Overview & Reviews
Introduced in the mid 2000s just as gas prices were beginning to race skyward, the Honda Fit immediately became a hit with frugal car shoppers. A subcompact four-door hatchback, the Honda Fit has earned praise for its world-class engineering and design, and it has definitely found its niche with consumers, particularly with the second-generation model. With either generation, you'll find crisp handling, an adaptable interior, high-quality fit and finish and a relatively low price. An all-new third-generation Fit is also on its way. For small-car shoppers, the Honda Fit represents an almost ideal package.
Current Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is available in two main trim levels: base and Sport. Both come with a fuel-efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 117 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, with a five-speed automatic transmission being optional. Paddle shifters are included with the automatic for the Sport version. Fuel economy is respectably good with either transmission.
On the base Fit, air-conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry a tilt-and-telescoping steering column and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack and iPod/USB audio interface are standard. The Honda Fit Sport gains bigger wheels, sportier exterior trim details and a six-speaker audio system. Fit Sports can also be optioned with a touchscreen navigation system that includes Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and voice controls.
The Fit is Honda's smallest automotive product, but it nearly matches the total passenger space of the larger Civic sedan. To help achieve this, Honda has installed a compact rear suspension design and placed the fuel tank underneath the passenger seat. Another key advantage for the Fit is its innovative, highly versatile rear seating arrangement. The "Magic Seat" has seatbacks that fold flat and seat cushions that can be flipped upward, creating a tall load area right behind the front seats -- sort of like a crew cab pickup's rear seats. Maximum cargo capacity is an impressive 57 cubic feet.
In reviews, we've found the Honda Fit to be a pleasure to drive for a frugal subcompact. The car has a solid feel to it, countering the perception of vehicles in this class as tinny econoboxes. Generally speaking, the Honda Fit continues the model's tradition of providing serious bang for the buck, and its combination of driving dynamics, polish and big-time practicality distinguish it from the competition.
Used Honda Fit Models
The current second-generation Honda Fit debuted for the 2009 model year. No notable changes occurred until 2012, when it received minor styling updates, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, added sound insulation and an upgraded Bluetooth system with streaming audio capabilities.
The first-generation Honda Fit was available for just two years: 2007 and 2008. It came in two trim levels with no factory options available. The base version adhered to a minimalist philosophy, though it still came standard with air-conditioning and a CD player. The uplevel Sport trim was snazzier and, predictably, we favored it. It featured larger, 15-inch alloy wheels, stickier tires, exterior styling pieces, keyless entry, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a premium MP3-compatible audio system with an auxiliary audio jack.
The Fit stuck to the Honda playbook when it came to interior controls, which were intelligently designed and utilized high-quality materials. For a subcompact, the first-generation Honda Fit was surprisingly roomy and versatile. Chalk much of that up to the car's specialized second-row, 60/40-split seat design. The rear seats could be placed into four different configurations, depending on passenger or cargo needs. Folding the rear seat flat provided a surprising 41.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Both trim levels were front-wheel drive and were equipped with a 1.5-liter, 109-hp four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a five-speed automatic was optional. Fit Sports with the automatic also had steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.
We found the first-generation Honda Fit to possess an enviable driving-fun-to-thrift ratio. Cornering and acceleration were crisp. The subcompact could achieve 0-60-mph sprints in fewer than 10 seconds with either transmission. Fuel economy was commendable, and safety was good. The whole thing was almost perfect. Almost. The main downside was that although the car seemed less tinny than other cars in its class, at highway speeds the engine made its presence known. The lack of a telescoping steering wheel could also be an annoyance for taller drivers. But on balance the first-generation Honda Fit provided about as much fun, satisfaction and value as you could find in a small economy car.
User Reviews:
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Love my Fit - 2007 Honda Fit
By ezz - September 13 - 10:00 amMy first brand new car - have normally driven v6s or v8s. Took time to get used to v4 engine, but once you figure it out, thats when the fun begins. It turns on a dime and the versatility of cargo space is incredible. I moved a friend with just my fit--she couldnt believe this little car that could!! Agree that the two back headrests cause blind spot and would have liked a moon or sun roof option but all in all, its your best bang for the buck!! Not to mention the side curtain airbags and sound system which is pretty good for standard. Love my car and love the mileage!!
