Honda’s sporty new entry-level subcompact
By Ron Perry
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May 2, 2006
Overview
As the saying goes, timing is everything, and when it comes to timing, Honda always seems to be on top of its game. With gas prices exceeding three dollars per gallon, the timing and introduction of the new 2007 Honda Fit couldn’t be any better. Not only is the new Honda Fit easy on your wallet at the pumps, but it’s also easy on your bank account with a starting price of just $14,400 including destination. Honda surely has a hit on its hands considering the Fit oozes quality, but also because it’s sporty, offers lots of cargo space and is cheap to own and operate.With the ever-increasing costs of living, consumers have to take a serious look at what they drive, and in many cases smaller makes more sense. The subcompact segment always draws more attention when gas prices spike and right now with a barrel of oil at $75, consumers are looking for alternatives. The good news is that entry-level cars just keep getting better and better, although the trade-off of horsepower for fuel efficiency is still a nagging issue for many.
The 2007 Honda Fit is powered by a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 109 horsepower and 105 lb.-ft. of torque. Preliminary EPA estimates for fuel economy are a respectable 31 city and 37 highway. The Fit isn’t exactly a speed demon but is peppy enough to navigate traffic without the need for a stiff drink when you get home. Our test car was equipped with a five-speed automatic with Sport mode that keeps the transmission in gear longer between shifts, allowing the engine’s revs to stay higher thus giving the Fit a more spirited feel. There is also a manual mode that allows the driver to shift manually using steering wheel mounted paddles. Any way you slice it, Honda has traded power for economy. Too bad we averaged just 27.2 mpg during our week with the Fit, compared to 33.2 mpg in a more powerful 2006 Civic EX Sedan that we drove earlier this year. Even with the Fit’s discounted price, we think the Civic is a better choice if fuel economy is the main reason for purchasing a new Honda.
If you decide that you’d rather save money on the front end and benefit from the utility of a five-door hatchback, buying a 2007 Honda Fit is a simple process. Select between standard or Sport models, then choose between the standard five-speed manual and the available five-speed automatic transmission. There are no other options or decisions to make, though the dealer can install a variety of add-ons if you wish. The base Fit starts at $14,400 including the $550 destination charge. Select the top-of-the-line Fit Sport with the five-speed automatic and your bill comes to $16,520 including destination. There isn’t even much of a difference in the mileage ratings. The manual transmission is rated at 33/38 and the automatic at 31/37, so it really comes down to price and preference.
The unit-body constructed 2007 Honda Fit incorporates a MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion-beam rear suspension with a 21mm front stabilizer bar and electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering. Power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes and rear drum brakes provide braking for the Fit. The standard Fit gets 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, while the Fit Sport model gets 15-inch alloy wheels. Both are shod with all-season tires and equipped with a compact spare tire.
Inside the 2007 Honda Fit you get cloth seats, a sporty dash layout and a roomy 90.1 cubic feet of passenger space. For a small car the Fit is spacious, and folding the rear seats provides an abundance of cargo space measuring up to 41.9 cubic feet. Even with the rear seats raised the cargo volume is 21.3 cubic feet, plenty of space for a grocery run and a couple of golf bags.
The 2007 Honda Fit’s exterior design is typical for a car in this class. The Fit has the same basic boxy design as other subcompacts the segment with a couple of notable design elements including the sharply raked nose and the oversized headlights. The rear end is pretty straightforward and the Fit exudes a distinct Japanese flair.
With gasoline prices looking to climb even higher, we think consumers will be flocking to cars like the Honda Fit – and rightly so, because it just doesn’t make sense to drive a big SUV anymore. The addition of the 2007 Fit to Honda’s roster should be a sales slam dunk.
Driving Impressions
Brian Chee’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
Headlines of late have been shouting the news about people flocking to a new breed of subcompact cars in a frantic attempt to escape the rising price of gasoline. It’s not a bad decision, actually, as subcompacts have improved significantly. Still, before ye dip that toe in the subcompact pond, it’s best to ratchet down your driving expectations. Along with easy maneuverability and great fuel economy, you get more noise, a whiny engine, and less power than what you may be used to. It’s all true – except, by and large, if you buy the 2007 Honda Fit.
This is an excellent little commuter that does virtually everything well for a small car – and darn near for most any kind of vehicle. This is a surprisingly quiet car that slips through the air with a whisper – surprising because it’s a tall vehicle – and while the hum of the tires is audible, it’s only slight and quite easily enjoyed. The way the Fit handles the road is also a pleasant surprise, with little body roll while cornering. The suspension, independent up front and semi-independent in back, does an average job of handling bumps and potholes. It’s not a luxury ride, bubba, but quite nice for a small car, and certainly livable. It’s like the steering: surely the Fit could give more feedback from the road, but the fact is, the car responds to steering input immediately and accurately. The Fit also stops nicely, and here’s an arguable bonus: ABS comes standard, which makes the Fit one of the few – if not the only – subcompacts that offers ABS as standard equipment.
