Comparison Test: 2007 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2008 Scion xD

Kids today, eh? The 2007 Honda Fit Sport and 2008 Scion xD are meant to grab the attention of a generation that knows how to play it loud. These cars are supposed to be all about watts, speaker count and iPod inputs.

Yet they are both so sensible that you'd swear the coveted Gen-Y market was filled with aging no-bones consumers more interested in price and practicality than loud music. And in fact, older drivers are proving to be just as enthusiastic about sensible, stripped-down cars as younger drivers.

It's true that the 2007 Honda Fit Sport and 2008 Scion xD reflect the way in which cheap cars have been transformed into cool cars. But once you cut through the marketing hype, you discover that these cars capture our imagination precisely because they're about everything but loud music. Sorting them out is a matter of function, not flash.

Honda Has a Fit
While the Honda Civic has never shown a big thirst at the gas pump, its ever-increasing dimensions (and price) have squeezed it out of the entry-level market. Korean-built subcompacts have eagerly filled the void, hungry for the chance to secure new customers. And then, of course, Scion arrived in 2004, changing the rules in the entry-level market entirely.

Enter the Fit, which burst onto the U.S. market in 2006. First introduced in Japan, some 250,000 were sold there in 2002, which topped the country's sales charts. Just 35,000 examples of the Fit have been allocated yearly to American Honda, and 27,934 were sold over nine months in 2006.

Pricing for a base-model Fit starts at $14,445 and includes a full complement of safety features and most of the available convenience items. We tested the Honda Fit Sport, more fully equipped and vastly more popular as well. For $15,765 our Fit Sport features 15-inch alloy wheels carrying 195/55HR15 tires, cruise control, keyless entry, foglights, aero-style bodywork trim and a better stereo with an auxiliary input.

Every Fit features a 16-valve DOHC inline-4 with Honda's step-type VTEC variable valve timing, and the engine develops 109 horsepower.

Scion, You Crazy Diamond
As a branding exercise, the Scion experiment has been a huge success. Out of nowhere Scion has become the No. 1 Internet brand, with 80 percent name recognition among online shoppers under age 35. Even so, only 28,033 examples of the Scion xA were sold in 2006, less than half the number of Scion xB sales.

As a result, Scion has decided to renew the entry-level Scion's identity at the same time that it renews the hardware, so the xD has appeared. Banished is the anemic 103-hp 1.5-liter engine, and it's replaced by a 128-hp 1.8-liter mill with variable valve timing for both the intake and exhaust cams. The xD also makes side airbags standard, not optional as they were for the xA. The tires have grown to 195/60HR16s, and electronic stability control is available as an option. Features such as cruise control and keyless entry are now standard.

Standard content costs money, so a 2008 Scion xD will cost more than an xA when it goes on sale in August. Exact prices have not yet been announced, but expect the price of the xD to begin at about $15,080. Of course our test car had the optional stability control, a stereo upgrade and illuminated door sills, so we believe its as-tested price sits around $16,368, give or take a bit.

What Counts Is What's Inside
The Honda Fit and the Scion xD rest on nearly identical wheelbases, some 96.5 inches for the Honda and 96.9 inches for the Scion. Their other dimensions are also nearly the same, with the Fit measuring 2.7 inches longer while the Scion spreads 1.7 inches wider. These cars are both 60.0 inches tall.

Both of these front-wheel-drive cars have transverse four-cylinder engines. Both have strut-type front suspension. Both have a twist-beam rear axle (think of it as essentially a huge stabilizer bar with the wheels mounted on the ends) that helps to lower the height of the floor in the rear of the car even as it creates a void for a spare tire.

Honda even improves the Fit's space-efficiency by locating the fuel tank under the front seats. As a result, the floor height goes down farther still, enabling the second-row seatbacks to fold forward all the way into the footwells, creating a dead-flat loading floor and 41.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The seat bottoms can also be folded up to meet a normally positioned seatback, creating a "tall mode" suitable for standing a bicycle up in the backseat. In comparison, the Scion affords 35.7 cubic feet once the conventional split-back folding seats have been laid down.

