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 engineering and design, and it has found its niche with consumers drawn to its space-efficient design and easily reconfigurable rear seats.
Over the years, the Honda Fit has successively gotten a little roomier, a little more powerful and a little better equipped with features. At its core, though, the Fit is a little car that can do an awful lot.
Current Honda Fit
The current Honda Fit is offered in two basic trim levels, LX and EX. The EX can also be had in two more upscale variants: the EX-L, which adds leather upholstery, and the EX-L with Navi, which includes a touchscreen navigation system.
Both LX and EX versions are powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but a continuously variable automatic (CVT) is an option on LX and EX models and standard on EX-L and EX-L with Navi versions. EPA fuel economy numbers are commendable with either transmission.
The entry-level LX comes standard with features such as 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, a 5-inch central display screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system. The EX adds 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, an upgraded rearview camera, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot display and an upgraded six-speaker audio system. The EX-L tops it off with heated front seats and leather upholstery, and the Navi version has a voice-controlled navigation system.
The Fit is Honda's smallest automobile, but it nearly matches the total passenger space of the larger Civic sedan. Another key advantage for the Fit is its innovative, highly versatile rear seating. The Magic Seat has seatbacks that fold flat and seat cushions that can be flipped upward. You can use the latter function to create a tall load area right behind the front seats, not unlike the rear seats of a crew-cab pickup. Folding down the front passenger seat makes it possible to squeeze in items nearly 8 feet long.
In reviews, we have found the Honda Fit to be enjoyable 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, and its handling has a typical Honda sharpness to it. Acceleration is unremarkable, but high fuel economy is the main objective with this vehicle anyway. We think the Fit is one of the best choices in its class.
Read the most recent 2018 Honda Fit review.
If you are looking for older years, visit our used Honda Fit page.