What the Fit does best, however, is maneuver and go. It has an excellent turning radius, and the 1.5-liter engine is a revvy little sucker that gives you ample power off the line, though you feel its weakness at higher speeds. Uphill climbs failed to bring the Fit to its knees, maintaining and even gaining speed on command. For a small car, you can call it Zippy McFit; it won’t mind. Fact is the Fit is zippy, and here’s a nice bonus: with the Sport model, you can actually paddle shift your way to work, a nice treat that helps spice up the monotony of the daily commute.
Christian Wardlaw’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
Good news! The 2007 Honda Fit doesn’t drive like your typical economy car. It feels solid, stable, and precise. It’s geared to feel feisty off the line, and though mid-speed acceleration is rather leisurely, you can select Sport mode for the five-speed automatic transmission and swat at the paddle shifters to better control what little power is available. The brake pedal feels good under your foot, never stiff or mushy, and the steering is crisp and responsive without being twitchy or over-assisted. The Honda Fit rides firmly, but not harshly, and when you go over bad pavement the impacts don’t loosen your fillings or cause such a ruckus that you think the suspension is about to come apart. Pitch your Fit into a turn and the tall, stubby car will roll a bit, the tires wailing but gripping the pavement. Aside from the dearth of power, this is a pretty good car regardless of price. But when you consider that it’s going for $16,000 fully equipped, you can’t help but be impressed with how nimble it is, how spirited it is, how connected it is, and how much fun to drive it is.
Thom Blackett’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
With cars like the new Kia Rio5 on the market, a.k.a. inexpensive compact wagons with decent handling and acceptable power, Honda’s Fit Sport is almost an example of a company scrambling to catch up. In typical Honda fashion, however, the Fit not only catches but surpasses the existing competition.
Though it has only 109 horsepower, this little Honda cruises along at 90 mph registering only 3,200 rpm or so, all while feeling securely planted and stable on California’s grooved concrete highways. There’s a good dose of road feel through the steering wheel, something unfortunately also felt in the seats. Steering is sufficiently weighted at speed and light in parking lots and slow traffic. The ride is a bit stiff, though it’s short of jarring and gives the Fit Sport a controlled feel. Brakes are effective and well-modulated, yet I did notice that they could be a bit touchy when adding additional pressure to the pedal. The accelerator is always eager to deliver what it can in terms of power.
Ah, power. Anyone considering a 2007 Honda Fit should and probably does know that this car is about efficiency and not ponies. There’s plenty of motivation for tossing the Fit through traffic, a point where drivers will appreciate the excellent visibility (excluding the large rear headrests), and even enough for overtaking slower vehicles on the highway. However, that’s only if you’re already traveling at a quick clip – jump into the fast lane at 50 mph and be prepared to anger fellow drivers or test the Fit’s bevy of airbags. Off-the-line performance…yeah, well, it’s rated at 38 mpg on the highway.
In normal driving mode, the tranny is marked by clean, seamless shifts. Paddle shifters can be used to manage things on your own – stop using them and the transmission reverts back to its fully automatic operation. Drop the gearshift into sport mode and get ready to be annoyed. From a stand still, this sport function will quickly run through first and second gears like normal, but then it’ll get to third and hold it, and hold it, and hold it. You’ll have to use the paddle shifters to put the red-lining engine out of its misery. Drop into sport mode on the highway and the transmission will cruise all day in a lower gear to keep the rpms high. Competitors often use Sport mode to downshift sooner and hold gears longer, but unlike the Honda they do actually shift within a reasonable range.
For enthusiasts on a budget, the Fit Sport offers a smidge of excitement on twisty back roads. Thanks to its short wheelbase, tight suspension and responsive steering, curves can be attacked with some speed and confidence. But should you get in too hot, the 15-inch 195/55 Dunlop tires will relinquish grip and scream in protest.
Ron Perry’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
The first thing I noticed driving the 2007 Honda Fit wasn’t the obvious lack of power, but how well the car tracks on the road. The Fit is solidly attached to the pavement and doesn’t get pushed around by rough, uneven pavement like many low-priced models. There’s no floating and wandering that requires constant correction through steering input, and the Fit tracks like a much more expensive ride. Cornering ability isn’t bad either, but push the Fit hard and push quickly rears its ugly head.
