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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  Lots of car without spending lots of money - 2008 Honda Fit
  By TPINES - January 3 - 8:46 pm

  A really fine value. The Fit is fun to drive, economical, roomy, very practical. Build quality and reliability is classic Honda excellent.

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  Goid car but a few negatives - 2016 Honda Fit
  By C K Unruh - December 30 - 1:25 pm

  I have had my 2016 Honda Fit for about a month now. A few negatives: Excessive wind noise from front windshield when going over 45 mph...Passenger front window is very slow going up and down at times...the Ac vent air blows hard when decelerating and blows less hard when accelerating. ..and last, the engine pings loud at idle. I have addressed these issues with the dealership to see if these are common for the fit and I have yet to hear back from them. Its been 4 days. The fit is peppy enough and has plenty of room for my large dogs. I dont like the fact that these only come with black interior. .Dog hair and dirt really show up. Also, they dont come with floor mats. How stupid is that? Rubber mats from Honda are 170 bucks. Carpeted floor mats are over 300 bucks. Gas mileage is Good but gas tank is too small. Fuel like comes on at about 8 gallons. Too small. Also, no wheels...it has hub caps! Gross!! As soon as I can save some money i am going to get some wheels. I tinted the windows that made it look a little better. To me, this looks just like a small van. Thats about it. Hope this helps in making your decision whether to buy one or not.

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  An excellent and unbelievable car - 2007 Honda Fit
  By FuzFit - December 29 - 1:03 pm

  I was recently on the hunt for a new car- something small, reliable, and fuel efficient. Fuel prices are off the roof and are only expected to get worse by summer. I was researching on a few small cars, such as the new Yaris and Rio, but they didnt seem to have the thing that I wanted. The second I stepped into the Fit, I immediately knew it was for me. The interior is stylish and high quality. The exterior is also very stylish and looks like many European cars. The thing that amazed me that most was the ROOM INSIDE! WOW! The seats fold down and there is a GIGANTIC amount of space. The performance is also amazing. So smooth, sporty, and quiet. Like a dream. The fit grows on you. I love it.

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  Great small family car - 2009 Honda Fit
  By redruM - December 26 - 2:03 pm

  I drive two small children, their car seats and a double stroller around San Diego on a daily basis, and I am glad I chose this car. The cargo space behind the rear seats is cavernous for a car this size. The legroom in the backseat is awesome, but I havent been seeing the stellar gas mileage everyone else is getting. With 60/40 driving its average is 30 mpg with 200 miles on it so far. Im sure that will improve. Im not too impressed with the a/c. It was barely cranking out any cold air and the past few days were over 100. This car could also use darker tint on the rear windows. And Im having a few issues with the power door locks. The red with chrome wheels turns a lot of heads.

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  Honda Fit Sport is the BEST - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Friar Don - December 14 - 10:06 pm

  I have owned my 2009 Fit Sport for 3 1/2 months and must say this is one of the BEST cars I have ever had. The gas mileage is MUCH better than the sticker. The lowest mileage I have seen is 34 MPG (thats mostly city driving, too!). It "fits" me well, very comfortable, lots of room for storage, handles like a pocket rocket and turns on a dime. The folks at Sunny King Honda took excellent care of me and treated me like an intelligent buyer, not just a "monthly payment". The service department has been tremendous, their level of care and professionalism is outstanding. I would suggest BOTH this car and this dealership if youre in the market for true Honda Quality. The FIT is GO!

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  FITastic! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Hilary - November 30 - 6:06 am

  I have had this car for only a mere 2 weeks now, but am absolutely in love. It handles like a dream and has enough get-up-and-go to excite most people (in spite of having a mere 109 horsies under the hood). Fabulous purchase for the the money--I was able to purchase an economy car without feeling like I was sacrificing. My boyfriend and I also own a Toyota RAV4 and have actually been quibbling about who gets to drive the Fit. Its suprisingly spacious. My boyfriend is 62" and has plenty of space, driving or otherwise.

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  A great value - 2016 Honda Fit
  By ladrondelanoche@gmail.com - November 23 - 4:09 am

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  Honda Fits the Bill! - 2016 Honda Fit
  By Scott fisher - November 22 - 5:53 pm

  Get the EX for all the options that come with it. The only caveat is the lack of an aux input Jack on this model.

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  Great car but lacking in a lot of areas - 2008 Honda Fit
  By v724510 - November 17 - 10:23 pm

  I was excited to get the fit but disappointed when I realized it maxed out at 35 mpg. In reality Im getting 25 mpg and I drive mostly on the HWY. I hear this will get better in time. Right now Honda is purposefully not making many Fits to drive demand. Most dealerships are charging an additional 1500 to every car because of this false demand Honda is creating. Also the Fit does not come with floor mats. When you buy them you cant just lay them down but you need to cut into the floor of the car. What were they thinking with that???!!! Overall I do like the fit. Its fun to drive and looks cool in my opinion. Its a Honda so I trust it will be reliable. Time will tell.

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  What a Car! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Ken - November 15 - 5:20 am

  This is our first Honda. We also have a 2007 Nissan Altima which we love, but wanted a true economy car for short hops as well as commuting. We fell in love with the 2008 Fit we drove but decided to wait for the 2009 since we were intrigued with the new body style and what sounded like some new features. Were thrilled with the car after the first week. The quality and comfort are first rate. The mileage is running at 42 mpg for the first few hundred miles. Its smooth, quiet, and just fun to drive!