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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  Love my Fit 07 - 2007 Honda Fit
  By sharonartist - January 18 - 5:47 pm

  I bought my Fit used with 45K on it. Mileage is 92K now PROS: Im 53" & find it very comfortable on my round trip commute of 50 miles and 4 hour trips. 2. It has huge cargo capacity for its size. Hauls all my art and display equipment. Brakes work fine. Tires were new when I bought it & still have them after 47K more miles. I rotate seasonally. It runs like a champion!!! Ill buy another one! CONS: the quality of the seat covers & floor covering - sub standard. Carpet has worn easily and everything sticks to it. 2. The front bumper is very low & doesnt clear average bumper stops -beware & stop before you hit it. 3. Automatic trans. shifts a bit rough...just minor problems.

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  Nice car, pricey, terrible gas millage for the segment. - 2012 Honda Fit
  By famercado - November 4 - 8:32 am

  This is a good and reliable car, with lots of security features, comfortable for its size, looks very good inside and outside (especially steering wheel and rims), reliable and well assembled. I use it to commute from my home to the metro station, and for that purpose is fantastic. On the weekends we use my wife’s car which is more spacious. The gas millage is horrible for a compact car and considering the price and the trim (sport) it is way under equipped. It is very pricey compared to other brand’s similar cars.

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  MPG Disappointment - 2012 Honda Fit
  By livinglarge2 - October 2 - 11:20 pm

  I have had my Honda Fit since the middle of July 12. I have put 6,000 miles on my car..mostly highway miles. Im wondering if the manufacturer misrepresented the MPG advertised. I drive the car to work...which is mixed highway and city with 20mpg if Im lucky. I have driven this car on long trips and cant seem to get the MPG over 32. This is with speeds below 60mph. Im wondering if Honda came up with their MPG figures based on an anorexic driving this car without as much as a 5lb purse on board. I got 37 MPG on the way home from the dealership, but havent seen it since. Perhaps the dealer used Premium gas? I cant duplicate the mileage. I should have bought the PRIUS.

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  Not perfect, but great value - 2013 Honda Fit
  By richinsd - September 28 - 3:42 pm

  I looked at almost all of the competing vehicles and went with the Fit since it fit my needs best. For the price, its hard to beat considering the legendary reliability of Honda cars. The closest compition is (IMHO) the Scion xD and Hyundai Accent.

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  Reliable After 4 Years of Ownership - 2008 Honda Fit
  By strawberries - September 20 - 2:40 pm

  This car is our daily driver. We have had zero issues with this car. The car is still using the original light bulbs from day one! Just regular semi annual service at the dealership. This car can hold a lot of stuff with the seats folded down.

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  Fun & Practical, but... - 2008 Honda Fit
  By joshnbecki - September 7 - 11:15 am

  This is a cute, practical little car, but it seems to make a lot of compromises. I would expect a little better milage from the small, overly busy engine. The ride is rough with the Sport setup, harsh even, though this means it has GREAT handling...that the power cant live up to. Just another 20-30 hp would do the trick & more match the MPG. NEVER take it on a long drive--dont even think about it. The constant engine whine and wimpy attempts to get up hills, combined with supportive but rigid and uncomfortable seats, made worse by peddle position, will drive you NUTS.

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  Not one does econobox better - 2011 Honda Fit
  By 204meca - July 23 - 1:56 am

  Im bias, this is the 8th Honda I have owned. While not as fun as the Del Sol or as economical as the late 80s models, it does everything well. It hauls almost as much as our 2010 Outback, using 1/3rd less gas. Consistently gets 37-38 mpg in mixed driving, tops 40 with consistent driving under 70 mph. The Fit is just plain easy & fun to drive. I opted for the Base to for the better gas mileage & ride. Outfitted with better tires & aftermarket rear sway it never lost its composure driven as when driven as hard as possible in performance driving school. My only complaints are road noise & the fact that my thighs get a little sore after 90 minutes behind the wheel - not good for distances

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  Small car that lives large - 2012 Honda Fit
  By cantgetaname - May 15 - 10:02 am

  The Honda Fit is truly a great city car being small on the outside but large on the inside. Unless youre a moving company the Fit should be able to handle your day to day hauling needs. Ive had the Fit for a month averaging about 31mpg. If your commute is on the freeway you can easily do better. Where the Fit lacks in acceleration it makes up for with handling. You can have a lot of fun with this car in the curves. I also considered the Mazda 3 and Chevy Sonic. Both offered more features than the Fit. I thought the Mazda had more road noise and the Sonics I looked at already had rattles. If it werent for those rattles Id be in a Sonic.

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  Fun to drive and soo cute ! Awesome Gas mileage - 2007 Honda Fit
  By mickmarion - April 24 - 10:21 am

  I just wished she was taller. I get tired of hitting the dips, cars should not be made so low at 4 inches taller or more. But she is so roomy, we have 3 dogs and all fit back there perfectly. The seats never sit upright. She doesnt look roomy from the outside until you look inside. That is why she is a Fit, can fit everything !!

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  Cute car - 2012 Honda Fit
  By ltdo - March 6 - 7:44 am

  My car 2012 base, Auto transmission, Blue Raspberry color. I agreed with other reviewer, the color so easy to see in busy shopping parking lot this is 1 plus for the color.It looked gentle and happy to me. Car is fairly quite like my previous Corolla. but the driving is more enjoy than Corolla. the cabin design just make me feel good everytime I am in. The car acceleration is a little slow but I can accept it for the other good things it offered. Overall This is the different car than I ever had before, I like it, I will put new center arm rest, body side molding, Mud guard, front seat covers.