The Honda Fit Sport offers 90.1 cubic feet of passenger volume and the Scion xD has 84.5 cubic feet of living space. In our experience, a wide variety of body shapes can find a comfortable fit behind the wheel of both cars, perhaps helped by the high hip point for the seating position. The Honda Fit's driving position and control layout did seem sized for smaller drivers, though, as the steering wheel fouled the knees of our tallest driver and the pedal action seemed designed for drivers who sit very close to the steering wheel.

Which One Is Go, Again?
Although we had VTEC-inspired expectations of extreme performance from the Fit Sport, our Honda hatch proved loath to accelerate without judicious rowing of the five-speed gearbox. This 16-valve DOHC inline-4's 109 hp and 105 pound-feet of torque aren't quite enough to move this 2,472-pound box smartly enough to make highway merges and passing maneuvers a matter of routine.

The Scion xD has 128 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque underfoot, so it moves out with much less fuss, despite weighing 2,615 pounds (143 pounds more than the Fit). Daily driving proved to be far less of a stress test, and fewer downshifts were required to summon up speed at the right moments.

At the test track, all this boiled down to an 8.4-second run to 60 mph in the Scion xD, compared to 9.0-second acceleration to 60 mph for the Fit.

Fuel economy laurels go to the 2007-model Fit, but just barely. At first the Fit's rating of 33 mpg city/38 highway seems to trounce the 2008-model Scion xD's estimated 27 city/33 highway. But don't get all excited. Once you convert the 2007 Fit to the new 2008 EPA methodology, the Honda's rating changes to 28 city/34 highway, just 1 mpg better than the xD.

Road Manners
Agile handling is one of the Fit's strong points, and our nimble 2,472-pound test car felt light on its Dunlop all-season feet. The Fit's electric power steering didn't seem to compromise steering effort or feedback from the tires.

Our track tests bear out the Fit Sport's edge in agility, as its 63.3-mph slalom run and 0.81g skid-pad performance were a bit better than the Scion's efforts of 61.1 mph and 0.78g.

But at higher speeds on the open road, the Fit felt a bit too eager to change direction and it acquiesced to the whims of crosswinds and passing big rigs. The Fit's firm suspension also transmitted too many details of the road's texture to the interior, and the car frequently felt somewhat tense or even nervous and could have used a little more straight-line stability.

The xD has a different vibe altogether. Its steering response is sedate, although not sluggish. The electric power steering doesn't deliver a natural, transparent feel, and there's too little natural realigning steering torque. But the Scion almost always feels solidly planted on its Bridgestone all-season tires. It's calm and stable at freeway speeds, with better mastery of road imperfections than the Fit and good straight-ahead sense.

Safety Dance
On the safety front, both the Honda and the Scion stack up well. Both have standard four-wheel ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and the Scion adds brake assist if it senses a panic stop. At the test track, both cars stopped equally well from 60 mph, with the Fit coming to a halt in 122 feet and the xD stopping in 123 feet.

With the Fit, Honda has made a point about "Safety for Everyone," committing itself to providing even affordable cars with the best safety technology available. What this means for the Fit is lots of safety as standard equipment, including ABS, front-seat side airbags and curtain-type head-protection airbags for both front and rear passengers.

Scion's xD ups the safety ante a bit more. It offers the same airbag count as standard equipment, but then adds active front headrests, outside mirrors with turn signals, and optional stability control.

Practicality: Say It Loud
Based on our analysis, the price difference between a similarly equipped Honda Fit Sport and Scion xD will be minimal. Our estimated price for this 2008 Scion xD test car is $16,368, just $603 more than this 2007 Honda Fit's sticker price of $15,765. If you assign a price of $650 to the xD's optional stability control (its price in a Toyota Corolla), the difference between these two cars evaporates.

When all is said and done, neither of these four-door economy hatchbacks is a bad way to go. The 2007 Honda Fit Sport seems the more practical of the two, with fractionally better fuel economy and huge cargo space. Its agility is a plus, too.