Transmission shifts are smooth and tight; having paddle shifters and a sport mode on a car this inexpensive is a nice touch. One unusual characteristic of the shift logic in Sport mode is that the transmission will shift automatically through first and second gears, and then hold third gear to redline. Honda’s explanation is that the Sport mode is a more aggressive D3 mode found on the base transmission. Holding third gear is for downhill engine braking in hilly environments; those driving under normal circumstances must manually upshift from third gear using the paddle shifters to avoid the engine’s annoying buzz as it reaches high rpms. Still, the logic of this design still confounds me even after an official explanation from Honda.
Steering is quick and precise, and the brakes can decrease speed faster than the engine can achieve it. The 2007 Honda Fit isn’t going to win any races off the line – unless your opponent is some geek on a Vespa – and even then I wouldn’t recommend running for pink slips. The engine feels peppy but runs out of breath quickly and lacks sufficient mid-range power. Fuel economy wasn’t what I expected either, though I suspect always having a foot buried into the accelerator trying to tap every last pony from the 1.5-liter engine resulted in poor mileage during our test. It’s too bad the 1.8-liter motor found in the Civic isn’t an option; more horsepower and better fuel economy would make for a better, ah, fit.
Comfort
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
The 2007 Honda Fit is, well, a better Fit than the Civic. Considering that the Civic was recently named Car of the Year by fifty trillion publications (including this one), that’s high praise, praise that’s deserved because the Fit shares basic design elements and materials in a cabin that’s larger than the Civic’s and which offers some cool innovations to make day-to-day life more convenient.
Up front, you feel as though you have command of the road thanks to the height of the vehicle and the amount of glass. That may also pose a problem: with all that glass, the interior will heat up quickly on hot days, making the AC work overtime. During my drive, the AC handled its load nicely, though temperatures didn’t climb above 70 degrees. A good AC system keeps people cool and alert, of course, as do the seats inside the Fit. After a long, traffic-clogged commute in a subcompact, one often feels tired and a little road weary. No such bad vibe with the Fit, thanks to those sturdy seats, at-attention height and tilt steering wheel. In back, there’s plenty of room, and the Fit is absolutely magical.
Not sure what kind of voodoo Honda engineers do, but by putting the gas tank under the front seats, the Fit has a back seat that can do just about anything. The seats disappear, folding flat into the floor; can be configured into a bed (insert joke here); or can be flipped up to hold tall objects. Thanks to that tall roofline and the flexibility of the seats, there’s 50 inches of height back there, providing benefits the Civic can only dream of offering. Plus, room for passengers is impressive. Call the Honda Fit the Ridgeline of subcompacts. Another thing the Fit has on the Civic: getting in and out. The taller size means that the Fit offers an easy step-out and step-in experience.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Fitting into the 2007 Honda Fit is easy enough, but the driver’s seat doesn’t offer a wide range of adjustment, and the steering wheel lacks a telescopic function, so I was rather uncomfortable for my three-hour stint behind the wheel. Legs splayed, arms outstretched, and with not even so much as an inboard armrest for the driver like in the Kia Rio5, I was ready to turn the keys in after an afternoon running along the southern California coastline. Climbing aboard in back, I found the seat agreeable, with good thigh support and enough room for my legs to keep from feeling cramped.
Though I wasn’t comfortable driving the Honda Fit, I must say that the interior was commendably quiet for a small, inexpensive car. Wind and road roar are sufficiently dulled to carry on conversation in normal tones, even at 80 mph. And the stereo offers impressively rich sound at this price point.
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Despite its small size, the 2007 Honda Fit Sport offers a spacious cabin in which adults can travel comfortably. The front doors open wide, allowing easy access to the supportive bucket seats. Side bolsters keep occupants planted, and the firm padding keeps you comfortable over the long haul. The driver and front passenger get usable door armrests, though those in back are good only for stick figures. An annoying feature typical of Honda is the lack of center armrests front and rear. Riders out back get quite a bit of room, and when a tall passenger is seated behind a tall driver, the soft seatback should keep knees comfortable.
Special attention paid to the driver includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel that’s perforated on the sides, steering wheel-mounted cruise control (though no radio controls are located on the steering wheel), power window and power mirror buttons intuitively placed on the door and dash, a tilt steering wheel, and simple as 1-2-3 radio and climate control systems placed within easy reach.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Comfort is one thing Honda is very good at building into its cars. The seats in the 2007 Honda Fit are surprisingly comfortable and offer quite a bit of side bolstering both on the bottom cushion and seat back. They are manually operated but offer enough adjustments to get comfortable. There is ample headroom in front and back and designers even contoured the back of the driver’s seat to create more knee room for back seat riders. There’s also plenty of foot room for those with large feet.
