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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  For a Honda it rides like a horse buggy - 2007 Honda Fit
  By rpcmrsz - March 31 - 9:16 am

  The looks are nice but comfort wise its awful. No middle arm rest, hits hard at bumps, turns are tough. For the money its expensive.

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  A few things not quite right - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Lisa M - March 9 - 11:46 am

  Ive had this car for three months, 2100 miles so far. My concerns are the following: the engine revs when I step on the brakes (but not always). The brakes seem flimsy and just dont feel right. The paint job seems to be cheap. Im noticing orange peel surface and there are spots, especially near the windshield, where the clear coat is worn off or never existed. I dont seem to get the gas mileage that I should be. I drive about 85% city and usually get about 31 mpg. I dont think Ill keep this car long and I worry about how it will look and run after 2 years. Dont get the chrome shifter knob. After three months it comes loose all the time and no longer lines up properly.

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  Great Car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Darryl - March 6 - 8:50 am

  I have had the Fit (base manual) for about one month, and have about 5,400 miles on it already (wanted to get a few on it before I did a review). I cant say enough about the great gas mileage. I am getting over 38 on average with a mixture of city and highway driving. Highway only I cleared 40 mpg. For a small car it is very roomy and comfortable, even on the long trips. Anti lock brakes and 6 airbags are a nice feature for a small inexpensive car. Wish I had gotten the cruise control. No noticable lack of power except when the AC is on.

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  Me and my red Fit. - 2007 Honda Fit
  By regretela - January 26 - 11:43 pm

  I ordered my red Fit in mid-April, got it at the end of May. I love the small size, the roominess, and the "cute" factor. The car is pretty comfortable, though it has a bit of a "hard" ride; but it handles well. I am getting around 28-29 MPG with 2000 miles on the car so far. I had a Geo Metro and this car is only 10" longer. I am less pleased by the very low front ground clearance. I almost tore the front bumper off yesterday on one of those invisible cement parking barriers at the local bookstore. The car will stall if I put it into gear too quickly upon starting in the morning. There are a couple of other minor issues I will have to deal with at the first oil change. Good car, though

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  Great Car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Tomwaits - January 16 - 2:20 am

  I drive ~90% city driving and just hit 31 mpg w/ 3000 miles on the odometer. Still no highway data, but mpg is still improving. Keeping the speed under 70 makes a huge difference in mpg. Great shifting w/ paddles and terrific handling. Interior design is excellent and w/ magic seats, I fit my 611" surfboard inside. Lack of dead pedal and center armrest was solved by buying after market from Zeta Products. Added Clear Bra and tinting to prevent chips and help the weak A/C. Relatively poor driving position and Honda needs to add telescoping steering column. Great car for the money and while inexpensive, the Honda Fit is in no way cheap. As basic transportation, its a good buy.

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  Going through Edmund created competition - 2017 Honda Fit
  By Tony P - January 7 - 5:02 pm

  Satisfied with my purchase at Honda of Rockwall. All sales reps were very professional.

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  Seats hurt - 2008 Honda Fit
  By debh - November 22 - 6:36 pm

  I did months of research and test drove the Fit Sport and waited some more before I decided to buy the Fit. I cannot get accustomed to the seats and the clutch. My back and left leg have hurt since buying the car. I have waited hoping my muscles will adjust but no deal-I will be taking the car back to see if the dealership can help a girl out-any suggestions?

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  Cheap, quick and certainly not dead! - 2013 Honda Fit
  By Lars Carlsen - July 31 - 3:24 am

  This car is all about function over form, it looks like a guppy, albeit a cute one, and the cockpit is spaceship like, but the materials are more functional than luxurious. It is definitely not a powerhouse but it is Peppy in stop and go traffic.

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  Pleasant surprise - 2008 Honda Fit
  By bpenn - July 2 - 4:56 pm

  This is for anyone like me that was very hesitant to buy such a little car. I wrestled back and forth between the Civic and Mazda3 wagon. When I sold my gas guzzling truck for less than I hoped to get for it I only could afford the Fit. Ive only had this a short time but I could not be happier with the Fit. This thing feels so much bigger inside then what it looks like. I find it to be a huge surprise and Im relly digging this little thing. If you are walking the fence on this car I would suggest taking a long test drive. You may find what I found. This is a great car and Honda will have a huge hit on there hands.

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  Not totally impressed - 2007 Honda Fit
  By jet - June 6 - 8:13 pm

  Acceleration onto a highway or passing requires some thought. The Auto could end up being deadly slow. The paddle shifters cannot be used when there is any angle on the steering wheel. Because it is an economy car there are compromises. The carpeting is about 2 steps above roofing felt paper. With a little more HP and torque this car would be an absolute hoot.