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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  Hidden cost to operate - 2007 Honda Fit
  By tiny scott - April 23 - 7:26 pm

  We have 34,000 miles, car has been back to dealer for service, any time the computer hit 20%. At this mileage we have to replace 4 tires and were told WE HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE FLUIDS AND FILTERS AT A COST OF $490.00. This will be repeated or higher cost every 30,000 miles. My old Mitsubishi with 170,000 miles did not cost me this much. We are considering trading.

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  Almost Great - 2008 Honda Fit
  By kenshanklin - April 23 - 8:46 am

  I have had this car for almost 15 months. I like the roomy interior design and the handling. I am disappointed in the in-town mileage. It averages 24 mpg. The front air dam is too low and it should come with an arm rest. The suspension is rough on uneven surfaces. The interior fabric is a lint magnet. I added film to the window for sun protection and the vinyl protective mat to rear compartment. Overall I like the car.

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  Makes me WANT to drive - 2007 Honda Fit
  By phunklife - April 23 - 4:56 am

  I knew I wanted a hatch so I spied this in the latest car and driver. The FiT blew the competition out of the water. I checked it out and signed the same day. I love the handling. The suspension feels like something more likely to be on an acura and the electronic steering is amazingly precise. The sound system is great (especially that big, bright, blue screen). The shifter is precise and the clutch is light. This car truly makes city driving fun! It could use a few things like a dome light, armrest floormats and some more horesepower. But all of those things can be added so its not a major gripe.

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  2008 Honda Fit Motor Problem - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Carol Baird - April 21 - 8:24 pm

  At 69,000 kilometers the small engine block went on my 2008 Honda Fit. The Honda dealer will not put in a new engine. Just replace the small block. The Sales Manager at the dealership had the same problem, and Honda again only replaced the same thing. I am worried that the top of the engine will go after the warranty is off. I am wondering if this is an ongoing problem with the fits.

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  Fit - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Pixie - April 4 - 10:43 pm

  So I have not had the car for very long. I just got one. It was a tough decision between the Fit sport and the Scion xD. However I am very happy with my choice. I love the fit. being an art student I have so much stuff I need for classes it fits it all nicely. I highly recommend it. Smooth ride Im getting about 31 mpg with mixed city and highway. I got the black Berry Pearl.

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  True Honda Owner - 2008 Honda Fit
  By HondaFitJDM - March 25 - 12:57 pm

  This is my 1st vehicle from any dealership. I am impressed with what Honda has done with the Fit, interior/exterior design is great, quality of products used into the making, safety, overall is a great value for what it has to offer in comparison to other rival cars for the same price. This is an economy car, therefore it lacks power, if you need performance, go for the Nissan 350z.

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  Its all great - 2008 Honda Fit
  By rajith234 - March 23 - 1:10 am

  Love this car, fun, quick, great ride for a car this size. I test drove several different models before selecting the Honda Fit. I studied reviews of all models for fuel economy, price, resale, and environmental impact. The Fit was my choice and is a purely fun to drive.Handles great!!! Honda has done it again.

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  Fun car, big enough for the kids! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Katy Lopez - March 21 - 3:20 pm

  What a great car! Superb handling and smooth ride. Awesome styling, interior and exterior, lots of room. My two young daughers can sit comfortably in the back with enough room inbetween them for their toys. The best part is, its a fun, young car...not a boring minivan :) Definitely the best car I have owned (and Ive had 2 other Hondas).

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  This special car ... "Fits!" - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Obie327 - March 19 - 10:09 pm

  Ive driven many cars in my day: legend, jetta, Fiat, Saturn, Toyota, etc... My car needs a good driving dynamics and personality. This car is all of that!: ergonomical, practical, efficient, responsive, spacious, peppy, and really fun. I feel like a citizen of the world when driving. Well thought out car. Get the armrest, tint, and a rubber liner for the trunk. I was impressed with winter driving, I mean having the gas tank closer to the front makes for better weight distribution (when full) for snow grip. (not ruling on tires yet) seats are wonderful for my back. Drove 1200 miles on a trip and never had any achy joints or anything! (just tired). Got over 40 mpg going 60+ mph. Great experience.

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  With a little help from its friends... - 2008 Honda Fit
  By wdb - March 15 - 10:54 pm

  ...it gets a whole lot better. This is a very inexpensive car for a Honda, so I am not averse to fixing what I dont like. Odd driving position! I splay my knees out to the sides and use the cruise control as much as possible. I still grumble though. No dead pedal! Zeta dead pedal, HIGHLY recommended. No center armrest! I bought a pricey JDM Honda center console inexpensive console/armrest addons are available. 22K miles so far and the car is still a pure hoot to drive, which is a big deal for me boring cars stink. I get close to 40MPG without trying too hard. And its still cute as a bug. Im keeping mine!