Overall, the Fit’s interior has a spacious feel to it and is light and airy despite not having a sunroof. One area that needs attention is the lack of a center console for both the front and back seat passengers. The door armrests are small and in the back seat, the shape of the door panel leaves little room for your arm to rest on it. Backseat passengers will have to fight over the single cupholder unless one of them is drinking bottled water, which can be stored in a convenient holder in the rear door panels. Front seat occupants don’t get the water bottle holders in the doors.
Wind and tire noise is minimal and ride quality edges on firm but isn’t enough to be annoying. The handling characteristics are worth the trade-off for the little bit of firmness. At the back, a low liftover height makes loading the large, flat cargo area a breeze and dropping the back seats is also easy and convenient.
Quality
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Here’s the bad news – at least on the outside. I found wide ranging gaps in the door panels and hood lines; noticed that the rear liftgate didn’t look like it lined up properly; and the plastic trim running along the bottom of the Fit moved around a bit too easily for my tastes. Using a credit card to gauge distance, I found significant gap variances between the doors and body, where the hood joins with the fenders, and in back, along the liftgate gaps. Perhaps our car was a prototype. After all, Honda has built a reputation as a maker of high quality cars, so the chances are that Fits on your local lot are nailed down nicely. This one, though, had some variances I did not expect to see on a Honda. Inside, the interior of the Fit is tight, with nice fitting plastics that have a quality feel, to go with sturdy seats and materials that feel as though they’ll last for a good long time.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Honda’s use of mesh-textured hard plastics coupled with gray metallic trim of the same caliber as you might find in an Acura goes a long way toward making the 2007 Honda Fit seem more expensive than it is. Add in the beautifully rendered gauge cluster, the plush fabric seats, the cloth door panel inserts, and the hook-secured floor mats with the Fit logo embossed upon them and you don’t feel like you’re in an entry-level car. Just take a look at that steering wheel, with its chrome Honda logo, silver metallic trim, and Acura-style cruise control buttons. Does that say cheap to you?
The outside doesn’t hint at the Fit’s base price, either. The paint looks terrific, the Fit Sport’s alloy wheels are brushed aluminum, and the gigantic headlights have an upscale appearance. However, I did notice a few build quality problems on the outside, such as inconsistent gaps between the headlight clusters and the hood, and misaligned greenhouse trim on the right side of the car. Inside, all the parts and pieces fit well, and while I did notice exposed screw heads, this is a $16,000 car, so what did I expect?
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Sometimes you get what you pay for, even with a Honda. Sure, the brand is known for solid reliability, but our 2007 Fit Sport test car proved that build quality isn’t necessarily guaranteed. During my inspection I noticed a loose panel on the lower B-pillar, irregular gaps around the glove box and hood, cheap carpeting that was lifting in a few spots, flimsy panels in the cargo area, rear door panels that didn’t sit flush with the body, and welding splatter all over the front passenger’s door jamb below the A-pillar. Perhaps this is not unexpected for a $15,000 car, but it is surprising for a Honda.
On the plus side, the hard plastics found throughout the cabin feel durable and secure, with the few exceptions noted above. Fabric matching the seat inserts is used on the upper door panels, serving to decorate and add some comfort for arms resting on the sill. Buttons and switchgear all have some heft, and the leather steering wheel feels top-notch.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
You can’t expect burlwood trim and leather when buying a car like the 2007 Honda Fit, but you should expect decent quality materials when buying a Honda product. Unfortunately, the textured plastics that Honda chose to use on the inside of the Fit not only look cheap with their shiny finish, but also attract every scuff mark and dust particle within ten feet of the car. Our car had only a couple thousand miles on it and already the door panels were looking rough, as was the glove box door. The dash always looked dusty no matter how many times I wiped it, and the black seat cloth was a magnet for lint. Designers didn’t pay enough attention to the way the Fit’s materials would wear in real life use. Then again, you have to keep in perspective the price of the Fit. Not even Honda can make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
Outside, I didn’t see the poor quality issues others saw. All the seams looked to be tight and even, even where the fascias met the fenders, build quality was right on target.
Design
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
It’s a world car – called the Jazz in Europe – and looks like it. If you don’t like that style, go buy a Dodge Caliber for that American Magnum Man look. Along with the Civic and the Ridgeline, the 2007 Honda Fit offers a different style, one that some may not like but others will gravitate to. For the tall and small size of the vehicle, it looks sporty, especially up front, where the oversized headlights really accentuate the style of the sheetmetal. The Fit avoids the cartoonish character of the old Toyota ECHO, dodges boring-as-heck design, and comes up with a unique, attractive and modern look.
