Pics aplenty: 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
by Alex Nunez on Aug 24th 2008 at 3:44PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
Last week, Honda officially revealed photos of the 2009 Honda Civic range (which is now on the company website, too), which received a mild facelift as part of its mid-cycle enhancement. As was hinted in the spy shots that came out a short time ago, the grille has been reshaped to fit in with the rest of Honda's vehicle range, the front bumper now incorporates a tri-opening look, and out back, the taillamp lenses are slightly more detailed than before. A chrome strip now spans the area between them on the trunklid as well.
The Civic Hybrid soldiers on with its uniquely-styled wheels and gets standard stability control for 2009. As you can see in the gallery below, leather seating is also now available, along with Bluetooth connectivity and a USB interface for portable media players. The 1.3L four with IMA is unchanged and is rated at the same 40 mpg city/45 mpg highway as last year's car. Overall, yes, the car's changed, but only very slightly. Meanwhile, everyone waits with bated breath for the official unveiling of the big H's hybrid-only Prius fighter.
Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
[Source: Honda]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 4:00PM (8/24/2008)
40 mpg city and 45 highway is only 5 mpg better then my 2005 chrsler neon, i'll stick with it. If you want a hybrid powertrain ask the dealer that they fit a second tank in the trunk that store natural gas that can be sold by chevron or exxon valdez. At least it pollute less.
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Patrick 5:29PM (8/24/2008)
Gorr,
2008 and later EPA mileage figures are readily beatable by anyone with an easy touch on the gas pedal. I'm at least matching the EPA highway figure in my current Ford with a commute that is at least 1/3 stoplight to stoplight suburban.
Real world difference from your Neon is probably 8-9 mpg.
Patrick 5:32PM (8/24/2008)
2008 EPA mileage figures, especially highway, are beatable by anyone with an easy touch on the gas pedal.
Real world difference from your Meon is probably 8-9 mpg.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:31PM (8/24/2008)
This is the new EPA standard. Your Neon used to be rated at 29/36 (which still isn't only 5 mpg off) and under the system used now (the same one used to rate this Civic) is 25/32.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008car1tablef.jsp?id=20695
So this car gets almost 50% better mpg than your Neon. That's a huge difference.
Arno 5:03PM (8/24/2008)
You're welcome for the tip. :/
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Dave 5:44PM (8/24/2008)
Its fugly and the mileage isnt that impressive. What's taking Honda so long to introduce the new, cheaper hybrid system? At least they could significantly undercut Prius on purchase price.
And (while I'm ranting) why doesnt GM give us a BAS hybrid Cobalt 1.8 (or Atkinson 1.4 would be even better) with direct injection and a 6 speed automatic, right now?
They have the parts in the bin.
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:33PM (8/24/2008)
As of yet, there is no GM BAS hybrid with a 6-speed auto. So it'd be tough for GM to offer a Cobalt in this config.
Seems like a great idea though.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:32PM (8/24/2008)
Still ugly. Sheesh, When you are going up against the Prius and getting beat in the looks department, you need to try harder.
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Joce03 8:31PM (8/24/2008)
Why, oh why can't Honda make a good looking hybrid? What's with those rims?!?
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philmcneal 8:51PM (8/24/2008)
those moon rims are for aerodynamics, you don't want the air hitting the inside of the wheel and creating a turbulence.
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Gene 1:10AM (8/25/2008)
I have had my Civic Hybrid for 8,000 miles. Worse tank ever, around town was 42 MPG, best Hwy ever was 62 mpg! For the most part my driving is 70% around town, 30% Hwy, most of the time I get, under these conditions 48 mpg.
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John STurgess 11:57AM (8/25/2008)
Well its going to be a long winter waiting for HONDAS new HYBRID.
The new HYBRID will CANNIBALIZE SALES of the CIVIC.
COST LESS
MORE MPG
HYBRID LOOK
CIVIC HYBRID sales will plummet so they are unloading inventory in 08/09
April cant come soon enough to see what the specs / performance is on it.
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ron 10:48AM (8/25/2008)
http://digg.com/environment/How_many_hybrid_cars_will_be_sold_worldwide_in_2009
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Rick 2:00PM (8/25/2008)
Why are those who chase high mpg penalized with hideous wheels?! It's a lameness badge. "This owner only cares about mpg and not appearances, sportiness or styling, so let's give this car appropriate wheels that speaks to that blandness."
Honda- LOSE THE LAME HYBRID WHEELS PLEASE!! Why is it so hard to just leave the base Civic wheels on!?!?!?
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Donna 8:07PM (8/25/2008)
We've had our 2008 Civic Hybrid for about two months. We drive approx. 1/3 freeway and the rest around town. We've gotten 44/45 mpg on each fill up. I'm anxious to take a trip to see how high the all highway mpg will get. It has plenty of pep. My previous car was an Acura TL. I don't miss it at all, or the 20 mpg in mixed driving.
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Peter Marks 9:29PM (8/26/2008)
I put a down payment on an Aptera Motors , apteramotors.com, electric/gas hybrid that gets 300+/- MPG for about $30,000.00 and delivery will be in 2009. Take a look at their web site and I think you will see why I like this vehicle. This vehicle is making a statement, and is very pleasing to look at and I assume that it is an absolute joy to drive. I can't wait until I get the vehicle. This vehicle will turn heads. Take a look and tell me what you think. I am looking for opinions and suggestionsl. Thank you.
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James 10:48AM (8/27/2008)
The Aptera will be great if you only need 2 and 1/2 seats. Personally I'm looking for Zero Pollution Motors to release their 6 seat variant based off the air motor MDI developed combined with a gasoline unit. At an estimated cost of 17,000 to 18,000 and over 100 MPG, its affordable, will actually fit a family, and should be released at the end of 2009 or mid 2010.
DrSteve 2:35PM (8/28/2008)
I've put 35,000 miles on my '07 Civic Hybrid since July 2007, and I've had exactly 3 tanks average under 50mpg, and those were in the dead of winter. My neighbors paid $3000 more for their Prius and they're getting in the low 40s.
I have never been happier with a car. The lemon-slice rims are odd, but they're a snap to clean.
Does the pic indicate new colors? Leather is nice too. My only regret is the Ivory interior color in mine, which shows dirt like mad.
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Cory Miller 4:36PM (9/08/2008)
I have to wonder why things look worse instead of better.
We have more technology, more experience and more reason to achieve better mileage yet we have hybrids that aren't much better than non-hybrids of the past. What's wrong here???
I recently bought a 1994 Ford Aspire which I have gotten on the lowest side 34 MPG and best 44 MPG!
In 1988 the Honda CRX HF got 52MPG!!
In 1984 the VW Diesel Rabbit got 54MPG!!!
No hybrid, no turbo and lower cost to maintain.
I understand that emissions may be stricter now, but why can't we do better?
And I agree.... even though I understand the side skirts on the Insight, why do the hybrids have to look so ugly?
The CRX was much more appealing to look at than the Insight.
It may seem shallow but looks do matter to some degree.
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Kamiel Spiessens 7:13AM (9/09/2008)
Wat een verschrikkelijk mottig ding!
Hierin wil ik niet gezien worden!
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