Vehicle Overview For 2007, Honda filled its entry-level subcompact void with a car clearly intended for a young, urban crowd: the Fit, a versatile vehicle in a small size that’s perfect for squeezing into tight spots — or tight budgets.
Like the Element, another Honda vehicle initially aimed at young buyers, the Fit sells itself on making the most of its interior space. To this end is a feature that Honda calls the “Magic Seat” — the seatback can fold down or the bottom can flip up for multiple cargo configurations.
The Fit fills the hole created when the Civic moved into the compact category for the 2006 model year. The Fit is Honda’s smallest, least expensive car. Mileage as high as 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway (with a manual transmission) should keep ownership costs down as well.
Exterior The Fit bears a vague resemblance to an old-school Civic Si, but with hints of modern-day, squared-off hatchbacks, such as the Scion xA or Mazda3 wagon. The Fit has four doors plus the hatch, and the base model rides on 14-inch wheels. There are 15-inchers on Sport models, and 16-inch wheels are available as a dealer-installed option on either version. For 2008, the Fit is available in two new colors: Tidewater Blue Metallic and Blackberry Pearl.
Interior The Fit takes cues from its big brother Element, with seats that fold flat or flip up to maximize cargo space and accommodate odd-shaped objects. Honda claims 90.1 cubic feet of interior space, and 21.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats when the seatbacks are up — ample room for a couple of suitcases.
Up front, the Fit offers a dealer-installed adapter that will allow drivers to hook their Apple iPods into the four-speaker audio system (six in the uplevel Fit Sport). Also available on the Sport model are wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the automatic transmission — a feature not found elsewhere in the entry-level segment.
Under the Hood The Fit has one engine: a 109-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder. It mates with a five-speed manual as standard equipment, and a five-speed automatic is available. The automatic is rated at 27 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway for Sport models; base models with the automatic transmission get 27/34 mpg city/highway. Manual models get 28/34 mpg city/highway.
Safety The Fit has six standard airbags: dual front airbags, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. It also has antilock brakes. Updates for 2008 include a standard tire pressure monitoring system.
