Used 2017 Honda Fit EX-L Hatchback Review

The 2017 Honda Fit marks the 10th anniversary for Honda's pint-sized pack mule, and its longevity shouldn't surprise anyone. With impressive fuel economy, loads of passenger room and unmatched cargo versatility, the Fit made subcompact cars a mainstream consideration. Today's Fit continues to offer those winning traits while adding cutting-edge technology and creature comforts such as leather upholstery and keyless ignition.

One of the Fit's standout features is its Magic Seat, a unique rear seat that includes a flip-up cushion that opens a large cargo space behind the front seatbacks. Alternatively, you can leave that seat bottom down and fold the rear seatbacks forward, yielding a cargo hold that rivals those of some small crossovers. Add in a fold-flat front seat, and there's not a lot that the Fit can't haul or handle.

The Fit isn't just a big box to carry your things, though. Even the most fuel-thirsty trim level returns more than 30 mpg, and its diminutive footprint makes for easy maneuvering and parking in dense metro areas. Its touchscreen technology interface enables the latest smartphone integration (with a caveat to Android users), and its nimble handling and excellent visibility remain core qualities.

There's nothing else quite like the Fit, but there are other subcompact hatchbacks with specific strengths. The funky Kia Soul, for example, actually has more cargo capacity, but its fuel economy is inferior. The Ford Fiesta hatchback is fuel-efficient and shares the same sharp handling as the Fit, but its backseat and cargo area are both pretty tight. The four-door version of the Toyota Yaris hatchback compares well on many fronts, but its cargo capacity just isn't in the same league.

The 2017 Honda Fit comes in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and EX-L with Navi.

Standard equipment on LX models includes 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, LED brake lights, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a 5-inch central display screen, a rearview camera, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB port.

EX models add 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen display, an upgraded rearview camera, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot display, a six-speaker audio system with two USB ports, Siri Eyes Free functionality for enhanced iPhone voice control, HondaLink smartphone app integration, and an HDMI input (required for certain HondaLink features, most notably an optional navigation app).

Going with the EX-L gets you heated body-color side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, leather upholstery and heated front seats.

The EX-L with Navi adds, not surprisingly, a navigation system (with voice recognition) as well as HD and satellite radio.

The 2017 Honda Fit features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. LX and EX models come with a six-speed manual transmission, but a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. A CVT is the only transmission available for the EX-L and EX-L with Navi trims.

In Edmunds testing, an EX-L with Navi accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, a quicker than average sprint for the subcompact segment.

A Fit with the manual transmission returns an EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined (29 city/36 highway). CVT models deliver even more at 34 mpg combined (32 city/37 highway), although the entry-level LX model is the champ, returning 36 mpg combined (33 city/40 highway).