Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic
• EPA fuel economy estimates: 26 MPG city/34 MPG highway/29 MPG combined (manual), 25/36/29 (automatic)
• Where built: Canada, Japan, United States
• Standard safety equipment: Front airbags, front-seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes
• Optional safety equipment: Electronic stability control
• Major standard features: Power windows, tilt-and-telescope steering column, height-adjustable driver's seat
• Major options: Power locks and mirrors, keyless entry, air conditioning, cruise control, CD stereo, alloy wheels, heated leather seats, navigation system
• Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain, 5 years/unlimited mileage outer-body rust-through
• Roadside assistance/free maintenance: None
  

Best rivals:

• Toyota Corolla
• Subaru Impreza
• Mazda3
  

The vehicle for this test drive was provided by Honda.