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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  Fantastic commuter - 2010 Honda Fit
  By jtrain609 - April 2 - 9:35 pm

  In finding a new car to replace my wifes ailing Mercury Sable, we had a unique problem Im 59" and shes 50", so finding a car that we could both fit into comfortably has been challenging. With that, the Honda Fit was one of the few cars both of us could find a comfortable driving position in. So beyond a fantastically designed interior, this car has been a fantastic commuter for me. I drive 80 miles a day round trip on expressways in Michigan, and have managed to get 38 mpg while driving 70 mph. With that, I was worried that the Fit would be twitchy at high speed with such a short wheelbase and quick steering, but its been an absolute joy on the expressway.

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  Bought for Teen - 2010 Honda Fit
  By BoughtforSon - April 2 - 2:56 pm

  Bought base model with auto trans for $200 over invoice in Dec 2009. This is excellent safe commuter for a teen. It has fantastic interior flexibility - can carry 7 long electric keyboard in case w/ a BIG amp and 3 people! Dash layout kinda weird but for teens - who cares?! Not too slow or too fast to be unsafe. Handles and rides well, excellent visibility, not too much road noise for a Honda, parks easy. MPG with 3k miles so far is 29.5 combined. He does mostly short drives in city.

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  Piece of JUNK - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Kibbles00 - April 2 - 7:27 am

  Thought Id try this car since Toyota was having all their issues. Big mistake. Everything in the car is plastic, it hydroplanes, and you can blow on the carpet and it shimmers. Went back to a solid car, Toyota. Also this dealership is awful.

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  Glad I got it.... - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Gringotimo - April 1 - 7:26 pm

  I got my Fit at the end of December and have driven it through ice, snow, rain, and dry. So far, I am completely satisfied in every way. As many reviews I read stated, it exceeds the stated gas mileage under all conditions. By driving around 65 mph, it usually gets around 37-38 mpg on the highway. No dragster, it still has enough pep to handle most situations easily. One of the few negatives Ive noticed is the design of the rear roof posts. When backing out of a diagonal parking space, the one on the right rear corner obstructs the drivers view not enough to be a hazard, more of a nuisance. Overall, its a nice handling, comfortable, little car that feels like a much larger car.

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  Honda quality? - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Disappointed - March 23 - 10:45 pm

  Now that I have had the car for almost 2 years, I feel qualified to comment on it. The build quality is not what I would have expected from Honda. This is my first and likely last Honda due to the many silly little problems it has. CONS: 1) The clutch started chattering within 15K miles 2) There dash has rattles 3) The coolant is going somewhere unknown and requires refills every few weeks (no leaks to be found) 4) The shifter is notchy. It was not that way new. Sometimes hard to engage gear 5) The brakes make odd popping noises when first used after sitting all day or overnight PROS 1) Fuel economy is excellent (32 city) 2) Peppy for an economy car 3) Quick handling

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  My fit at 18 months - 2009 Honda Fit
  By colofarmgirl - March 21 - 12:12 pm

  I love my Fit. I dont know why the mileage is listed at 29 mpg. I get 40 mpg, although a lot of my driving is on the highway. I was really surprised at the acceleration, given the mileage. It has great cargo options. The interior is holding up well given that I always have a couple of dogs with me. The only drawback to the Fit is that it gets blown around in high winds. I wish it had cruise control, other than that I am really pleased with my decision to buy the Fit.

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  Buyers remorse - 2010 Honda Fit
  By pnarus - March 20 - 6:43 pm

  Just picked the car up a few hours ago. The voice activation for the navigation doesnt work and there is a rattling in the front console. Will give the service dept a chance to prove itself. Dont like that I cannot push a button to lift the hatch up have to do it manually. Is a bit difficult to get out of car and I am small

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  Fun little car! - 2010 Honda Fit
  By tiff - March 15 - 9:22 am

  Overall, this is a great little car. It handles well, great gas mileage, and is really cute. I for one really like the black interior. It shows dust easily, but hides a multitude of other stains which can occur with 2 dogs and a baby. The seat versatility is awesome. The major negative that I have come across is that the car does not feel very stable when doing high speeds on the highway. It feels like the wind can move it around quite a bit. Also, it came with no floor mats, which seems just ridiculous. Otherwise, though, I love my car. This is only day 3, so maybe it will improve!

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  So much room, in such a small car! - 2010 Honda Fit
  By kestep - March 14 - 7:20 pm

  I was looking for a car with great fuel economy since my job keeps me on the road. The reviews for the 2009 were very good, and research online showed very positive user experiences. I have driven my 2010 about 3500 miles so far and Im averaging 35-38 MPG per day, with a few trips in the 40-42 MPG range. I am very tall and I have enough leg room and head room, and still could seat adults of average height in the rear seats. The magic seats are handy for the occasional trip with cargo. The engine is snappy when you need it, but I generally just set the cruise and enjoy the ride.

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  Iam in totaly love with my FIT. - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Josy - March 14 - 12:09 am

  I highly recommend for all my friends and family, huge saving in gas, the most that a I like over all is the stability, plus easy to park and very charm, special with me inside my black sport fit 2010.