BROWSE CAR REVIEWS BY:

MAKE & MODEL TYPE LIFESTAGE
Image
MAKE
MODEL

Review of the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

Starting Price $23,650

suitable for: Diapers
School
Teens

40
City MPG

45
Hwy MPG

5 Seats
2 Rows
2 Latch Connectors
car_review_head
Print

Interior

Honda gave the 2009 Civic Hybrid its very own interior, which is intended to reinforce the environmental friendliness of this hybrid sedan. It’s blue. Yep, blue. The leather seats are navy blue. The dash is navy blue, and it all ties in with the bluish lighting in the instruments. A beige version is also available.

The driver’s seat and instrumentation are set up to feel like a racecar cockpit, with race-inspired gauges and a three-point steering wheel. It’s kind of silly, considering the car, but it looks cool. The steering wheel has audio and phone controls, as well as cruise control. It’s covered in perforated leather that’s sporty-looking and comfortable to grip.

The large touch-screen in the center stack houses most of the Civic Hybrid’s controls, including audio functions and the optional navigation system. The navigation system is easy to use and easy to read. With the optional leather seating, you also get heated front seats. Some hybrids don’t come with heated seats because they’re such a power drain, but the Civic Hybrid kept my tushy warm on a rainy day. Happy tushy = happy mommy!

The center console in the Civic Hybrid is functional but not overly spacious. In addition to the cubby below the touch-screen, there are two cupholders, a small bin for change and a good-sized bin under the armrest. That bin can house an optional USB-iPod interface that charges your iPod while you play it through the car’s audio system. It’s a great idea, and usually a great feature, but this particular setup makes it really hard to navigate through your iPod’s menus and playlists. It’s not something to play with while driving. Two power outlets up front keep all your other electronics charged up and ready to go.

In the backseat, things are kept clean and simple. Three school-age kids fit nicely in the backseat, even if there’s a booster seat or two in the picture. Three booster seats won’t fit, though. My kid’s booster seat sat nicely on the mostly flat backseat. The seat belt receptacles are a bit floppy, but my kids were able to manage them. When using a booster seat, the seat belt receptacle gets pinned in place, and it’s even easier for little fingers to manage. Not as manageable was the lack of storage in the backseat. Although there are two seatback pockets and two small bins on the doors, there are no cupholders in the backseat. None. Not one. How is a mommy supposed to control the multiplying sippy cups and juice boxes without any cupholders?

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

shopping around: At cars.com

key interior: Features

    ● Large touch-screen
    ● BlueTooth connectivity
    ● Center console bin with AUX input and power outlet
    ● Blue backlit gauges
    ● Heated front seats

available interior: Colors

  • Beige
  • Blue

Take the Next Steps at Cars.com

Find This Car Near You Research This Car

Shop for a car

of
Powered by Cars.com
of
Powered by Cars.com

Sign up here to receive our newsletter.