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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  not the gas saver we need. - 2007 Honda Fit
  By trsheel - December 20 - 10:05 pm

  We like the Honda for its loading room. We are not getting the mpg that the dealer said it would 30+! real world mpg is 25 city & 28 hwy when we got it new the mpg was better, We fill the honda is a city car only!! the ride is too rough for a long road trip- over 100 miles, cheep sets, and 63- 250lbs not much set under you, I had an maz 323 1987 that road better!!

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  2007 Honda Fit Sport - 2007 Honda Fit
  By RockyF3 - December 18 - 9:40 pm

  I like the car. Best mileage going to Vegas on cruise at 70 was 40.6. Real world 30. Great deal on car and warranty. Car was Honda Fit Sport 5peed.

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  Fit 4 Me - 2008 Honda Fit
  By skye traveler - December 8 - 6:30 am

  Love my new 2008 Sport Automatic. I researched small high mpg cars for about a year before I decided on the Fit. The FIT is a GREAT car to drive. Fun, sporty & economical!

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  Great car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Mick - December 7 - 12:50 am

  This is an excellent small car..and bigger than you think. Usual excellent Honda quality. Mileage is ok.. around 33mpg... its so so practical, and great fun to drive. Ive seen criticsm of automatic lag... but I dont have any problems. Also, the aftermarket foot rests and armrest are very easy to install.. I bought the ipod connection but am disappointed, its very difficult to use and doesnt use the display very well. The sound system is excellent.. I just use mp3s.

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  The Good: The Room, The Bad: The Tranny - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Rolland - November 30 - 5:13 pm

  After 10,000 miles in 4 months, I was expecting the car to settle in and drive more smoothly, plus improve gas mileage. But, it didnt! There is something in the automatic transmission called "Engine Braking System." This is a horrid piece of engineering. On deceleration to an intersection, it grinds the car down to a stop by itself without touching the brake. Dont know what this feature is for, but it has been a little dangerous in city driving. I hope there is a "fix" soon from Honda. I think it may be contributing to my less-than-expected gas mileage of 26-30. That said, I am very happy with the rest of the car! Decent power, great cargo capacity! But should have waited for a 5sp manual.

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  Fun to drive, amazing gas mileage - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Connor - November 29 - 9:07 am

  Almost everything about this car is amazing. Each shift is smooth and, though I scoot it around >4000rpm VTEC range here and there, Im still averaging just over 32mpg city driving. Handling is surprisingly superb, with a somewhat stiffer suspension than other cars. (Fit slalom speed is only 0.5mph under the 8th gen Si). The 200-watt stereo is quite adequate, with an unexpected amount of bass coming froms the mids (no sub). Space is amazing! Its much roomier than it looks at least, thats what everyone has said to me when theyve got a ride. My only complaint is the lack of JDM accessories (i.e. armrest, passenger vanity, maplights, LED tail lights, HID, sunroof, subwoofer, navi, etc)

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  Very satisfying purchase - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Anna - November 24 - 6:53 am

  I wanted a vehicle that gets very good mileage, but did not want a boring sedan. This vehicle holds a lot of cargo and is a good camping vehicle for me (I can even sleep in the flattened back area). I got the manual transmission, which is very smooth and has improved mileage. The car is fun to drive and has many safety features and feels secure on the highway.

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  Happy with my Fit - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Happy - November 19 - 5:46 am

  This is a great car for the size and price. It does not feel like you are in a small car while driving it. There is ample space in the front seat area. We are tall and have no problem. I love the mpg monitor even though it does run 2-3 mpg higher than calculated mpg. Most of my driving is stop and go and mpg have been ~29. USB input is great. The controls on the dash are large and easy to operate, very user friendly. The car heats up quickly in the cold. I did add the arm rest center console and it is nice. The engine does get loud when I hit the gas too hard. Overall this car is fun to drive and I am so happy I have it.

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  Good little car, but miss my SUV - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Tina B - November 18 - 9:16 pm

  The Fit is definitely a good car, but I am suffering a serious case of buyers remorse. I had an SUV before getting the Fit. Do your homework for sure. I did not get a good deal on it, which is part of my regrets. I think you can get a lot more car for the same price if you went with a Mazda 3 for example. I really wish I would have gotten that instead. Gas mileage is good, but the on-board gauge is off. When it says Im getting 37 mpg, it really is around 32. Still good, but instrument is unreliable. You have to pay extra for many features that are standard for other models. Insurance higher than on previous SUV. Check w/ your agent first.

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  Economy and utility - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Bryncrrd - November 18 - 1:23 pm

  The Honda Fit was purchased for economic utility, and it serves those ends admirably. It is very well designed and, as far as I can tell at this point, very well manufactured. The interior space, when all the rear seats are folded flat, is amazing. The front seats are fr more comfortable than they look, although the upholstery seems to attract every bit of fluff in the area. Its not a vehicle that flourishes at high speeds; the engine becomes very busy and high-speed stability is not a strong point. But for the purposes cited above, I know of nothing to equal it currently available on the market.