Ditto that for the inside. The radio controls are easy and modern, with one knob offset to the left and surrounded by control buttons. To the right of that is the screen and preset keys; the combination makes for easy – really easy – channel surfing. There’s an auxiliary jack located at the bottom front of the center console, right next to a little compartment in which a driver can set a MP3 player. Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised that some automakers overlook this little facet of the new music age. Elsewhere inside, quality materials and nice touches abound – such as the blue highlights in the instrument gauge. The steering wheel is actually a little amusing. It looks like it belongs in a more expensive car, with leather wrapping and cruise controls. Perhaps Honda, in an effort to make the Fit match its price point, ordered up a few thousand more upstream wheels and stuck ‘em in there. It makes for a surreal picture: a subcompact, awash with plastic (albeit quality plastic) and, in the middle of it all, a bright and shiny Honda “H.”
And of course, there’s those Magic Seats in back. Whether folded flat into the floor; or into a bed, er, refresh mode; or flipped into tall mode – heck, whatever mode those seats can go in – the interior of the Fit will serve its owners as a useful, happy, sturdy, and comfortable place.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
From some angles, the 2007 Honda Fit is an appealing little car. From other angles, pretty much any that show the front end, it is an ugly little car. The headlights are just way too big, dominating the front end of the Fit, making it look more nose heavy than it already is, ruining any sense of proportion with what’s aft of the A-pillars. Walking up to its slab sides, tall roofline, and tiny wheels, I’m instantly reminded of the Suzuki Aerio SX – a car that never sold well in America, despite its fundamental goodness.
Inside, with the exception of the front seats, the Honda Fit is a brilliant concept. The materials, the patterns, the accent décor, and the way the rear seats morph into a variety of configurations – all terrific. There are lots of places to stow stuff, and you can collapse the rear seats using one hand. That includes removing the headrest, and flipping the bottom cushion up to make space for tall objects. Flop all the seats down, and you’ve got a big cube-shaped cargo area. Slide the front seats forward, and enjoy limo-like rear legroom. Fold the front seatbacks down, and you’ve got a plush, if misshapen, lounge area. But I couldn’t figure out how to fold the front passenger’s seat down so that the Fit can swallow a long object. Surely, Honda didn’t forget that one did it?
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
This is one sharp looking little ride. Decked out with 15-inch alloy wheels, a lower body kit, fog lights, and a rear spoiler, the 2007 Honda Fit Sport actually makes a tiny, efficient wagon look fun. Inside, big gauges are prominently displayed and ringed with the same alloy accents as found on the radio, steering wheel, and shifter plate. Climate controls carry on with big, round dials, while the radio uses clearly-marked buttons for sound controls and tuning. Those systems are in the center instrument panel, below which are two cupholders, a large cubby, a power outlet, and an auxiliary audio jack. Other storage includes a slot next to the driver’s knee, a large glovebox, front door storage, a few cubbies in the center console, a front passenger’s seatback pocket, and cupholders in the rear doors.
Possibly most impressive about the 2007 Honda Fit Sport’s design is the cargo area. With its low rear bumper, loading items is a cinch, and with the second-row split seat folded flat (you need to remove the headrests first), there’s a generous amount of level trunk space. For an added touch of versatility, the second-row seat bottoms can be folded up to accommodate transport of tall items.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
I can’t say I love the way the 2007 Honda Fit looks. These small subcompacts, from the Pontiac Vibe to the Mazda 5, all seem to look the same to me: stubby and boxy. The giant headlights on the Fit also look awkward and out of place. Only a Bug-eye Sprite can pull off headlights this size. I am also not a fan of the hood line that sharply drops off from the A-pillar forward. From the driver’ seat you have no idea where the front of the car is. The rest of the Fit is void of character, and what little is does have carries too much Japanese influence.
Inside the Fit, the design flows and looks modern with design cues like the small tray above the glove box, the large round radio knob with the other controls integrated around it, and even the lip that protrudes over the gauges. The interior works well and flows nicely. There are lots of trays and storage areas that make storing and finding needed items a breeze. In the back, easy flip-down and fold-up seats provide lots of cargo area while allowing the ability to haul various large-sized items. Flipping the seats up allows you to transport plants without laying them down in the back and losing half of the soil into the carpet. It is, however, disappointing that you must remove the headrests to lower the seats and that Honda designers didn’t allot an obvious place to store them.
Advice
Brian Chee’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
The 2007 Honda Fit may be a better buy than a Civic. It’s a neat little car that drives big, lives big and, after a brief test drive, feels like a big value. You can luxe up the Fit to more than $16,000 – a big sticker – but this may be one subcompact that’s worth the premium, thanks to its zippy performance, excellent fuel economy and innovative interior. It’s not all chocolate bananas, though, as the Fit has some quality issues and is LEV rated – that’s LEV rated – which isn’t very clean for a class of cars that usually get at least ULEV-II ratings. Then there’s the price: if you’re budget shopping subcompacts, this may not be the car for you. If, on the other hand, you can afford two or three grand more, and want a fun sub with some cool interior innovations, give the Honda Fit a close look.
