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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  Honda Fit 2007 - 2007 Honda Fit
  By jmg - October 26 - 3:43 pm

  Best mini compact car by honda. Nice ride on the curves, accelerates fast, fun to drive on the sport mode. I love it.

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  Dont buy it for the MPG - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Fuse - October 23 - 11:13 am

  Great use of interior space - weve had 5 tall people in it at once and everyone has room. The folding seats are great. Disappointing mileage in real world use. Our 100% city driven car is averaging 16 mpg and its certainly not being thrashed.

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  Fast, peppy, and totally utilitarian - 2007 Honda Fit
  By cbmtrx - October 20 - 4:30 pm

  I bought this car for these reasons: 1. Usability & Cargo room: I sold a Subaru Outback that sometimes had trouble fitting long items. Ive been redoing our basement, and carrying 8 lumber in the back of the Fit. Beat that! 2. Fuel economy: Im getting 300 miles between fill-ups right now and I figure with about 2 gallons left in the tank. All in all about 34-37 mpg. 3. Performance: This car takes corners like a cork in a pinball machine. Amazing, amazing handling. What it lacks in HP it makes up for in responsiveness. 4. Looks: I got the Sport model in Blaze Orange. Yeah baby. What a beautiful car it is to look at. 5. mp3 input/mp3 CD player. What did you expect, a cassette deck?

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  Should have bought a 5-speed manual - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Rolland - October 20 - 8:39 am

  I really have only one major complaint: the automatic transmission. It lurches and bucks on acceleration. Also, when braking or coasting to a stop, something under there is helping me stop. It is called the "engine braking system." In theory, I suppose its a good thing. But it is very annoying. It makes the car surge when it upshifts. I feel like I am losing control. Im very disappointed with this little bucking bronco. Otherwise the car is great! Great features (stereo), great handling. Good performance once I get it up to highway speeds. The gas mileage is a little disappointing. I get 28 to 32 mpg. Was hoping for mid 30s. Wish I had waited for a 5-speed manual.

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  FIT IS GO! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By I Love my FIT! - October 19 - 7:47 am

  I love this car! This car has more room than my other Honda and Nissan (Xterra). I love driving it, the gas mileage, the handling, the way it looks... everything about it! Weve had 2 tall adults, 1 teenager (57") and 2 kids (11yrs) in the car with no problem. When we got out, people were looking at us like "How in the world..." Im looking forward to the 2009 Fits! If youre looking for a small gas friendly reliable car, FIT IS GO!

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  1st New Car, and Im LOVIN IT!!!! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Tenya M. - October 16 - 11:13 pm

  My old SL Saturn has been showing signs of dying for years, so I hit the internet looking for a new replacement. I stumbled upon the Fit completely by accident, but fell in love with it after reading several reviews and the specs on it. As of Jan. 27, Ive been having a blast with my new Blackberry Sport and it just seems to be getting better! Driving to work is fun again, fuel economy is fantastic, and with all I can do with the back seat/cargo area, Im set for just about anything! I will admit the price was a bit much, but just over 5k after, this was the BEST investment I could have made! To quote the commercial, "The Fit Is GO!!!!"

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  Fit to ride - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Tom T - October 10 - 6:46 pm

  Bought a slightly used Fit Sport with 6400 miles on it Sept 07. I really like it, drives a bit different than my old 94 Camry Wagon,probably shorter wheel base and better suspension is the reason. The Fit is actually peppier and handles better than any car Ive owned except my Old RX-7. It fits 4 adults easily, holds a full grocery cart of stuff behind the back seat without any hassle. I love the various seat configurations. nearly as much cargo room as the Camry Wagon had with easy access. Interior & exterior quality are top choice, but seats could be a bit better.

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  Its a little buzz box - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Bob Howland - October 10 - 9:06 am

  Pro: Great space utilization. Quick and direct handling. Incredibly good gear shift linkage. Good interior controls. Fairly economical (33MPH in northern winter). Adequate horsepower for my purposes. Con: Very short wheelbase yields a somewhat choppy ride. VERY firm suspension doesnt help. Lots of wind and tire noise at 75 MPH, so high that I wont use the radio above 65MPH. Geared short - 20MPH/1kRPM, which makes noise worse. Wanted to buy a set of snow tires the the tire pressure sensors double the per wheel cost. My 1997 Honda Civic got better gas mileage. I just wish I hadnt totaled it.