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Perfect Car for me - 2009 Honda Fit
By GatorTom - August 30 - 9:10 amGot my 2009 base Fit in September 2008, so have now driven it for nearly 9 months. It does everything I had hoped from great gas mileage--35 mpg in 90% suburban driving--to cargo carrying. (I have hauled an extra large size electric range, and my bike will fit in the back with both wheels still on). Mileage dropped to 32 mpg in the 20 degree temperatures of December and January but is back near 36 mpg in May. It is really fun to drive as well as cute and functional. Im heading on a 1500-mile road trip to south Florida from Asheville next week so will report on highway mileage and trip comfort after that but everything so far is really great.
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Still rocking the fit. - 2012 Honda Fit
By Steveheff - August 27 - 1:07 amIm the 66" guy who still drives his fit. I continue to really like the car, although now I have a child seat to place in back, which I didnt before. All of the good things are still good and decent about the car, however an average sized person cannot sit in the passenger seat with the car seat behind. This is the only reason why I am looking for a larger vehicle. Otherwise if it was just my wife and myself, I would drive the car until the tires fell off. It regularly is getting 35+ mpg, mixed driving. Best Ive done is 41 and the absolute worst (just one time) I got 32.1 mpg.
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Just Purchased - 2007 Honda Fit
By pkaia - August 15 - 8:20 amSurprised how peppy this car is, especially with the paddle shifters. I think it is a stealth Mini. Typical Honda quality. Great handling for the price.
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Ive got a Keeper! - 2007 Honda Fit
By Tony - August 11 - 2:06 amWhat a great car this has been. 15K miles and it has been a charm on the city and believe it or not awesome on the Highway (granted that is a revvy engine). Its so fun to drive and what is a driving experience without the Fun?. Once you get on the High Revs during Highway it is amazing how stronger it feels right there past the 5K revs! and you feel so secure and planted to the ground that you even think youre going much slower! Now, thats impressive for a lil car. I almost forgot, ah the Interior Space. All My friends can not believe how spacious it is inside. We even had a long trip (11 Hours drive) with 5 people with all Suitcases!
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My Baby - 2007 Honda Fit
By Pam, Pineville,LA - August 2 - 10:06 amSince I picked up my car, I have been completely satisfied with the performance, quality and comfort in operation. I work in the retail sector and have people stop me to find out about the car and its operation. I receive questions from all age groups. The biggest question has been how could they get so much room in the interior without squeezing things into a small vehicle. I love my "FIT" and it fits me fine.
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Its a BLAST! - 2007 Honda Fit
By Christapher - July 26 - 9:26 amI got my fit because my old car, a 96 nissan maxima, had all but bit the dust. The second it rolled off the truck and I sat down in it (I bought it pretty much sight unseen :-/) I imediately fell in love! Its a beautiful car! At 62", I still have about 3 inches of headroom, thats more than I had with my luxury automobile. Another thing I had missed was cupholders. This has one for every passenger! Horray! But seriously, this is a blast to drive. Very peppy and the paddle shifters make driving low-rev to save gas a breeze! My coworkers had been making fun of me as I was waiting for devlivery about how small it is and such (theyre all huge truck drivers)but they saw it, that stopped.
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New 09 Fit - 2009 Honda Fit
By Becca - July 23 - 1:36 pmIve had my Fit for about two weeks now. It truly is a "BIG" little car. Amazing how much room is inside and how zippy it is. I think it cools really well in hot sun. I am also pleasantly surprised because Im getting right around 35 mpg - and that is mainly city driving (75%). Im very pleased so far with this vehicle and would recommend it to anybody.
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Love My Car! - 2008 Honda Fit
By LeahInLaguna - July 21 - 11:06 pmThe last time I filled my Jeep it cost me $74, and vowed the following weekend to get rid of it. I wanted a Honda Civic, but after driving that and the Fit I was hooked on the Fit! This is an amazing big car stuck in a little car body. The outside appears to be so compact yet once inside there is so much room its unbelievable. I am happy with aspect of this car so far. The cargo capacity is huge and the comfort is whats expected of a small car, so not bad at all. The ability to maintain in traffic is there, I have no trouble with acceleration or braking; I am so pleased with the performance I sometimes forget I am driving a compact car! I would recommend to anybody with kids and pets!
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First time Honda Owner - 2016 Honda Fit
By Ronna - July 12 - 11:57 pmI purchased the 2016 Honda Fit when the front suspension needed replacing in my trusty 2003 Toyota RAV. I loved the RAV but couldnt justify the investment of an expensive repair. Budget-wise, it was not an opportune time for me to buy a new car so it was important to find an economical solution. The new RAVs were now too large for me so I needed to find something else. I wanted a car that got great ratings & reviews, good crash test scores, excellent gas mileage, has lots of cargo space & a low price tag. After researching thoroughly, the Honda Fit was the only vehicle that met all of my criteria.