Christian Wardlaw’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
The 2007 Honda Fit, which has been heralded as the affordable solution to gas pains at the pump, is over-hyped in my opinion. We got 27.2 mpg during a week of driving, which is less than the 33.2 mpg we averaged in the larger, more powerful, and more comfortable Honda Civic EX sedan with an automatic. Add the fact that the Civic is one of the most crashworthy vehicles in its class, and that its 140-horsepower engine is ULEV rated while the Fit’s 109-pony motor burns dirtier with a LEV rating, and the $1,500 walk from the Honda Fit Sport to the Civic LX sedan seems like a worthwhile investment. Still, the Fit is a nice little car – roomy, useful, fun to drive, and equipped with a more appealing dashboard design than the Civic. Plus, it’s got youthful appeal, and everyone knows how easy it is to sell a young person’s car to older people, but not vice versa. Still, I’m not entirely sold on the idea, but that’s probably just because I never got comfortable in the driver’s seat.
Thom Blackett’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
There’s plenty to admire about the 2007 Honda Fit Sport, from the capable handling to the versatile and spacious cargo area. And then there are negative points to consider, like the sub-par build quality of our test car and the misguided automatic transmission. Even so, with gas prices continuing to rise, I find myself among many V8 drivers considering a more efficient alternative, and the Fit Sport is on the list. Get used to the lack of power and the drive can be somewhat entertaining, there’s plenty of room for the driver and a mountain bike or two, the price is right, and fuel economy should be excellent.
But, to be sure, I’d go over it repeatedly to check build quality and it’d definitely have a manual transmission. And if Honda decided to grace this little ride with a moonroof and a driver’s armrest, well it’d have those, too.
Ron Perry’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
As much as I loved my past Honda cars, the 2007 Fit leaves me longing for more, even in this price range. I feel Honda could have given it a bit more power and some better styling, but there is no doubt the Fit will be a success for Honda based on the stares and interest of other drivers that I encountered on the streets and freeways of southern California. I also feel it lacks the excitement I used to get driving my 1987 Civic Si. Like all impressions, though, personal taste is subjective and if the specs and design interest you, a test drive is definitely in order.
Specifications
Test Vehicle: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Price of Test Vehicle: $16,520 (includes $550 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with VTEC variable valve timing
Engine Horsepower: 109 at 5,800 rpm
Engine Torque: 105 at 4,800 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic with manual paddle shifting
Curb weight, lbs.: 2,432
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 31/37 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 27.2 mpg
Length: 157.4 inches
Width: 66.2 inches
Wheelbase: 96.5 inches
Height: 60.0 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.9/33.7 inches
Head room (front/rear): 40.6/38.6 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume: 41.9 cu.-ft.
Competitors: Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback, Dodge Caliber, Ford Focus ZX5, Kia Rio5, Mazda 3 5-door, Nissan Versa, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xA, Scion xB, Suzuki Reno, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Yaris
Brian Chee’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
Headlines of late have been shouting the news about people flocking to a new breed of subcompact cars in a frantic attempt to escape the rising price of gasoline. It’s not a bad decision, actually, as subcompacts have improved significantly. Still, before ye dip that toe in the subcompact pond, it’s best to ratchet down your driving expectations. Along with easy maneuverability and great fuel economy, you get more noise, a whiny engine, and less power than what you may be used to. It’s all true – except, by and large, if you buy the 2007 Honda Fit.
This is an excellent little commuter that does virtually everything well for a small car – and darn near for most any kind of vehicle. This is a surprisingly quiet car that slips through the air with a whisper – surprising because it’s a tall vehicle – and while the hum of the tires is audible, it’s only slight and quite easily enjoyed. The way the Fit handles the road is also a pleasant surprise, with little body roll while cornering. The suspension, independent up front and semi-independent in back, does an average job of handling bumps and potholes. It’s not a luxury ride, bubba, but quite nice for a small car, and certainly livable. It’s like the steering: surely the Fit could give more feedback from the road, but the fact is, the car responds to steering input immediately and accurately. The Fit also stops nicely, and here’s an arguable bonus: ABS comes standard, which makes the Fit one of the few – if not the only – subcompacts that offers ABS as standard equipment.
What the Fit does best, however, is maneuver and go. It has an excellent turning radius, and the 1.5-liter engine is a revvy little sucker that gives you ample power off the line, though you feel its weakness at higher speeds. Uphill climbs failed to bring the Fit to its knees, maintaining and even gaining speed on command. For a small car, you can call it Zippy McFit; it won’t mind. Fact is the Fit is zippy, and here’s a nice bonus: with the Sport model, you can actually paddle shift your way to work, a nice treat that helps spice up the monotony of the daily commute.
