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:
Showing 31 through 40 of 1,073.00-
Accessories matter - 2015 Honda Fit
By jlbgjbsle - May 4 - 8:28 pmGreat gas milage (40 city/hwy combined) Due to the slanted angle and the large size of the front windows, the car heats up tremendously even when driving on mild days. I have to use the air conditioner much more than I would like. The normal sun shades used when parked for a period of time do not fit this car. I had to buy a special sun shade that is the most inconvenient product to use, and I have to use it even for short parks due to the big windows. Because the seats are so low, and I am a short person, the sun visors did nothing to block the sun. I had to buy a visor extender. Only 1 roof rack available for car-almost $500. Small hybrid bike barely fits in with tire removed.
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Beware of the head restraint system! - 2011 Honda Fit
By barbak - April 12 - 10:52 pmI love my Honda Fit in every way except the comfort of the drivers seat. Ive actually driven without the headrest in thats how much it hurts my neck. Although I had intended to drive this car until it wore out, I am going to be selling it in the next couple of months and buying something less painful. BTW, I am 57.
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It goes and goes and goes - 2012 Honda Fit
By gleggley - April 5 - 5:24 pmI bought this car new in August of 2012. I am a courier and drive over 1000 miles a week. As of today, 4/5/15, I have about 139,000 miles on my Fit. I have always done the recommended service and have only had one issue since purchasing this car. A front wheel bearing needed replacing a few months ago. I average 30-35 miles a gallon in mixed driving. Power is adequate for what I do. This is the first Honda Ive ever owned. The Fit has an amazing capacity to haul things. I am consistently amazed at how much "stuff" fits in the car.
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Fit really fits - 2015 Honda Fit
By danl55 - April 3 - 10:05 pmWe purchased the Fit for a daily driver to save on fuel. Just have over 1000 miles and so far everything is good. Weve owned several Hondas and the Fit seems to have the quality of all the others weve owned. 36-38 mpg in mixed driving. Pearl white paint is beautiful. The display does give a read out occasionally telling us that the mode is not available when vehicle is in motion...well have to ask the dealer about that one when we take it in for an oil change. Satisfied so far.
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Pleased with my Fit - 2015 Honda Fit
By jgpavp - April 2 - 3:35 pmSwitched to Fit after driving Accords for 25 years. Accords have become too big. Ive very pleased with the Fit. I have the EX 6 speed manual. EX is the best value and the 6 speed manual is very smooth shifting. Test drove the CVT and shifting it with the paddle shifters was OK, but routine driving kind of hohum.
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Test drive is not enough - 2015 Honda Fit
By newfit - March 25 - 4:36 pmAfter seeing all the glowing specs on this car, I did TWO twenty min test drives. It seemed comfortable enough for a subcompact and fun to drive.. Only 100 miles on it and it is wicked on my old back. This feature seems to be buried in the reviews like edmonds and Kelly Blue book. I have a 5 hour drive up coming, and I am really really fearful. Now what? Can my budget really take trading in a car thats only 2 weeks old. No more Hondas for me I think.
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Like it so far - 2015 Honda Fit
By Dan Limitone - March 15 - 10:47 pmNew owner with Two weeks and 700 miles now. Purchased the EX with CVT Transmission. So far gas mileage is 38-41 mpg. The engine is pretty spunky however when climbing hills the CVT tends to make the engine work to find the perfect spot...so it gets a little busy. Ive had newer Civics, CRVs and find them a little quieter and refined but also realizing the price point on the Fit it seems a fair trade off. Purchased on the last day of the month so after calling around I feel I got a fair price and didnt have to travel far. So far, so good.
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Ours has had flawless reliability - 2015 Honda Fit
By nau - March 12 - 12:19 pmThe Fit has been what we expected. We have had absolutely no reliability issues so far. Our blue EX-L was built in July, 2014 and we purchased it in August, 2014. It now has over 13,000 miles on it, and all weve done is change the oil.
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Unfit Fit. Done with Honda brand. - 2015 Honda Fit
By mazdafun - March 10 - 10:02 pmHVAC issues since I bought it in mid-June 2014. Dealer couldnt fix it after 3 attempts and continued musty, moldy emissions cause severe health symptoms, so I have filed a Lemon Law claim through Hondas arbitrator. Front seats are the worst Ive had in a vehicle. Sit in them for at least 40-45 minutes to confirm they work for you. My test drives were too short to make this apparent. The pain kind of sneaks up on you. The positives (which are many) dont outweigh the horrible mold allergy symptoms Ive had. American Honda has been unresponsive and the dealer has been barely supportive.
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Absolutely awful. There are better choices - 2015 Honda Fit
By festiboi2 - March 8 - 5:47 pmBought a brand new Fit because it made an excellent showroom impression the magic seats, cargo flexibility, and lots of standard features on the base model. But owning this car is a nightmare Reliability woes have haunted this car from the beginning mostly odd trim and electrical issues, including exterior trim breaking and taillights filling with water Its not the most refined subcompact other offerings have more power, better sorted manual transmissions, and are quieter. For city life, it is perfect. Its easy to park, economical, and can haul loads of gear. Honda just started building the Fit at an all-new plant in Mexico and some of the quality issues are showing.
