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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  Better seats please - 2009 Honda Fit
  By arkdriver - August 21 - 9:55 am

  I have owned this car for a year. Very efficient design,fuel economy is good but not great (the computer overestimates fuel economy by about 5 mpg). Ive never experienced any issue with trucks or side winds. The car will haul most things, and is almost like a mini suv. Not one mechanical issue, and the powertrain is very solid. It is overall a very good commuter car. It is not a car for long road trips due to the drivers seats. The ipod connector is hidden, and works well. I wish i had the navigation system as using the standard display to operate the ipod is tedious. The nose is very low and it is very easy to drag on some driveways.

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  My Analysis - 2010 Honda Fit
  By The Dork - August 18 - 11:10 pm

  Alright, I think this car is great. More specifically a car that is made for me. If youre a new driver this has the proper features to teach you good driving like a lower hp so you arent getting reckless and learning how to accelerate and decelerate properly. Ive never learned stick so I got the sport auto which is really cool. I can learn how to handle the gears and rpm to practice smooth driving. So I would def suggest sport auto too against manual. Not an expert driver but the feel it has when driving is nice. The xtra features with sport is def worth the cost. The road noise kinda loud but you can hear your engine and hear the revs. Again, I think sport auto is a great learner car.

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  Best buy in this price range - 2010 Honda Fit
  By seetheoceanblue - August 16 - 2:20 pm

  This is my 2nd Fit, loved them both - Ive noticed a considerable improvement in mileage over my 2008 Fit. After 1600 miles Im averaging 32 mpg in mixed driving and the mpg is still increasing. I attribute part of this to paying some attention to that annoying but useful mpg bar display in the center drivers console. You WILL get better mileage with a Civic or Corolla sedan, but you wont be able to haul washing machines, large dressers, and find other amazing uses as with the Fit. Great for a single like me with no friends with pick-up trucks or SUVs. Its the best compromise between utility and economy in available US cars today, period.

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  Great big little car - 2010 Honda Fit
  By UofAalum - August 14 - 7:45 am

  Traded a 2008 Altima 6-speed manual for the 5-speed manual base Fit (which was hard to find, but I only buy manuals). Amazing interior room for the exterior size. Great ride and handling. While it wouldnt win a drag race with the Altima, it is just as much fun to drive. Test drove the Sport with the paddle shifters, but the manual is much more responsive -- sure, theres some engine noise when you get up into the power range (>4K RPM), but its smooth as silk at all RPM and if you keep it in its power range its very responsive. Getting 31 mpg in town and up to 40 on the road at speeds of 60- 70. Above 70 mph the MPG drops fast as RPM go well above 3K. Great car!

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  Far Better Than I Expected - 2010 Honda Fit
  By NewFitDriver - August 13 - 12:01 pm

  I bought a Fit because I was looking for a good commuting car (suburban & highway) that was good on gas. I considered hybrids but went with the Fit based on purchase price, features and MPG. The car is rated for something like 31 MPG, but I routinely get 36 highway and 37 - 38 suburban. Checked at fill-up, Im getting about 37 on average. If I watch the MPG gauge, I can average about 40 on back roads without the A/C and 39 with. Some reviewers criticize the performance, especially acceleration. I find it good with the 5-speed manual. Not a race car, certainly, but not bad. Electric power steering is sensitive and takes getting used to.

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  Id Buy This Car Again - 2010 Honda Fit
  By ppla54321 - August 11 - 9:52 pm

  Ive had my Fit for 6 months, and have really enjoyed driving it and have had no problems with it. I do a combination of city/highway driving and average 36- 37 mpg overall. I have the Sport package which overall has a great look and is fun to drive. I did purchase floor mats, body side moldings, and window tint after market (see below re:improvements). As others have stated, the upholstery attracts fuzz, so I carry a lint roller in the car.

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  More fun than a barrel of monkeys - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Izzy Cohen - August 7 - 9:42 pm

  Two weeks of ownership, and its a delight. Paid 18,455, and dealer threw in floor mats. Just returned from a 400 mile weekend in the Catskill Mts. , a test run, and it was flawless. Gas usage estimator said I got 32.5.mpg but my own before and after fill up calculations came to 34.8. Thats with lots of mountainous and hilly driving.

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  Good commuter car - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Chipperdog - August 5 - 10:50 am

  I bought this car for its style and fuel economy. It has not disappointed. Great all around car with excellent fuel economy. My commute is rural highway driving with stops and starts. I have never gotten worse than 36 MPG even with the air on. My best is 38.8 MPG.

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  Great! - 2008 Honda Fit
  By rog - August 4 - 3:35 pm

  This car has been nothing but great! In any given week I am commuting over 1000 miles, I live in Maine so this means in snow, ice, and summer humidity and this car sails through it all! I can seemingly fit almost anything into it, and I know it is as safe as it can be while driving my daughter around. It is far and away the best car I have ever owned.

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  I <3 my Fit - 2010 Honda Fit
  By Lit Teacher - August 2 - 1:33 pm

  For the price of this car, you cant find a better deal. We looked at Mazda 3 and Toyota Yaris when shopping, and the Honda Fit offered more for less, including the priceless reputation of reliability associated with Hondas. I was looking for an economical 4-door hatchback with plenty of room for me and my 3-yr-old, and the Fit fits the bill! Tons of interior space and between 28 and 35 mpg for me so far (no road trips yet). Also, I found the driver seat/positioning to be quite comfortable after simply adjusting the telescopic/tilt steering wheel - this coming from a female with chronic lower back pain.