But the 2008 Scion xD is the one that comes out on top for us. With just enough power to deal comfortably with traffic, a more refined ride, a longer list of standard convenience and safety features than the Fit and the availability of stability control, the Scion xD is the best package for us.

How'd kids get so practical all of a sudden?

Edmunds purchased a Fit, and Scion provided Edmunds with an xD for the purposes of evaluation.

Road Test Editor Brian Moody says:
I knew the xD would come out on top as soon as I got in and shut the door. The Scion's interior is more comfortable and the materials seem to be of higher quality. The dedicated iPod jack just sweetens the deal even more.

On the road, the Fit feels underpowered, whereas the xD has more than enough power for everyday driving. The Scion even manages to feel a little snappy. Both cars feel light and tossable, but the Scion feels more substantial while the Fit's small size and light weight ultimately translate into flimsy. The Scion is quiet inside; the Fit is noisy. The Scion looks spunky; the Fit looks odd. The Scion is fun to drive; the Fit is a chore.

In my mind, the Fit is a car I'd choose because of the price, and the Scion xD is a car I might choose based on the car's merits. I'm convinced that anyone who buys an xD will feel like they're getting away with something. It's a special car that just happens to be budget-priced.

2008 Scion xD

Overall Grade: C

How Does It Sound: C
Our test car had the optional premium audio system but this has no effect on the sound quality unless you add your own components, because the premium system adds outputs for connecting amps or a subwoofer plus the ability to customize the display.

Sound quality is just average with this Pioneer audio system. The bass doesn't really hit the way we'd like and there's a sort of distance to the sound. Highs are present but don't bring any noticeable detail to the music. Even with the SSP (Scion Sound Processing) feature, the xD's audio system doesn't sound nearly as clean or full as the very similar system in the xB — we suspect the xD uses different speakers, although they both get six, including two tweeters.

How Does It Work: B+
The Pioneer/Scion iPod display is excellent — probably the best original equipment solution for showing artist and track name so far. The graphics are clear, sharp and easy to read at a glance. The bummer is that you cannot access playlists like you can on the navigation-audio system. There's also no way to access the iPod's shuffle feature. It's not that we don't see the humor in playing songs alphabetically; we're just not sure we always want to hear Death Cab, Def Leppard, Del Amitri, Derek & the Dominos and Desmond Dekker in that exact order.

The upside is that you won't have to worry about your iPod battery dying after just two hours of play, as the dedicated connector also charges the iPod while it's connected. Of course you can always skip the iPod altogether, as the xD has a generic mini-jack connector as well.

We're not fond of the joystick-type controller that's used to access most functions. It's almost impossible to use when the car is in motion, as even slight bumps cause unintended inputs. It's not a terrible idea, but in practice the knob can be troublesome.

Special Features: Scion knows there's only so much audio flair it can offer while still keeping the xD's price in check. The car already has a level of flexibility that easily tops its rivals, yet Scion's Pioneer head unit also has rear-mounted outputs so owners can add hardware without losing the head unit's features.

Opt for the upgraded premium audio system and you can download different backgrounds for the display and get short video clips, all from Pioneer's Web site.

Conclusion: There's no question the xD's stereo is flexible and capable. It's expandable and can accommodate both an iPod and other portable MP3 players. The system's biggest drawback is the clunky interface.

Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

2007 Honda Fit

Overall Grade: C

How Does It Sound: C+
Thanks to six speakers, the Fit Sport's stereo sounds very good. We were expecting a compromised audio system given the Fit's price and size, but we were pleasantly surprised by the fullness of the sound. Bass response is adequate, although not up to the standard set by Scion's Pioneer stereo.

Because the Fit Sport has six speakers rather than the four of the standard Fit, the additional door-mounted tweeters provide nice detail. The highs are bright and clear without being shrill or distracting.

How Does It Work: B
The first thing we noticed about the Fit's stereo is its very attractive head unit, especially compared to the Scion's box-in-the-dash look. Given Scion's emphasis on funky style, it seems odd that the Fit is the one with the modern-looking stereo, while the xD's head unit looks like it came straight from Best Buy.

