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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  The Fit fits! - 2015 Honda Fit
  By nau - September 15 - 1:09 pm

  We have had our Fit for about a month now, and have put almost 3000 miles on it. Have averaged 38 MPG in a 50-50 mix of city and highway miles. Our CVT Fit gets about 45 MPG at a steady 60 mph, 43 at a steady 65 mph and just over 40 MPG at a steady 70 mph Have hauled lots of things in it, has carried my wife and I in the front with three of our adult children in the back, and have just returned from a 700 miles trip this weekend from Cleveland to Chicago and back. We find that in spite of the black interior, the seats dont get too hot to sit, although we wish there was a bit more padding after three hours of straight driving and sitting. Back and right side cameras work great.

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  Great Car - 2013 Honda Fit
  By sansken - September 12 - 9:57 pm

  Overall this is a great car. There are a few quirks with it, and the technology leaves something to be desired, but for the price you cant beat it. Theres a USB input jack as well as an auxiliary jack. There is so much room in this car! When the back seats are folded down I could sleep in the back of this car. There are some strange blind spots which definitely take some getting used to. There are small windows on the side of the dash to help with this, but dont do as much as you would expect.

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  2015 Fit EX 6 speed rocks! - 2015 Honda Fit
  By johnd15 - August 1 - 4:31 pm

  We owned a 2007 Fit Sport 5 spd and upgraded to the 2015 EX. Great car! Great value. Car feels more solid and substantial. Much nicer interior. Still fun to drive, awesome fuel economy, roomy for such a small car, plus so many new extras. Wife loves the moonroof. We are averaging 39 mpg and hit 47 mpg highway! Thats hybrid territory. 7" LCD screen, multiview back up camera, side view Lane Watch camera and other goodies put our 2011 Highlander Limited to shame.

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  I love my Fit! - 2015 Honda Fit
  By hondafangirl - July 12 - 3:11 am

  Ive wanted a Fit since they hit the US in 2006. Ive been driving Accords for many years, and with this 3rd generation Fit redesign, I finally decided it was time to own my first Fit. I opted for the fully loaded EX-L w/Navi. Ive had the car for two weeks now, and I do not regret my purchase one bit. I do not feel like I am in a small subcompact in this car. It handles really well on the highway, and city driving is the most fun! I have gotten above average returns on mileage with a mix of hwy/city. Honda got it right with the Fit in my opinion. If you remember Honda from the 70s-80s, the Fit reminds me of that era. Small, economical and a blast to drive. I love my Fit!

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  Great Car - 2015 Honda Fit
  By 2015hondafit - June 26 - 5:51 pm

  I have a 2015 Honda Fit LX with the 6 speed. I wanted something fuel efficient and wanted a manual. I was saving up for a CRZ, but when this new Fit got a direct injection 1.5 engine, I had to go test drive one. The dealer had an LX manual in modern steel, and leased it. I really enjoy this little car. It drives fine around town, but on the highway you need to bring the rpm up a bit to get adequate performance. I would tell you what mileage Im getting, but I forgot to calculate my mileage at the pump, (was in a hurry) and forgot how many gallons it used. Oops. If you are considering one, I would absolutely recommend one. It does its job excellently.

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  Love my Fit! - 2015 Honda Fit
  By legallyorigina - June 22 - 11:19 pm

  I have owned my Fit for a week now. I love the new features added to this one. I owned a 2012 Honda fit so very familiar with this style of car. The only thing I do not like about this model is how there isnt an extra glove box in this one and less cup holders then my previous car. The gas is better then the other with its new eco button. I chose the leather seat option, but I am now worried about the up keep of the them especially considering the windows are only slightly tinted. Makes the roof feature a little bit of downer if you think of sun damage on leather. I chose the Honda Fit because it is a very reliable car. It saved my life before. I feel safe in my car.

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  First new car! - 2013 Honda Fit
  By mcm0455 - March 29 - 12:48 pm

  I have been driving for 25 years and have always bought well used cars in hopes to save money. After dealing with constant issues with my 175k mile Subaru, I decided I wanted a new car. I bought a 13 Fit Sport auto this past weekend after reading reviews and actually taking one out for a test drive. It is a simple car that meets my needs for running around town and the occasional trip on the freeway. It has plenty of power for me, and the 30+mpg I am getting is a nice change from 20mpg in my old Subaru.

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  Best car ever!!!! - 2007 Honda Fit
  By legalavin - March 19 - 10:13 am

  Ive owned infinity s and Lexus most of my driving life. Great cars. Then when my son was ready to go off to college we bought him a FIT. It was so much fun I stole it from him and gave him my old G20.

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  Fantastic so far! - 2013 Honda Fit
  By flyersfan12 - February 3 - 11:19 pm

  I bought this car in August. I am 64" and about 260 lbs, and I have more than enough room in the car itself. There is even room behind me for a normal-sized, full-grown adult. There is so much space inside the car, I dont have any trouble putting everything I need for weeks. It has great acceleration, mainly because it is so small, and it is fantastic to drive. In the snow, it has been handling fantastically.

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  Bang for the buck - 2013 Honda Fit
  By bmckeeman - January 6 - 10:46 am

  When looking for a roomy, efficient, and compact vehicle a year ago, I ended up buying a Patriot over the Fit due to power/space/SUV benefits. Well, I ended up trading the Jeep in to gain MPG benefits and to save a few bucks on payments. I couldnt be happier! I have wanted a manual again since my first vehicle some years ago. Very glad I switched back to a 5spd. MPG is much better, and on par with my old Corolla. I was concerned about highway performance due to the lack of a 6th gear, and it being such a small car, but highway tracking and noise levels are great for the class. Build quality is great, the interior is functional, and exterior styling is nice with the Sport trim. Great value!