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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  A Turd! - 2010 Honda Fit
  By enginagogo - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car straight from the boat-with 6 miles. The 6 months were fine but since, its been a rattling, oil leaking piece of junk. I have had to take it in to have it looked at for rattling once and have to take it back again. At 60 mph, it rattles and whines. The Fit is the cheapest car in the Honda line-up and it shows. Its cheap. I cant wait to be rid of it.

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  New Honda Fit Sport 2010 - 2010 Honda Fit
  By dakotarain - November 7 - 1:00 am

  Just bought a Honda Fit Sport 2010 after months of research. I love my new car, great price, and financing. It is super fun to zip around town in and looks so sporty. Gas mileage on the way home from the purchase was over 35 miles per gallon. I commute a total of 50 miles a day and usually have over 1/4 tank left over at the end of the week. My only complaint is that I have nowhere to rest my elbow while driving. The door arm rest is too low and the little driver side arm rest is too short. Its awkward to find a comfortable driving position. I had to buy my own Honda floor mats as they refused to throw them in on the deal.

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  Small outside, Large inside - 2010 Honda Fit
  By dutch - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Needed a small versatile car with good fuel economy. Considered Prius but could not justify additional cost given low annual mileage. Also wanted car with large doors and easy to get in and out. Looked at Ford fiesta. But build quality and costs drove decision to Honda fit. Toyota Yaris cute but no 5 door. So far really happy with the fit.

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  Fit Fits Me - 2010 Honda Fit
  By morjoie - October 21 - 2:00 am

  The car is adorable and I love the roomy inside. The magic seat configurations are ingenious. I love the huge panoramic windshield. Although some have complained about the seats, it seems to work for my 52" frame. So far, no problems accelerating or braking. MPG is all that was advertised, as I get 36-37 mpg with a mix of mostly highway and some city driving. Shifting with the 5 speed manual transmission is surprisingly smooth, although the clutch could be firmer. I wish VSA, steering wheel controls and bluetooth were available without Nav. I didnt like having to pay extra for a cargo cover. Also, 10 cup holders seems excessive and their placement is not helpful.

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  Fit - 2007 Honda Fit
  By James - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Fit new in May 2006. It now has over 81,000 miles on it and I have never had to take it to the repair shop for anything other than brakes. Even at 81K miles, I am getting around 35 mpg. The only complaint I have with it is that it wears tires very quickly. I have an alignment done at every oil change, and it still doesnt help. The dealer says there is no known problem with tire wear on the Fit.

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  Best small car! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Fitlover - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Previously, I owned a Nissan sentra with which I was very happy for 20 yrs. (yes!). Finally decided it was time for a new car. Researched well. Drove the versa, yaris and fit. Loved the fit. Handled like a sports car and was very comfortable with many safety features not standard on the others. Interior is very thoughtfully designed, with many little holders for various things.

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  Hurts to drive - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Mamabear - October 11 - 2:00 am

  We bought my 10 Fit in Dec 2009 and after having it for less than a year I regret this decision. While it does get phenomenal gas mileage (36 mpg avg) it has become very uncomfortable to drive. I bought a flat, memory foam pillow to add comfort for my back but this has only made the neck pain worse because of lack of support. When I dont use the cushion for my back, my neck is pushed forward at an odd and very uncomfortable angle. Another issue I have with the car are the useless sun visors. Why bother! While the car is cheap to own, I do regret buying because now Im stuck with it :(

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  Excellent, Only Minor Complaints - 2008 Honda Fit
  By ozziepuppy - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Awesome room inside and very creative use of space. Friend had leg surgery: We were able to put down the front seat (flat) & she sat in back with her leg completely extended. Transported a 9x12 rug with no problem. Got 42 mpg on a road trip out west. Minor complaints: the Sport trim hangs too low and gets scratched up easily. My fog lights have both broken twice (not protected enough?). No map lights. Road noise. Overall, though, a nearly perfect car in terms of economy, excellent use of space, being fun to drive, and (dare I say it?) basic cuteness. This is an AWESOME car for the price!!

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  Dissappointed in Fit - 2010 Honda Fit
  By townie - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought a Fit but was so disappointed I sold it. The small 1.5 liter engine had to work really hard, downshifting even on moderate grades, to get around. The gearing on the automatic is really tight on the first three gears giving it a jerky off the line start with lots of quick shifts. The car is tall and lightweight. Going around curves at speed like a freeway on-ramp I felt a slight “roll” in the car which made me uncomfortable. The finish inside the car felt cheap. There’s no doubt this is a low end econo-box from Honda. The finish of their Civic and CR-V is much better. It would probably make a good car for a freeway commuter. I’m more of an in-town driver.

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  Great city and highway car - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Senthil - October 8 - 2:00 am

  We were looking for a car for my wife. Her must haves were small car, good mileage, looks good and a good price. We spent a few weeks researching the used car market and the other cars in the same category. Honda Fit Sport came out head and shoulders above the rest. It has great visibility (my wife being only 5.1 loves this), great looks, comes loaded everything we want in the Sport model and gives fantastic mileage (32 city and 36 highway). I was surprised by how well it performs on the highway. I was expecting trouble merging and was thinking its not going to be very comfortable, but I was wrong. I also got a get price ($300 below invoice) by getting a quote from Edmunds.com.