The Fit has a large, round knob with good-size buttons surrounding it. They're easy to use and easy to understand. The screen is also large, with nice contrasting characters making it easy to read. The large display also makes it easier to navigate MP3 folders.

The xD's head unit has sharper graphics and more customizable features but is more difficult to master.

Special Features: With a mini-jack auxiliary input and the ability to play MP3 CDs, the Fit Sport's stereo is somewhat flexible.

Conclusion: Better-looking and easier to use than the Scion xD's stereo, the only thing the Fit's system lacks is punchy sound.

Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

Our comparison of the 2007 Honda Fit Sport with the all-new Scion xD reveals many similarities. The basic suspension and drivetrain architecture are the same, as are most major dimensions. In the end, the biggest differences have to do with styling, interior packaging and features. The major differences are explained in greater detail below.

Features

Key:
S: Standard
O: Optional
N/A: Not Available

Alloy wheels: Alloy wheels almost always look better than steel wheels with wheel covers, are easier to clean, provide better airflow to the brakes and are usually lighter. In most cases, though, their absence is a calculated cost-saving move, especially when carmakers expect owners to buy aftermarket custom wheels for personalization.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC): ESC undoubtedly prevents accidents and saves lives by preventing loss of control in emergency situations. Because of the expense and complexity involved, these systems are rarely offered on cars at the price-sensitive end of the market.

Steering-wheel audio controls: This feature is quickly becoming a must-have. The ability to sort through presets and adjust the volume without taking your hands off the wheel or looking at the radio is not only convenient but also safe.

True iPod connectivity: Auxiliary input jacks that can accommodate an iPod or an MP3 player are nice, but working the micro-controls on these devices while moving isn't safe. Besides, most of the people in the intended ownership group for these cars have actual iPods. A true iPod connection uses a dedicated jack and cable to allow iPod functions to be controlled through the car's own stereo head unit. As a bonus, it supplies power to the iPod and keeps its batteries charged, making a second power cord unnecessary.

Ultralow load floor with large cargo capacity: As the tiniest cars in their respective lineups, you'd expect small load-carrying capacity from the Fit and the xD. Any kind of packaging strategy that gives the owner more than he expects in this regard is welcome. And so it is with the Fit's so-called "Magic Seat," a unique design that folds the seat backrest into the footwell in front of the bottom cushion without requiring removal of the headrests. Cargo capacity is a substantial 41.9 cubic feet — some 6 cubic feet more than the Scion xD with its traditional split-back folding rear seat.

Dimensions

Engine & Transmission Specifications

Warranty

Performance

Safety

Final Rankings

Personal Rating (2.5%): Purely subjective. After the test, each participating editor was asked to rank the cars in order of preference based on which he or she would buy for his or her own use.

Recommended Rating (2.5%): After the test, each participating editor was asked to rank the cars in order of preference based on which he or she thought would be best for the average consumer shopping in this segment.

31-Point Evaluation (35%): Each participating editor ranked both cars using a comprehensive 31-point evaluation process. The evaluation covered everything from exterior design to cupholders. Scoring was calculated on a point system, and the scores listed are averages based on all test participants' evaluations.

Feature Content (20%): Editors picked six features they thought would be most beneficial to a consumer shopping in this segment. Each test vehicle was then given a score based on which of those features it possessed. More points were awarded when these features were standard versus optional, and no points were given if the feature was unavailable on a given vehicle. The score given here represents the percentage of points, out of a total possible 18 points.

Performance Testing (20%): We subjected these cars to our standard set of performance tests. Scores were calculated by giving the best car in each category 100 percent. The other vehicle was awarded points based on how close it came to the best-performing vehicle's score.

Price (20%): The numbers listed were the result of a simple percentage calculation based on the less expensive vehicle in the comparison test. Using the "as-tested" prices of the actual evaluation vehicles, the less expensive vehicle received a score of 100, with the remaining vehicle receiving a lesser score based on how much each one costs.