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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  Best Honda Ever - 2009 Honda Fit
  By MissFit - November 10 - 5:20 am

  I bought my new Fit Sport 4 days ago and already have 500 miles on it! It is a blast to drive. I drove from LA to Palm Springs and all around town and my mileage was... 44 mpg! I was shocked it was so good. I have owned 2 Honda Accords and 1 Honda Civic and this Fit is far better in quality than any of them. If you are considering a small car with good gas mileage this is the one!

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  Keep Fit! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By R. Jones - November 9 - 10:03 pm

  Our last car gave in to our dog. He sat in the back seat with our kid. Lots of hair and bad smells. Now, I have a huge hatch for our dog, still leaving the magic seats for our boy and our stuff. So cargo room is fantastic. Driving is so easy due to visibility, steering responsiveness, and very logical placement of driver controls. There are fewer small storage compartments than a Yaris, but I have all the storage I could use. Not wanting to ride a couch with wheels, I enjoy feeling the bumps in the road while sitting in very comfortable seats. The Fit is fun, functional and fabulous.

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  Sporty and Fun to Drive - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Jean - October 28 - 11:10 am

  I purchased my 2008 Fit in November 2008. I test drove several different models before selecting the Honda Fit. I studied reviews of all models for fuel economy, price, resale, and environmental impact. The Fit was my choice and is a purely fun to drive. The mileage was 29 mpg during a sever Wisconsin winter. I am now getting a average of 33 miles per gallon in a mix of highway/city driving. The flexible seats make this a work horse for me when hauling plants, boxes, and other items. Larger then you would think interior fit four comfortably. I have my MP3 player hooked up to the port and listen to that most of the time.Speaker system rocks!

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  Best Value - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Ron - October 22 - 12:43 am

  We looked at the xA, xB, accent, Rio, Spectra, Civic, Sentra, Corolla, and others but after testing the Fit ...no contest... the Fit is far better than the others... its combination of looks, feel, room, features, price, & mileage are unmatched... definitely need to get the Sport... more than worth the extra money... the Civic has less room, less flexibility, less features, and less looks (opinion), all for a couple thou more... only advantage is more power.

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  Great Buy - 2007 Honda Fit
  By newfit - October 13 - 10:20 am

  I live in the desert, so I always have the air on this car is a lot less peppy with the air on. The gas mileage suffers by about 7 hwy. MPG and 5 city MPG with the 5 speed manual having the air on. I think this car would be much better with a 6 speed transmission, on the Hwy. at 80 it is running at 4,800 rpms in 5th gear. The gas mileage is still great just not as great as I had dreamed about.

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  Nice ride for the money - 2007 Honda Fit
  By bigguy - October 7 - 4:36 pm

  I have 2000 miles on my Fit and like it all right. It doesnt have the handling, stability and gas mileage that my 94 and 96 civic HBs had. Ive about had it with cars that you cant see where they begin or end from inside until you bang them against the curb. The front clearance is too low. But it gets decent mileage: 43 hwy mpg best thus far. The seats are not very comfortable. You ride low and feel every bump. Not so in my civic HB. Cabin is loud and the engine and trans buzz and rev a bit on the AT. The shifters are nifty in sport mode but trouble in D mode. Seems they should disengage in D mode.

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  Great value for the money - 2016 Honda Fit
  By Lawrence F - October 7 - 1:55 am

  We needed a car for NYC driving and parking. The Fit is a terrific choice for us. Its a lot of car for the money. The cargo capacity is nothing short of amazing. The electronics are great for this price point. The seats are reasonably comfortable- more so with seat cushions to provide additional back support. The braking is mediocre at best although we feel relatively safe while driving. The car is relatively quiet but does get blown around in windy conditions. As is typical of a Honda, everything works well and is well thought out. Its a great choice for a small, inexpensive car.

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  Better than my mazda 3 hatch - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Liam - September 30 - 7:56 pm

  I traded my 2007 Mazda 3 hatch M in for the fit. I have to say I like this car much more. In every day driving this car puts a bigger smile on my face. Obviously you cant push it as hard and when passing on the highway the Mazda was far superior. Seriously though, this car just makes you smile every time you get in it. If you can drive a manual car this is so fun to shift and smooth with a little practice. The ride is smooth for a car of this class Engine noise is a bit loud at high revs, and wind noise is a slightly intrusive at highway speeds but never punishing. I forgot how fun it is to drive a small low powered car hard.

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  A Good Fit - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Annie - September 20 - 9:00 pm

  As soon as you sit in this car, you start bonding with the intuitive dashboard, attractive interior, firm no nonsense seats, sweet sound system and maneuverability. Take it out for a spin and at 33 mph city and 38 hwy, it makes driving fun again. The FIT A/T Sport with paddle shifters is suprisingly fleet and delightfully responsive. The seats are like oragami. You can fold them every which way. The result is a huge amount of cargo room and/or comfort for back seat passengers. Parking is a joy and so is the price tag at $16,000 out the door. This car is selling like hotcakes.

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  This Car is FANTASTIC! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By ThirteenRight - September 17 - 10:13 am

  I just got my 2007 Fit Sport in Blue and it is the best! I love driving it, I love being seen in it ... best purchase Ive ever made! Who knew a Hatchback could be this awesome!