2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Honda Fit Preview

• What’s New – For 2009, Honda has updated the Fit with a simplified rear Magic Seat, the choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmissions, additional storage provisions, safety technology including the brand’s ACE body structure and a bevy of airbags, and gently revised styling.
• Why It Matters – Rising fuel prices is a topic we’re all too familiar with, albeit one that is brought to the forefront with each trip to the pump. In addition, general economic concerns just may push some car shoppers into smaller, less expensive vehicles in lieu of the high-priced and thirsty alternatives they might have considered a year or two ago. With a revised look, an improved powertrain, and a more user-friendly interior, the Fit addresses the needs and concerns of shoppers from all demographic backgrounds.

It seems like only yesterday when we welcomed your cute and cheery presence to these shores, praising your ability to do so much while asking for so little in return. In that short time, affection for you has only spread. We’re talking about the little Honda Fit, which thanks to rising fuel prices and its general popularity, saw an 87-percent increase in sales last year. Clearly, there are plenty of you out there interested in diminutive transportation.

Honda executives don’t want you to feel ignored. Stating that “growing demand for small cars is about more than a cheap set of wheels” and “small has become smart again,” company bigwigs used the New York Auto Show debut of the 2009 Fit to hammer home their intention to provide entry-level buyers with “functionality and refinement that’s a class above.” That translates to a slightly restyled model with more power, added convenience and safety features, and a more environmentally-friendly emissions rating aimed at keeping shoppers interested and competitors at bay.

The 2009 Honda Fit goes on sale this fall.

Though it appears to be little more than a slightly updated representation of the original, the 2009 Honda Fit has been, in fact, treated to a number of improvements. Among them is the availability of a voice-activated navigation system with a center-mounted 6.5-inch screen, a handy USB port on the Fit Sport, a redesigned and simpler split-folding rear seat dubbed the Magic Seat, and new storage solutions such as a pocket on the underside of the second row lower seat cushion.

In terms of safety, buyers will benefit from six standard airbags, optional stability control, antilock disc brakes with ventilated discs up front, electronic brake force distribution, and active front head restraints.

Honda will power the slightly larger and more “aggressive” 2009 Fit with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, aluminum, i-VTEC engine pushing power to the front wheels via a beefed-up five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters on the Sport model). Standard rollers now measure 15 inches for the base Fit while 16-inch alloys are fitted to the Sport. Honda didn’t release technical specs at the time of debut but reports suggest the little four-banger will get a bump up to about 120 horsepower while still returning econocar fuel economy.

Executives were, however, quick to report the ’09 version’s ULEV II emissions rating, a point made to appease those who decried the outgoing model’s dirtier LEV II status. Also included on the tweaked Fit is a more rigid steering system.

Visual changes to the 2009 Honda Fit are subtle, providing a gentle transition between model years rather than creating a stark distinction. The wheelbase has been extended by about two inches, there’s a wider track, and the windshield has been pushed forward about five inches to provide added interior space. It’s all part of Honda’s Man Maximum/Machine Minimum philosophy, which essentially puts the needs of drivers and passengers at the forefront of design.

Behind more obvious cues, such as the larger wheels and restyled hood, the 2009 Fit features Honda’s ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure, safety technology intended to put drivers of this small compact in better standing should an encounter with a large truck or SUV become inevitable.

With pricey petrol consuming an ever-bigger chunk of personal budgets, the fuel-efficient compact car segment continues to grow. The outgoing Fit was a standout, but with added features, including plenty devoted to safety, the more powerful 2009 model could carve out an even bigger niche for itself.

To do that, the updated Fit will need to dissuade shoppers from purchasing a Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio, or Chevrolet Aveo. That last one might not be a formidable opponent, though the upcoming European-based Ford Verve could very well be.

By Thom Blackett Photo credit: Oliver Bentley and Honda