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" For Economy! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Vicki - May 1 - 4:33 am

  Excellent design, handling, performance and versatility...we need more like this one!

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  Almost a perfect car for me - 2009 Honda Fit
  By kittyworld - April 27 - 1:03 pm

  Great little car that has just about everything I need. Great mileage around town (low 30s) and on the highway (high 30s). Looks really cute and handles great too. My only gripe is the exceptionally harsh suspension - driving in New York Citys pock-marked pavements or cracked concrete surface will shake your brain cells out. I also wish VSA comes standard.

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  2 Months and 2000 miles - 2007 Honda Fit
  By FitRN - April 21 - 4:43 am

  I love this car! After researching for a year and having to deal with an unreliable BMW this car is terrific. The quality of build is great, handles well in the mountains, ice, snow, and rain. On rougher roads it is quite noisy in the cabin but quiets on smoother surfaces, could use some insulating material to dampen the noise. I opted for the all weather mats and cargo tray which are very helpful having a dirt/gravel driveway, they are very easy to clean. The heater works well, have yet to fully try the A/C in hot weather. Great versatility in seat designs, went to the store and brought home 2 boxed shelf units and 2 adirondack chairs with a few bags and groceries also!

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  Good car overall - 2007 Honda Fit
  By andy - April 15 - 11:01 pm

  Nice car overall, esp for the price. Amount of storage for a small car is amazing - can almost fit 8.5 kayak in completely. Almost handles very well. A few cons: Front seat room is a little tight for the taller folks. Gas mileages has been low for such a small engine - approx 30 - 31 MPG (quite a bit under EPA guidelines for when I purchased).

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  Really Great Small Car! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Nanny Sue - April 14 - 10:46 pm

  Having never owed a Honda before, and used to driving a large American car with poor mileage, the car was an excellent change of pace. I love the colors and the stereo. I do a lot of freeway driving and it is wonderful on gas. Not so great in stop and go traffic. It handles really well although it took some getting used to after driving a large car. Havent tried the paddles yet. I love this car!

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  My second Honda - 2007 Honda Fit
  By swisteve - March 29 - 6:03 am

  I have put over 10000 miles on this car. My prime reasons for purchasing this car was safety reasons and mileage in an economic package. I get an average of 38 miles / gallon. My best results was a staggering 49 m/g traveling @ 65 m/h with the worst at 32. I am pleased with the functionality. My teenage boys like to drive it, but do not want to sit in the back. The younger kids dont mind. The car has a lot of room, a good sound package. The engine can be a little noisy at higher rpm. The advantage of the VTEC engine can be felt if driving alone.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Ken - March 26 - 1:46 pm

  I bought this car May 31st and have put approximately 5500 miles on it since I travel all over southern Oklahoma for work. I have been very pleased and have avg. between 36 - 38 mpg on the road and 32 - 35 in town. I drive as much on the freeway with 75 mph speed limit as I do in small towns at 35 and am pleased with performance of both. Not as comfortable as my Odyssey EXL van, but not as costly either and I am not tired after a long day of driving so it is fine. I would buy it again and consider it a great decision for a car.

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  Nearly Perfect Car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Chandler Phillips - March 24 - 10:49 am

  Ive driven a lot of cars and I can honestly say, it doesnt get much better than this for the money. I wanted good gas mileage, utility and performance. It handles great, the utility far surpasses my expectations and the gas mileage is, well, acceptable. Its a perfect around-town car: easy to park, great visibility, flexible seating and cargo set up. And I like the way it is simple, no frills. Honda put its effort in the right place.

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  Fun & Frugal - 2007 Honda Fit
  By MachOneJett - March 20 - 8:13 pm

  This car is excellent for what it is, a fuel miser car. On a trip from WI to KY I averaged 41 mpg. There is almost 40k miles on the car and expect to put over 150k more.

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  Still lovin it! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By skey1952 - March 18 - 9:23 am

  Ive driven my Fit for almost 2 years now. I dont have any major complaints. I drive a 30 mile commute twice a day on highways and average 36 mpg- cruising at around 75 MPH. I can get 3 grandkids (one in a booster seat), a large Lab in the back end and 2 adults up front. Ive carried large boxes and lumber with ease. A 1300 mile road trip in my manual transmission Fit was most comfortable and economical. Last winter I was rear ended and the back end smashed up pretty bad- but the safety features in the crumple zone prevented any human tragedy.