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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  Great little commuter - 2016 Honda Fit
  By Richard Miller - May 23 - 8:56 am

  If you are looking for a smaller sized commuter, I found the Honda Fit to be the best value by a wide margin.

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  Almost perfect - 2009 Honda Fit
  By EN - May 17 - 2:53 pm

  Well researched purchase,I considered the matrix but chose the fit due to better rear visibility and more fun features. Love this car: small but versatile, fuel efficient, affordable, lots of safety features. Main complaint is the bumpy ride: doesnt handle rough roads well, and downright bouncy (seems to oscillate off the ridges in the concrete) on certain stretches of well maintained freeway. At 51" I find the interior comfy, but my 6 ft friend feels cramped. Sun visor is inadequate for a short person when flipped to the side. Gas tank is small but mpg (I avg 33 for about 75% hwy driving) makes up for it. Handles snowy roads well, but I do worry I’ll get stuck with low clearance in front.

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  Japanese Mini Cooper - 2007 Honda Fit
  By John - May 14 - 6:13 pm

  Having owned an impressive list of performance cars I was not expecting much from the Fit in terms of performance but I was badly mistaken. This car is a blast. With a few aftermarket upgrades I made(suspension springs and lighter wheels) this car handles as well if not better than a Mini. The lack of horsepower is just not missed when you have such a wonderful chassis to play with. Gas mileage has been 38mpg on average. Build quality is excellent. Paint is good. No rattles to be heard. If you are a car enthusiast forced to "downgrade" for a while, this car is no downgrade!

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  the Fit is our near-perfect vehicle - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Packy - May 10 - 12:46 pm

  After going over the specs and reviews of the Scion xA, xB, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and VW Rabbit, the Fit won my wife and I over. I wanted an xB badly, but for the price the Fit had everything I wanted and needed, plus had higher NHTSA safety ratings than the Yaris and xB (my other two choices). We test drove a Toyota Yaris, but found it to be claustrophobic, less functional (space-wise), and cheaper feeling on the inside. After a test drive of a base model AT Fit, we were sold! The cornering and handling of the Fit is amazing, and it really drives like a little go-kart. It has minor issues, but every car does, especially in this segment. =)

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  Electrical Problems - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Pariz - May 8 - 4:06 am

  It is just one week and 93 miles, before the hand brake / ABS indicator start turn on. And then on the way to service station, 5 minutes later, the transmission indicator start blinking. I never found such any problems on all my previous car, especially it is just 93 miles.

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  Great car so far - 2007 Honda Fit
  By alawabla - May 5 - 2:23 am

  We just sold our 2004 Honda CRV and purchased a 2007 Fit for my wife to drive. The CRV only got about 20-22 mpg in her daily commute. She is getting 30-35 with the Fit in the first 1,000 miles of driving. Very pleased so far. Versatile, fun to drive, economical, and (we hope) reliable. We are a "Honda Family" and also have a 2003 Accord (son at college), 2005 Civic (daughter), 2006 Accord (me), and now the Fit for my wife. We purchased our first Honda in 1999 and have had only one issue to date (radio had to be replaced in the 2003 Honda at 95000 miles) - NO OTHER PROBLEMS in 350,000 miles of driving. :-).

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  Uncomfortable - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Bear - May 4 - 4:33 pm

  I owned this car for 1 week and had to trade it in. This has to be the most uncomfortable seating position in history! I was either too far from the wheel or too close to it w/no leg room. Drive it for more than the 15 minute test drive, youll be glad you did! The seat is poorly designed as well. Im amazed that Honda sells these things so well in Europe (but I hear it has an adjustable seat height there). When fully loaded with friends, the ride suffers and can be harsh over bumps. Buy a Civic instead!

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  POOR performance - 2007 Honda Fit
  By charlie - April 25 - 5:53 pm

  I replaced a 1986 Civic Si with this weak sister in April. Big mistake. My Si got about 15% better fuel economy and would run rings around my Fit. Top speed in 4th gear (5200 RPM): 101; top speed in 5th gear: 83. No kidding. 83 MPH. Disgusting. Oh, mediocre acceleration as well.

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  Great Second Car - 2016 Honda Fit
  By Charles Gardner - April 17 - 10:13 am

  It is not a touring sedan is designed for economical operation. I owned a 2012 Fit and this is a very much updated and redesigned model with lots of bells and whistles. It is a great car for the huge cargo space and great gas mileage.

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  Worth the money - 2008 Honda Fit
  By rkvl - April 1 - 10:26 am

  We needed a utility vehicle, and the Fit is really great. The seats that fold up are great for transporting our dog while the seats that fold down really help in carrying larger loads. The fuel economy is great. I drive only short distances to work and school, but it also does really well on the highway. I havent taken it above 65, however. Not sure what it would do at faster speeds. The style is also great. I got a black one, and people really say it is a sharp car. I recommend the Fit highly.