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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  Fit is It - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Lyle74 - June 29 - 11:15 pm

  Put 600 miles on my Fit, just broken in and have no complaints. The handling is superb for an economy car and puts some sports cars to shame. The interior does not feel cheap, seats are perfectly shaped, fit and finish are typical Honda, and the Magic Seats are an excellent feature. Low road noise levels. Gas mileage has been great, but a bigger tank would help extend range between fill ups. A/C could be stronger especially in 90+ degree heat.

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  Honda Fit base 5 speed manual - 2008 Honda Fit
  By bob - June 28 - 10:44 am

  Great little car, when I first saw it I thought it was ugly. It grows on you, I really enjoy driving it, holds the road nicely and has averaged 37 to 40 mpg.

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  Believe it! - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Big Lew - June 27 - 6:42 pm

  Hi all! We never even drove the fit before buying it! It reminded us of our first new 1977 Honda CVCC and that car was one of the best we ever owned. I picked the car up in the Pittsburgh area and drove it back to Lancaster, PA (252 miles). All of the driving was at speeds of 55-70 mph. MPG was 39 and this car had no miles when purchased. I cant believe how quiet this car is. I really was expecting much more road noise. The Fit took all the hills of Western PA without a hitch. Not once did I have to floor it to make it up any hills or to maintain the speed limit. The interior is just flat out perfect. The materials reminded us of our Accord Ex. The handling was perfect. My wife is in love

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  much better than the first one. - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Erik - June 26 - 11:26 am

  Had my old fit for 2 years and liked the multifunction seats and gas sipping ride, so to go for the new one wasnt difficult. Much improved and drives a lot more than a normal car, better springs and wider axle stand gives a smoother ride. Took the at in BASIC trim, makes fewer revs in top speed and more miles to the gallon as the manual or sport autom. Add cruise control to it so its even better for the wallet.

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  The Fit fits! - 2016 Honda Fit
  By ZZZDMD - June 24 - 12:53 pm

  Just picked up a beautiful white 2016 Fit EX, only have a couple days driving it, but great so far. As far as Im aware there was little to no change from the 2015, since it was completely redone at that time. I love the styling, the EX level tires and wheels look great. Im not a big fan of Firestone tires in general, but these seem just fine. I dont need nav, and the leather seating and heated seats were not important to me. The trim upgrades from the LX model add the right amount of niceties - wheels, sunroof, better sound, bluetooth, cameras, keyless, etc - really offers a great value for the money. So far in town driving is getting 33-34 mpg. Im excited to see how it improves as the engine gets broken in. Rear seat comfort and room seems really good, as well as cargo room. My two teenagers fit fine in the back. Three smaller kids would fit fine too, but if you have a carseat, fitting two more back there would be a squish. I guess I should say its perfect for my needs (I haul medical equipment around Phoenix metro, the cargo capabilities are more than adequate for me). Honda did a great job with this, there are a few nitpicky things, but as a whole this car is fantastic. Cons (in my opinion) - When driving, even with the shiny, well thought-out facade, its obvious that its still a subcompact economy car underneath. Its not an Accord, or even a Civic (but I new that going in, and im fine with it). Honda did a good job with muffling sounds, but the doors still close with a slight tin-can feel, road noise is pretty evident, ride is pretty firm and a bit choppy over bumps, and the CVT does drone on initially. My old trusty 2005 Civic has a plusher ride, but to me its not a deal breaker. I do worry a little about seat comfort on long road trips, im 61" and could use even one more inch of legroom while driving. The most annoying thing for me is the lack of volume nob. I really thought that would be the least of my worries, it does bother me more than I thought it would. But if this is the worst thing then ill be just fine! Overall an excellent economy car. If you are shopping, make sure you drive one to get the feel of it. I highly recommend!

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  Have a fit - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Tif - June 23 - 1:32 pm

  I love my fit, its fun to drive, excellent performance and steering. I can fit as much in the back as I did in my truck. I do wish the gas tank was a few gallons larger though.

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  perfect for me - 2007 Honda Fit
  By cl - June 18 - 2:10 pm

  The Fit is fantastic. I needed something fuel efficient, and something to transport dogs and bikes. I looked at other hatchbacks, new and used, and this seemed like the most bang for the buck, even brand new. I was in awe at the amount of interior space for such a tiny-looking car. With the back seats folded flat, I can fit 2 bikes, luggage, 2 dogs and 2 people! I can also fit both dogs in the back/hatchback area and 4 people in the car simultaneously. I have friends that borrow the Fit to move furniture (chairs, dressers) - something typically reserved for trucks, but the Fit can handle it!

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  Still Lovin my Fit!! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By barbiedoll - June 15 - 1:30 pm

  I have owned this car for a little over 3 months now, and it never fails to surprise me! I loved it the moment I test drove it. I have helped several friends move and taken a couple road trips already, and the amount of cargo this car can hold is staggering!! Along with that, it is comfortable for people of all heights and is fun to drive. It is much more zippy than you expect for an engine that size, and accelerating on the highway is done with ease. If you want a reliable, driver-friendly car, you should seriously consider the Fit!!

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  Fit is Tops - 2007 Honda Fit
  By A. R. Johnson - June 14 - 9:36 pm

  The Fit is truly an excellent vehicle, and suberbly "fits" the role it is expected to do. It has a surprising amount of room in the vehicle, and with the back seats folded down, it can accept an amazing amount of cargo. Performance is also a big plus, with strong acceleration on freeway entrance ramps and for passing. Gasoline mileage is also very good. On a recent tank, with about 50% highway and 50% city driving, I got about 36 MPG. Driving at reasonable highway speeds will yield about 40+ MPG. Handling is also excellent, reminding me of my old Honda CRX Si. All of the above, coupled with comfortable seats, make the Fit a fun car to drive.

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  Not as good as a 95 Tercel. - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Court Owen - June 14 - 12:34 am

  Ive had four new Hondas over the years plus one Prelude I bought used. I thought I could trust Honda to build a good car. Wrong. My wifes car is a (shorter) 95 Tercel 2-DR automatic. The mileage is low on the Fit because the Tercel is more fun to drive for all small-load trips, both grocery- store and X-country. Heres why: Seats too low no lumbar support paddled steering wheel uncomfortable body too wide (turn radius, parking, traffic) ride jittery and steering too quick (needs constant attention on frwy) instruments poor, and disappear in sunlight fast cornering not fun windshield posts too thick (pedestrians) transmission gasps mileage mediocre. The brakes are good.