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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  I LOVE it! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By FitLvr - November 21 - 11:03 am

  I have been looking at the Fits since 2007 and this year I finally decided to commit. Initially I was going to get an 08 but they couldnt find the "tidewater blue metallic" I wanted so they offered to order me an 09. I was unsure of the body style if I would like the subtle changes but when seeing it in person, I was in love. I love how it drives, love how it handles, love all the space. It is a great car, the best car Ive had so far and do not have any regrets. The biggest plus is the outstanding gas mileage when driving all highway, I average almost 39/40 miles.

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  Mostly great - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Oz - November 8 - 2:20 pm

  The Good: My wife has always wanted a small car but with a family we had to have bigger ones. Now that the kids are gone, she got a Fit and loves it. I fit well in it at 64". Its like driving a go-cart. The Bad: 1. No low washer fluid light. Its only offered on Canadian models. Why?? 2. Speedometer extremely hard to read. Dark red needle on a black background. I have to take my eyes off the road for a long time to determine my speed instead of just a glance. It should be yellow or white or orange. 3. The Honda OwnerLink website should have a feedback link so owners can make suggestions. Other than that, its a great little car.

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  1st time Honda owner - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Roy Gunter - October 17 - 7:20 am

  Bought my first Honda yesterday, drove it home, and am not displeased at all. I am 6ft 1 inch 240 lbs and was totally comfortable in the drivers seat. I am long waisted so head room is a biggie and the car has it in spades. Very pleased and am looking forward to a long ownership with this car..One thing...what is the deal with no armrest for the passenger? Anyway, great car for the money and the right car for the right time.

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  Good value - 2017 Honda Fit
  By NT - July 26 - 3:51 pm

  This vehicle meets my needs and falls in my budget level.

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  2007 honda fit - 2007 Honda Fit
  By sophie - June 22 - 12:23 pm

  This little car has lots of interior room. Gets great gas mileage. But I am giving it a poor review. The paddles that are position behind the steering wheel (used for standard transmission) will engage if you are driving in automatic at lets say 70 miles per hour. I accidentally tapped it when I used the turn signal and the car down shifted and went into standard mode. The car immedialty slowed while the engine reved up. I was terrified! It goes back into automatic after a few seconds but that long enough to cause an accident.

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  Fit is Fun - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Bear - June 8 - 10:26 pm

  More room inside than a Civic. Has more flexibility w/ cargo and is very entertaining to drive. I wish it had more storage space. A telescopic wheel would be heaven! Having a hard time finding a driving position that works because the wheel only tilts. Have never felt unsafe in this car or lacking sufficent power. I dont know why Edmunds said its buzzy on the freeway, mine is just fine at 3K doing 80mph.

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  My Honda Fits! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By iFit - May 4 - 10:56 am

  I eagerly awaited the arrival of the 09 Fit because, at 66", I just wasnt comfortable in the old Fit without telescopic steering wheel. When I showed up at the dealer, they said are you sure you want such a small car. They recommended someone at my height would be much happier in an Accord. Well, they were all astonished to see how well I Fit into this small car. And I drove off with my mountain bike safely stowed in the back. This car is amazing value; I love driving it compared to my previous Audi A6 mainly because it sips fuel. But also its just plain fun to drive. My advice: if you can handle manual, go for it. The automatic felt much more sluggish for some reason

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  Blue Honda Fit - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Danny Raiwnsky - March 30 - 8:56 am

  The only mechanical problem is the a/c does not cool properly. The car has lots of design defects. The buyer is required to accept options whether they want them or not. I dont want electric mirrors, door locks, or windows. I do not want power steering. There is no leg room for the driver if the seat is moved far enough forward to reach the steering, or if the seat is moved back far enough for good leg room the steering is too far from the drivers arms. I do not want side curtain or any other air bags. I absolutely do not want ABS and I will disconnect it. I would have liked variable speed intermittent wipers. Ride is harsh. Interior black color is hard to keep clean.

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  Just Starting - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Orange Blossom - January 14 - 8:16 pm

  This is an excellent economical car with high quality features. Little engine that can, does the job. Excellent handling and braking characteristics with a firm ride on rough roads. Great head and legroom front and rear. Very good space with flexible interior for carrying wide variety of stuff. Interesting maintenance reminders via the screen which also tells you how well your oil and filter are performing.

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  Great Value with Style - 2007 Honda Fit
  By drkeeling - January 14 - 8:16 pm

  I drive this car nearly every day and I still cant get over how nice it looks inside and out and how it zips around in traffic. No problem keeping up even passing at 80+ mph highway speeds.