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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  Quality car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By mtbikernate - February 23 - 12:46 pm

  I have about 750 mi on my Fit and I find this car to be absolutely excellent. I dunno how folks claim this car to be underpowered. Its much quicker than many other 4cyl cars Ive owned in the past. Sure, my wifes 225hp V6 Jeep blows it away, but then again, the Jeep maxes at about 21mpg on the highway. No other car in this category can fit 3 mountain bikes on fork blocks in the back. They go inside the Fit with no trouble at all.

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  What is there to say? Its a Honda! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Ben - February 6 - 10:50 pm

  This is a sweet little car that feels, sounds and rides more like a larger one does. The instrument cluster is simple and attractive. All the information you need is easily available. Five-star crash safety ratings, an extraordinary amount of room inside, a surprisingly quiet ride even at freeway speeds, plenty of performance (due in large part to a very smooth 5-speed automatic transmission), great gas mileage - and it is really fun to drive. The Sport model also has an excellent sound system. This is a typical Honda product: good-looking, smooth-riding, well-performing, well-built - a terrific value even at the window sticker price.

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  Best car ever - 2011 Honda Fit
  By Tb2008 - February 1 - 4:41 pm

  Cheap, quick and kinda fun to drive in corners, also lived in the car for about 2 months and ran it everyday 18+ hrs in the summer i never once had a problem. started everytime and the only maintenance performed was regular oil changes. The car is really spacious considering its size, its not the fastest or the coolest but the best car i have ever owned

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  2009 FIT Sport w/NAVI - 2009 Honda Fit
  By chas0215 - January 26 - 11:16 am

  This is an ideal subcompact with a high fun to drive factor and great fuel economy (even though it is a bit pricey with navi).

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  Fits like a glove - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Jon W - January 21 - 5:33 pm

  Ive only had the car for a couple days and I already love it. The interior space, high mpg, overall design, and driving experience are great. Although, I dont really need the nav system, I do enjoy it and love the voice activation feature. Its just a great all around car that looks pretty cool in black. And for a little car with 117 hp/107 ft.lbs. torque its a fun little car to drive and the 5 spd manual is spot on. This car deserves some awards from the automotive press for sure "Of the Year" or "10 best" you know who you guys are! Way to go Honda!

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  Fit Launch - 2007 Honda Fit
  By dnynCanyon - January 19 - 12:43 pm

  Fit Sport MT, 250 miles. Initial impressions: Wow Super nice build quality and interior materials. Classy instrumentation. Smart handling. Fit doesnt know it is not a sports car! Very precise electronic steering and by-wire throttle control. Fun and spirited drive with relatively firm suspension. Great headroom and leg room for a car this size (how did Honda do that). More headroom than Civic, Accord, and CRV. Fit Sport Audio has impressive audio quality; only one CD slot but with iPod Music Link, access hundreds of tunes. Seating for four is comfortable. Magic seat arrangements and hatch make this car seem like an Odyssey Mini. Nothing but fun. Due to break in gas mileage TBD.

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  Love My Honda FIT! - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Bruce May - January 16 - 9:06 am

  I just got my 2008 Honda FIT Sport Trim with Automatic. I love every bit of it. It is stylish, fun to drive, excellent room and great gas mileage. The only things needed are power driver seat, intermittent rear windshield wiper with washer, center console, actual oil change specification, automatic headlights on at dark, Also include as standard, floor mats, rear cargo cover, and multiple 12 volt DC plugs and several 120 volt AC plugs. I highly recommend the Automatic Sport Trim FIT, you can go with the automatic or shift without touching a clutch. The AC and radio are GREAT! I also recommend the 8 year 100,000 mile extended warranty, cargo cover and extra window tinting.

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  Surprising Fit - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Great Dog - January 13 - 8:46 pm

  Ive only had my Fit Sport for a month but the word surprise keeps coming to mind. Im a big, 6-1" and,..eh, not dainty. This car is more comfortable than the Dakota P/U it replaces and gets twice the gas mileage. I drove from RI to NY and back with my two sisters in one day, they were both impressed with its relative comfort over 400 miles. The Fit is fun and light on its feet on curvy roads, like driving a go-cart. Im a dog trainer, having space for a pet divider or dog crate is crucial; the seats fold flat in an instant to accommodate even XL crates and theres tie downs in the floor to secure them. Fit, finish, and ergonomics are all top notch at a lower cost than most hybrids.

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  Disappointed with gas mileage - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Rosemary Wison - January 10 - 7:10 pm

  Im delighted with the interior styling and versatility of the Honda Fit but Ive been disappointed with the gas mileage and the dealerships lack of concern. My first tank wowed me with 34 mpg which dropped to 24/25 mpg with each tank afterwards. Ive experimented with slower driving, gentle take offs, and upgrading my gasoline choice only to get the same results. While I love the car, I bought it for the gas mileage which as you can see, I am not getting.

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  Good Fit - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Geordie - January 4 - 9:00 am

  Traded in an 2009 Civic Si for the Fit Sport and so far am very happy. Of course it does not have the HP of the Civic but the overall drive, visibility, utility and fuel economy cannot be beat within its class. Having had the car for one week I just re-fueled and calculated an average of 43mpg (on-board display read 47.6mpg) with a 70/30 highway/urban commute. Highway handling is not quite as tight as the civic due to the higher profile, but handling and maneuverability around town more than compensates. I almost bought a MINI but needed the extra space and four doors, and this Fit the profile. Will update after the first oil change.