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  Nothing impressive, but it gets the job done. - 2013 Honda Fit
  By John - October 7 - 3:10 pm

  I bought this vehicle for the cargo space and for its bare bones nature. I bought a Honda for their "legendary" quality in the small car market. Maintenance for this vehicle has only entailed routine oil changes and 1 set of tires at this point, but this vehicle is barely broken in at 29,000 miles. Should be noted, another reviewer commented on having to replace the A/C in their Fit before 30,000 miles. I am currently replacing my A/C compressor in my 11 Civic with 59,000. This could become a theme with Honda as this is far to early to be replacing these parts. My main problem with this vehicle is fuel economy. I expect 35 - 43 mpg in a small vehicle like this. When SUVs are starting to get over 30 mpg, a small vehicle like this should be pushing 40 mpg, but it doesnt. I use only ethanol free fuel, as there is a slightly better bump in fuel economy, but I still wont get better then 34 to 36 mpg on my daily commute (mostly highway at 60 MPH). I should note that this is while driving like a grandpa and utilizing as much drafting and coasting as possible. On long drives (upwards of 2 hrs) I have obtained 42.1 mpg while traveling between 55 and 60. This car will drink fuel at speeds exceeding 65 mph. MPG drops drastically during the winter, Im sure it is due to the quality of fuel and the cold temps in NY, but I tend to average 29 to 32 mpg. Acceleration is just plain poor. Dont expect to pass a slower vehicle on a 1 lane road at 55 mph, unless, of course, you have a mile to do it. I havent driven the newer 130 hp Fit (2016), but I have to imagine that the additional 13hp makes a huge difference. HONDA PAINT SUCKS!! I have a 2011 Civic and 2013 Fit. The civic is color blk and the front of it looks sand blasted. The Fit (red) has stood up better, but I have made it my mission to protect it. I will leave large gaps between me and the car in front. Still, with these vehicles, the paint chips every time a small object hits it. I have read countless reviews where people complain about this. BEWARE: HONDA PAINT Greatest feature(s) is the average fuel economy display. I still calculate manually with each fill up, but it is nice to have an idea of how your doing. It has caused me to drive much slower in a continuing effort to beat my "high score". I also like the windows as you have almost zero blind spots. I call this vehicle the fish bowl because you have more window than car. Nothing impressive about this vehicle. I had the arm rest installed in mine and switched out all the lights, except headlights, for cree LED lights solely because the out dated incandescent draws too much power and lacks the brightness. The heater during the winter will take 10 minutes to warm up, so I am usually close to reaching my destination before I have substantial heat. I installed a trailer hitch on mine and pull a small 4 x 8 trailer from time to time to the hardware store. This makes the vehicle incredibly more useful. Some reviewers have commented about sway while operating in windy conditions. This vehicle will travel wherever the wind blows. It is a constant fight to keep it straight, which should be obvious due to the bubble design and light weight. Snow handling is great. I drive in NY states snow belt and Im often fighting icy/snowy roads. The stock, narrow, wheel rims give you excellent traction. I havent needed snow tires as an all season has worked just fine up to this point. One down side is your road clearance. I often bottom out on snowy roads and always risk the possibility of getting stuck. Car seats are difficulty to get in the vehicle and deal with, but this tends to be the case with all compacts and sub compact cars.

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  Super Vehicle with One Major Issue - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Peripatetic Nomad - October 5 - 6:16 am

  I took delivery of my new 07 Fit Sport, 5 spd. on September 22, 2007. I have driven about 1800 miles already. I bought this as my commuter car and I will be driving over 40,000 miles a year. Overall, I think its a super vehicle. I could live with little issues such as no lock on the gas cap or the glove box, small fuel tank, etc. The only real issue I have with the car is the tire drumming/thumping over washboard surfaces and sharp bumps (5% of my drive). The ride does not bother me. Its the drumming of the tires that is killing me. Ive lowered my tire pressure to just over 30 psi but it does not make a big difference.