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:
Showing 311 through 320 of 1,073.00-
Un-Fit - 2007 Honda Fit
By eddie.b - September 18 - 10:06 amWe drove 2 new Civic manual trans for 12 yrs each with no problems. As for the Fit: Wire harness recall. Starter motor replaced at 34,000 m. Broken front axle, and manual trans. replaced at 39,000. Weve lived in the same place since 1984, same driving conditions, same avg. miles per yr. Fits a relatively new model, and its reliability hasnt really been tested until now. Well soon know if the cars Fit to be called a Honda.
-
Got what I expected - 2009 Honda Fit
By Fit Fan - September 11 - 12:26 pmI did a good amount of research on the Fit before getting it. I knew going into it that the sport suspension was going to be great for driving, but rough on unforgiving roads. The same goes for the motor. I knew that the Fit did not produce a lot of horsepower. For what it is given, it is fun to drive. It is the right amount of power for a single driver who wants to push it on the local interstate. Storage on the Fit is prefect for the size of the car. As long as you know you cant try to fit a mattress into a Fit. Lastly, I suggest spending a little extra and get the Mugen and Sport add ons. It helps make the little guy stick out among the other Fits on the road.
-
Efficient, Functional, and Even Fun - 2009 Honda Fit
By an engineer - September 7 - 12:36 amWhen my 2002 Taurus had reached the end of its useful life, I wanted a car that would be far more reliable with a superior fuel economy. I ended up looking carefully at the Yaris, Accent, Versa, and Fit, eventually choosing the latter. For the price, you will be hard pressed to find a better designed and built car with as much versatility. It is not a luxury vehicle, but comes with a surprising array of features. Yes, the Fit is a couple thousand more than others in its class. In the end, it comes down to the superior quality of the vehicle when compared against others in its class, particularly the Versa. This is a highly functional, well designed, efficient car that is also fun to drive.
-
Not Too Shabby - 2009 Honda Fit
By jklengr - September 4 - 2:03 pmNot too shabby on the gas mileage. I was expecting around 33 to 35 mpg average. So far after 4 fill ups, averaging 38.5. The car is a little noisy, but to be expected from an economy car. Just turn the volume up on the stereo which is pretty good.
-
Love the car, hate the noise - 2007 Honda Fit
By WallabysDad - September 4 - 11:33 amWhen I test drove the Fit, I listened for road noise/cabin noise because I drive quite a bit. I should have driven the car longer. The cabin noise is simply overwhelming at times. I will consider other tires to see if this helps, but the noise is so loud, it makes the car feel cheap and tinny. Dont get me wrong: I love this car - I just cant stand the amount of road noise I hear. And my wife doesnt like the stereo playing at full blast in order to drown it out!
-
Milage better than advertised... - 2009 Honda Fit
By Paulzfun - August 31 - 3:38 pmReally enjoying this car... have driven 2 BMW 3 Series and MB SLK350, but decided to go smaller for the mileage. This car has TONS of room and is even fun to drive. Not super fast, but certainly adequate, and handles well. I had the back windows tinted and it looks sharp that way.
-
just purchased - 2016 Honda Fit
By marshall walker - August 31 - 6:54 am -
Pretty peppy - 2007 Honda Fit
By cando - August 27 - 2:43 pmi just purchased the Fit. WOW this car has some pep to it. From 0-40 its pretty quick but then after that it slow down a little. Can feel the bumps in the car a LOT. Car feels really light, no dead pedal and even when you leave your leg up there is a little bump right in front of the seat it feels a little uncomfortable. Other that that the car is great. Love the inside and out.
-
Great little car - 2009 Honda Fit
By hybrid fan - August 26 - 1:22 pmIm not an aggressive driver so I havent used the paddle shifters and theyre kind of a nuisance because they get in the way when Im turning the wheel fully around. The front scoop looks cool but is pretty low and a family member has already caught it on a curb and popped it out so now I tend to be extra careful driving over bumps, dips, etc.
-
Update after 660 miles trip - 2009 Honda Fit
By Igor - August 25 - 2:23 pmAddition to my previous review after 600+ trip on mostly flat road. Fuel economy got to 41.2mpg (car gauge)/38mpg (actual) with 3 adults and a kid and a full load of cargo with running a/c and a speed between 70 and 80m/h. As somebody else mentioned already, ride is very harsh over any kind of road irregularities. This little thing can hold its own at 80m/h without much stress and very stable on a road.
