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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  The Cheapest BMW - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Beachmatt - July 6 - 8:55 pm

  I bought this car after an accident totaled my 2000 VW passat. The passat was smooth, powerful and handled well. It was very comfortable, but got lousy mileage on premium, and turned out to be very expensive to own. My 60,000 service cost over $800. My new little car is a BMW in disguise! It handles so well, and is actually quite sporty, even with the extremely small engine and automatic. It has shift paddles like a Ferrari, and when you get used to it, and use the transmission well, it keeps up with anything driving in legal range. Plus, the faster I drive, the better the mpg. I get about 29 in the city, over 35 on the highway at 75.2 yr costs have been only $280. Oil change every 10k!

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  Bad Driver Seat Ergonomics - 2007 Honda Fit
  By k morash - June 30 - 3:03 pm

  I love the fit, but I cant keep it. The gas pedal is 5" off the floor and this keeps my foot almost perpendicular no matter what position I put the seat in, at the end of 30 mins I have leg cramps and heel pain. My husband is 6 and there is not enough leg room for him as the center console is too close to the gas pedal to be comfortable. The amount of time a dealer offers to test drive, it would be almost impossible to discover the bad gas pedal placement, this has developed over months of commuting. I spoke to Honda and this has not been changed in any current models, so I have to trade for something other then a Fit and maybe something other then a Honda. Too bad.

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  Great Car - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Todd T - June 30 - 10:37 am

  Went from a truck to the fit during the gas hike. With fuel prices back down, I am still very happy with the car! It is small, still spacious on the inside. We drove across country with our two Young children without issue. The ability to configure the seats provides many options in storage and cargo that you cannot get in other small vehicles.

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  In market for economy hatchback - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Gene - June 28 - 10:13 am

  After renting one for a long trip I was very interested in purchasing this vehicle. HOWEVER, I am still amazed that a 2010 vehicle does not come with KEYLESS ENTRY. For this reason alone I have eliminated the Honda Fit from my list and it is very unfortunate. The interior cabin with full folding rear seats is very unique.

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  Dont have to spend a ton for a good car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By FitLover - June 24 - 9:20 am

  Bought my Sport model with 5-speed in Aug 2006. Have no complaints about its performance. I bought it for the gas mileage and it hasnt disappointed. In mixed driving, I still get about 35-36 mpg, and it has 80,000 miles on it now. Taken trips from ATL to: Memphis Pennsylvania WV (in winter) FL. Average about 41 mpg on these trips. Also haul around 3 kids. It may not be extra spacious for them, but you dont have to drive a gas-guzzling SUV when you have more than 1 child. I cant stand seeing big suburbans getting 10 mpg while my Fit hauls 3 kids just fine. So far, all is well with my Fit. I highly recommend it!

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  Terrific car - 2010 Honda Fit
  By al - June 10 - 9:26 pm

  After driving a BMW M3 for 12 years the cost of repairs led to my purchase of a manual Honda Fit. Rather than being a let down, Im thrilled with the car. huge amount of room, great mpg using regular gas, more than enough pep for highway driving and fun to drive.

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  Rent one first for a good test drive. - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Erik - June 9 - 9:16 pm

  Had this car for 11 months and traded it in for a civic,more seat space and better mpg and still fun to drive. My complain is that the car could use some more power and lesser rpm at cruise speed, a 6 gear would be nice and better for overall mpg. Im 62 and the seat cant go far enough back to get comfortable. Ok the versatile seats are handy but therefor we still have a Mazda5 who drives very good! Maybe the hybrid version will get some more owners with at least 50 mpg, get 42 average with my civic coupe, with use of ac in summer.would be nice if you can rent one for a day and make a good test drive instead of around the car lot, saves you a lot of headache and money.

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  Small Sport car feel - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Archie Gunter - June 7 - 7:02 pm

  I just made a 600 mile trip and found it quite comfortable on the highway. I was disappointed in the gas mileage at 31.9 mpg. It handled very good in wind and passing trucks. I was surprise also as to how little power was left after 60 mph. Passing cars can be very stressful when you need the power. For an engine with this lack of power it should deliver much higher gas mileage. I would think it needs at least 20 more hp. The rear cargo area is great for a car this size. One of the selling points for me. I dont care much for the black interior as it does catch lint and shows to bad.. Plenty of head room for such a small car and seats are very comfortable for me at 5-10.

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  What a car! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By j - June 4 - 6:57 pm

  Ive been a Honda owner for 25+ years and I love my Fit. Its my favorite Honda to date. Its the most sensible car Ive ever owned. Im getting 33 mpg around town and close to 40 on the open road. Its surprisingly comfortable on long rides. I love its super versatility and its deceiving amount of cargo room. I easily fit a full size washing machine in the back. Maybe thats why they call it the FIT, everything seams to FIT. In my book it beats the heck out of any boxy top heavy gas guzzling SUV.

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  Good Fit - 2009 Honda Fit
  By hellcatholly - June 1 - 1:42 pm

  I have had my 09 base/ Fit for about a year now. I love the car! I average about 38mpg. Even on major road trips, packed full of gear I averaged 36. Not the most powerful car, but Id rather have good mileage. My husband is over 6 tall and he has plenty of room over his head(hard to find in a small car)The road noise is considerable on highways, but my previous cars were Saturns so Im used to that. I had to get used to not seeing the nose of the car (since it is so low). I had never had a hatch b. before & had to get used to the corner blind spots while backing up. I also noticed a blind spot at the front window bars while turning into a deep curves, just a matter of moving your head.