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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  Surprising - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Pete - April 29 - 7:30 am

  Was about to sign the papers on a Civic EX Sedan and then spied this. A much better choice and tons more fun. It takes a little used getting to going from an F150 to this, but I dont feel unsafe when trucks or SUVs gang up on me on the freeways. This has been out in Europe since 2001, so I wasnt afraid to buy its first year run in the United States.

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  Hidden cost to operate - 2007 Honda Fit
  By tiny scott - April 23 - 7:26 pm

  We have 34,000 miles, car has been back to dealer for service, any time the computer hit 20%. At this mileage we have to replace 4 tires and were told WE HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE FLUIDS AND FILTERS AT A COST OF $490.00. This will be repeated or higher cost every 30,000 miles. My old Mitsubishi with 170,000 miles did not cost me this much. We are considering trading.

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  Almost Great - 2008 Honda Fit
  By kenshanklin - April 23 - 8:46 am

  I have had this car for almost 15 months. I like the roomy interior design and the handling. I am disappointed in the in-town mileage. It averages 24 mpg. The front air dam is too low and it should come with an arm rest. The suspension is rough on uneven surfaces. The interior fabric is a lint magnet. I added film to the window for sun protection and the vinyl protective mat to rear compartment. Overall I like the car.

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  2008 Honda Fit Motor Problem - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Carol Baird - April 21 - 8:24 pm

  At 69,000 kilometers the small engine block went on my 2008 Honda Fit. The Honda dealer will not put in a new engine. Just replace the small block. The Sales Manager at the dealership had the same problem, and Honda again only replaced the same thing. I am worried that the top of the engine will go after the warranty is off. I am wondering if this is an ongoing problem with the fits.

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  True Honda Owner - 2008 Honda Fit
  By HondaFitJDM - March 25 - 12:57 pm

  This is my 1st vehicle from any dealership. I am impressed with what Honda has done with the Fit, interior/exterior design is great, quality of products used into the making, safety, overall is a great value for what it has to offer in comparison to other rival cars for the same price. This is an economy car, therefore it lacks power, if you need performance, go for the Nissan 350z.

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  Love my Fit! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Gil - February 9 - 12:35 pm

  Great fun car to drive. Handles well for a small car. Very roomy inside and lots of cargo space with rear seats folded. Averaging 40-42 mpg highway. Looks are deceiving from the outside, handles like a mid size from the inside. Lots of head room.

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  Sporty and fun, with a few glitches - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Cathy - February 5 - 11:20 am

  The stiff sport suspension lets you feel every nuance of the road, making this little car seem fast and responsive. It gets in and out of tight spots easily, making parking a breeze. The interior is bigger than it looks from the outside, and the flexible seat arrangements are genius.

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  Not impressed - 2013 Honda Fit
  By Megan M - February 4 - 5:12 pm

  We bought this car because of the advertised gas mileage and we wanted a reliable family vehicle. We chose Honda because they are a reliable company and Honda resale value holds up really well. Overall the car is a great point A to point B car. We bought our car brand new with 15 miles on it. It drives smooth and has a surprising get up and go. Its also idles incredibly quiet. When I first got the car the only way I knew it was on, was by looking at the ignition! The most Ive ever spent on a full tank of gas has been $25. Its usually only about $10 for 3/4 tank. My husband is a mechanic and does the oil changes at his shop so Im not sure exactly how expensive maintenance fees are. We have not had to make any mechanical repairs at all. The car has 30k miles on it and it still runs really well. However there are some major flaws in the design. Just 1 year after our purchase we realized there were chips all over the hood and front side of the paint. So we repainted it. But again there are more chinks. It doesnt matter how closely I follow someone, the paint is just poor quality. Also, you cant hit even the smallest pothole or you will have to replace a rim. My rims are dented all the way around. The stock tires were so poor that they only lasted 6 months before being replaced. And even our replacement tires are horrible on any form of precipitation including rain. I also have a young son so I have a car seat in the backseat. I have to move the front passenger seat all the way up to allow him in and out of the car. So it makes having extra passengers almost impossible because whoever sits up front has to have an up close and personal relationship with the dash board. Also, the backseat has headrests that fold all the way down over the seat. Its incredibly uncomfortable for anyone sitting in the back seat without pulling it all the way up. And if they leave the headrest up it causes a major blind spot for the driver out of the back window. In the winter dont even try to use just the heat setting. Your windows will fog in 2 minutes. You have to use the defrost setting only for cold weather. Which is fine except when youre behind a stinky truck or you want to recycle your air instead of inhaling fumes. The cup holders up front are impossible if you have a cup bigger than a 12 oz. You have to pull your cup carefully out at an angle to avoid crushing or spilling your drink. The option of using your ipod through the second glove box is wonderful but if you have more than 100 artists on your ipod youre going to spend 10 min scrolling through artists until you find the one you want. It doesnt allow for playing by genre and it doesnt read all of your playlists. Even the max volume is comparatively low. We also had to replace our wiper blades within the first year because they were so poor. Overall this is a good car. But I dont recommend it as a family car. This is perfect for someone to drive to and from work only. Its great for long distance drives. Maintenance oil changes dont happen as frequently as they do with other cars. Gas cost is incredibly low. But if youre looking for comfort look elsewhere.

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  Hondas little roller skate! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Yormsane - January 8 - 11:15 pm

  The Fit is a great urban runabout that was purchased to replace a 2002 Corolla. Reliability has been 100% over the first 30,000 miles. Comfortable front seats, easy gear change with the 5-speed stickshift. Engine is a bit short on torque, but then its only a 1.5 liter. The OEM Dunlop tires were awful, and only lasted 18,000 rough and noisy miles. The replacement set of Coopers have been much smoother, quieter and better in the snow. Hondas fueling systems are so good that the car runs at 3,000 feet or 11,000 feet without any discernible difference. Would have bought the base model, but cruise control was not available - even as an option.

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  Commuting Vehicle - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Mike - December 25 - 8:36 am

  After a month of hour long commuting each day Im satisfied with purchase of vehicle but wish it had more power and a more comfortable front seat. Cars whiz by me going uphill and by the end of the drive my back is tender. On the positive side, gas mileage has been better than advertised and the hatchback storage with fold down back seats is great for suitcases to the airport or golf clubs. Caution against purchasing black like I did as vehicle gets hot inside during warm weather with the dark upholstery and large glass windshield and windows.