Christian Wardlaw’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
Good news! The 2007 Honda Fit doesn’t drive like your typical economy car. It feels solid, stable, and precise. It’s geared to feel feisty off the line, and though mid-speed acceleration is rather leisurely, you can select Sport mode for the five-speed automatic transmission and swat at the paddle shifters to better control what little power is available. The brake pedal feels good under your foot, never stiff or mushy, and the steering is crisp and responsive without being twitchy or over-assisted. The Honda Fit rides firmly, but not harshly, and when you go over bad pavement the impacts don’t loosen your fillings or cause such a ruckus that you think the suspension is about to come apart. Pitch your Fit into a turn and the tall, stubby car will roll a bit, the tires wailing but gripping the pavement. Aside from the dearth of power, this is a pretty good car regardless of price. But when you consider that it’s going for $16,000 fully equipped, you can’t help but be impressed with how nimble it is, how spirited it is, how connected it is, and how much fun to drive it is.
Thom Blackett’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
With cars like the new Kia Rio5 on the market, a.k.a. inexpensive compact wagons with decent handling and acceptable power, Honda’s Fit Sport is almost an example of a company scrambling to catch up. In typical Honda fashion, however, the Fit not only catches but surpasses the existing competition.
Though it has only 109 horsepower, this little Honda cruises along at 90 mph registering only 3,200 rpm or so, all while feeling securely planted and stable on California’s grooved concrete highways. There’s a good dose of road feel through the steering wheel, something unfortunately also felt in the seats. Steering is sufficiently weighted at speed and light in parking lots and slow traffic. The ride is a bit stiff, though it’s short of jarring and gives the Fit Sport a controlled feel. Brakes are effective and well-modulated, yet I did notice that they could be a bit touchy when adding additional pressure to the pedal. The accelerator is always eager to deliver what it can in terms of power.
Ah, power. Anyone considering a 2007 Honda Fit should and probably does know that this car is about efficiency and not ponies. There’s plenty of motivation for tossing the Fit through traffic, a point where drivers will appreciate the excellent visibility (excluding the large rear headrests), and even enough for overtaking slower vehicles on the highway. However, that’s only if you’re already traveling at a quick clip – jump into the fast lane at 50 mph and be prepared to anger fellow drivers or test the Fit’s bevy of airbags. Off-the-line performance…yeah, well, it’s rated at 38 mpg on the highway.
In normal driving mode, the tranny is marked by clean, seamless shifts. Paddle shifters can be used to manage things on your own – stop using them and the transmission reverts back to its fully automatic operation. Drop the gearshift into sport mode and get ready to be annoyed. From a stand still, this sport function will quickly run through first and second gears like normal, but then it’ll get to third and hold it, and hold it, and hold it. You’ll have to use the paddle shifters to put the red-lining engine out of its misery. Drop into sport mode on the highway and the transmission will cruise all day in a lower gear to keep the rpms high. Competitors often use Sport mode to downshift sooner and hold gears longer, but unlike the Honda they do actually shift within a reasonable range.
For enthusiasts on a budget, the Fit Sport offers a smidge of excitement on twisty back roads. Thanks to its short wheelbase, tight suspension and responsive steering, curves can be attacked with some speed and confidence. But should you get in too hot, the 15-inch 195/55 Dunlop tires will relinquish grip and scream in protest.
Ron Perry’s 2007 Honda Fit Driving Impressions:
The first thing I noticed driving the 2007 Honda Fit wasn’t the obvious lack of power, but how well the car tracks on the road. The Fit is solidly attached to the pavement and doesn’t get pushed around by rough, uneven pavement like many low-priced models. There’s no floating and wandering that requires constant correction through steering input, and the Fit tracks like a much more expensive ride. Cornering ability isn’t bad either, but push the Fit hard and push quickly rears its ugly head.
Transmission shifts are smooth and tight; having paddle shifters and a sport mode on a car this inexpensive is a nice touch. One unusual characteristic of the shift logic in Sport mode is that the transmission will shift automatically through first and second gears, and then hold third gear to redline. Honda’s explanation is that the Sport mode is a more aggressive D3 mode found on the base transmission. Holding third gear is for downhill engine braking in hilly environments; those driving under normal circumstances must manually upshift from third gear using the paddle shifters to avoid the engine’s annoying buzz as it reaches high rpms. Still, the logic of this design still confounds me even after an official explanation from Honda.
