The third-generation Honda Fit is a roomy, unexpectedly fun subcompact
hatchback ripe with value. I suppose Honda let the Fit ride a
few more years as is but no following mid-cycle update the Fit is even fittier.
Like most mid-cycle updates the Fit wears revised front and rear fascias and
a new grille. There's a side-by-side if you're curious. Though the big news is
the addition of a Fit Sport trim to the lineup. If you've always wanted a Honda
Fit with glossy black wheels a sweet body kit and a gentle spray of orange
accents inside and out the Fit Sport is your dream made manifest. Sporty
accoutrement aside, the Fit remains an oddly roomy runabout. For example, its
interior is larger in nearly every dimension then the similarly sized
Toyota Yaris. That roominess is made possible through clever packaging
including a gas tank hidden under the front seats. Honda's cleverness is also
expressed in the fit so-called magic seat.
The magic seat folds flat which doesn't seem all that magical but the seat
bottoms also flip up to carry tall items, and if you have particularly long items
the front seat can flip down. Looks like it might be time for another trip to
Irene's Hat Rack over in the hatrack district. All told you've got a
substantial 16.6-cubic feet behind the second row seats and 52.7
cubic feet of space behind the front seats. Add wide-opening doors and a low
load height and the result is an exceptionally versatile cargo hauler. The
same applies when hauling people. Front seat headroom is excellent. Rear seat
headroom is just a bit less excellent, and the rear seat backs offer a
two-position recline function. What's more impressive is legroom. A traditional
pain point in subcompacts, the Fit's legroom utterly trounces competitors
like the Chevy Sonic and Kia Rio. Y'know the legroom is impressive when I dredge
up words like trounce to describe it.
Tempering that dimensional love is the driving position. With the seat adjusted
so my legs are comfortable, the steering wheel is too far away. So, I can either
drive with cramped legs or imitation GI Joe arms. Aw, I can't articulate.
I also wish sliding sun visors weren't reserved for higher trims and the
armrests were usable without throwing out my back, but otherwise complaints are
few. The audio system is once again blessed with a volume knob. The climate
controls are dead simple to reach and operate. There's an abundance of cup
holders and storage spots. Soft materials appear just enough to class up the joint,
and the front bucket seats are comfortable with primo lateral support.
A good thing since the Fit steers with precision and corners unusually well for
entry-level car.
But I'm guessing you don't care about ultimate road-holding. I'm guessing you
care about park-ability, and lens flare. You're welcome on the second. On that
score the Fit is a winner thanks to subcompact dimensions, a
standard multi angle backup camera, and exceptional visibility provided by huge
windows. When you're not parking, a Honda Fit delights with nice break fee,l a
compliant ride, and a decently hushed interior, you know, considering the price
tag. Moving the Honda Fit is a 1.5-liter direct injection four-cylinder engine
paired with a standard six-speed manual or an $800 continuously variable
transmission that bests the manual when it comes to fuel economy but not driving
fun. Especially since CVT models lose two horsepower and one pound foot of torque
versus manual equipped cars. In this stratum every horse counts.
130-ish-horsepower may not sound like a lot, but it's actually pretty good for the category,
and it's more than enough power for zipping around town or merging with
freeway traffic without shame. I will bring my own shame thank you very much.
Slotting just above $17,000 including destination, a base Fit LX trim comes
with automatic headlights, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows and door
locks, a tilting telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth, six
airbags and a 160 watt audio system with USB and auxiliary inputs. For more Fit
goodness higher trims offers 16-inch alloys, a moonroof, push button start, and
keyless entry that automatically locks the car when you walk away, an upgraded
six-speaker audio system and extra USB ports, Honda's lanewatch blind spot camera,
and a high-res seven-inch touchscreen replacing the base five-inch unit, and
offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In a boon for distracted drivers that
Fit can now be equipped with Honda's awesome Honda Sensing driver assistance
package. This thousand dollar package, which comes standard on
EX and EXL trims bundles potentially life-saving technologies including lane
departure warning, lane keeping assist, dynamic cruise control, and forward
collision alert. I've said it before, if you avoid side swiping just one lowered
BMW filled with MMA fanatics Honda Sensing has basically paid for itself.
Live large and the price tag for an EXL trim with heated leather seats and embedded
navigation tops out at around $22,500. Hatchback
competitors like the Nissan Versa Note, Chevy Sonic, Kia Rio, and Toyota Yaris
each undercut the Fit's base price, some by more than $1,000. That
price advantage is tempered by the Fit's exceptionally strong resale values and
long standard feature list. In some ways the real competition might be Honda's
own Civic. Given the price overlap it might make more sense to skip a fancy
Fit and choose a bigger faster and more efficient, albeit less dazzlingly
equipped, Civic instead. Nonetheless in its class the Honda Fit is roomy, refined
and cleverly designed, and it also delivers excellent value both in terms
of purchase price and resale values. Add a little mid-cycle love, and the Fit is
still the subcompact to beat. Sorry, Metro.