Honda Fit Review

2009 Honda Fit Sport Hatchback Shown

Introduced a few years ago just as gas prices were beginning to race skyward, the Honda Fit now looks like a happy little piece of automotive prophecy. A subcompact four-door hatchback, the Honda Fit has earned praise for its exacting world-class engineering and design standards, and has definitely found its niche with consumers. Sales have increased steadily since its arrival, and a second-generation Fit has just been introduced. With either generation, you'll find crisp handling, an adaptable interior, high-quality fit and finish and a relatively low price. For small-car shoppers, the Honda Fit represents an almost ideal package.

Current Honda Fit

Redesigned for the 2009 model year, the Honda Fit is available in two main trims levels: base and Sport. All trim levels come with a fuel-efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 117 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque. The engine now has Honda's i-VTEC, a variable valve timing technology that wasn't available on previous models, to help make the Fit more tractable around town. All Honda Fit trim levels have a standard five-speed manual transmission, with a five-speed automatic transmission being optional. Paddle shifters are included with the automatic for the Sport version.

On the base Fit, air-conditioning, a tilt and telescoping steering column and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack are standard. The Honda Fit Sport gains bigger wheels, sportier exterior trim details, cruise control and a six-speaker audio system with an iPod-friendly USB port. Fit Sports can also be optioned with a touchscreen navigation system and stability control.

The Fit's exterior has a slightly bulkier appearance than the previous-generation hatchback, but it doesn't sacrifice the sharp-nosed, high-roofed design that established the car's reputation for sporty versatility. 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.

In reviews, we 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. We also found the new Fit to be friendlier for a wider range of driver sizes than the first-generation car, which had an awkward driving position for those of above-average height. Generally speaking, the new Honda Fit continues the model's tradition of providing serious bang for the buck, and its combination of driving dynamics and polish distinguish it from the competition.

Used Honda Fit Models

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-horsepower 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.

SELECT A SPECIFIC HONDA FIT MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.