Steering is quick and precise, and the brakes can decrease speed faster than the engine can achieve it. The 2007 Honda Fit isn’t going to win any races off the line – unless your opponent is some geek on a Vespa – and even then I wouldn’t recommend running for pink slips. The engine feels peppy but runs out of breath quickly and lacks sufficient mid-range power. Fuel economy wasn’t what I expected either, though I suspect always having a foot buried into the accelerator trying to tap every last pony from the 1.5-liter engine resulted in poor mileage during our test. It’s too bad the 1.8-liter motor found in the Civic isn’t an option; more horsepower and better fuel economy would make for a better, ah, fit.
Comfort
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
The 2007 Honda Fit is, well, a better Fit than the Civic. Considering that the Civic was recently named Car of the Year by fifty trillion publications (including this one), that’s high praise, praise that’s deserved because the Fit shares basic design elements and materials in a cabin that’s larger than the Civic’s and which offers some cool innovations to make day-to-day life more convenient.
Up front, you feel as though you have command of the road thanks to the height of the vehicle and the amount of glass. That may also pose a problem: with all that glass, the interior will heat up quickly on hot days, making the AC work overtime. During my drive, the AC handled its load nicely, though temperatures didn’t climb above 70 degrees. A good AC system keeps people cool and alert, of course, as do the seats inside the Fit. After a long, traffic-clogged commute in a subcompact, one often feels tired and a little road weary. No such bad vibe with the Fit, thanks to those sturdy seats, at-attention height and tilt steering wheel. In back, there’s plenty of room, and the Fit is absolutely magical.
Not sure what kind of voodoo Honda engineers do, but by putting the gas tank under the front seats, the Fit has a back seat that can do just about anything. The seats disappear, folding flat into the floor; can be configured into a bed (insert joke here); or can be flipped up to hold tall objects. Thanks to that tall roofline and the flexibility of the seats, there’s 50 inches of height back there, providing benefits the Civic can only dream of offering. Plus, room for passengers is impressive. Call the Honda Fit the Ridgeline of subcompacts. Another thing the Fit has on the Civic: getting in and out. The taller size means that the Fit offers an easy step-out and step-in experience.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Fitting into the 2007 Honda Fit is easy enough, but the driver’s seat doesn’t offer a wide range of adjustment, and the steering wheel lacks a telescopic function, so I was rather uncomfortable for my three-hour stint behind the wheel. Legs splayed, arms outstretched, and with not even so much as an inboard armrest for the driver like in the Kia Rio5, I was ready to turn the keys in after an afternoon running along the southern California coastline. Climbing aboard in back, I found the seat agreeable, with good thigh support and enough room for my legs to keep from feeling cramped.
Though I wasn’t comfortable driving the Honda Fit, I must say that the interior was commendably quiet for a small, inexpensive car. Wind and road roar are sufficiently dulled to carry on conversation in normal tones, even at 80 mph. And the stereo offers impressively rich sound at this price point.
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Despite its small size, the 2007 Honda Fit Sport offers a spacious cabin in which adults can travel comfortably. The front doors open wide, allowing easy access to the supportive bucket seats. Side bolsters keep occupants planted, and the firm padding keeps you comfortable over the long haul. The driver and front passenger get usable door armrests, though those in back are good only for stick figures. An annoying feature typical of Honda is the lack of center armrests front and rear. Riders out back get quite a bit of room, and when a tall passenger is seated behind a tall driver, the soft seatback should keep knees comfortable.
Special attention paid to the driver includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel that’s perforated on the sides, steering wheel-mounted cruise control (though no radio controls are located on the steering wheel), power window and power mirror buttons intuitively placed on the door and dash, a tilt steering wheel, and simple as 1-2-3 radio and climate control systems placed within easy reach.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Comfort:
Comfort is one thing Honda is very good at building into its cars. The seats in the 2007 Honda Fit are surprisingly comfortable and offer quite a bit of side bolstering both on the bottom cushion and seat back. They are manually operated but offer enough adjustments to get comfortable. There is ample headroom in front and back and designers even contoured the back of the driver’s seat to create more knee room for back seat riders. There’s also plenty of foot room for those with large feet.
Overall, the Fit’s interior has a spacious feel to it and is light and airy despite not having a sunroof. One area that needs attention is the lack of a center console for both the front and back seat passengers. The door armrests are small and in the back seat, the shape of the door panel leaves little room for your arm to rest on it. Backseat passengers will have to fight over the single cupholder unless one of them is drinking bottled water, which can be stored in a convenient holder in the rear door panels. Front seat occupants don’t get the water bottle holders in the doors.
Wind and tire noise is minimal and ride quality edges on firm but isn’t enough to be annoying. The handling characteristics are worth the trade-off for the little bit of firmness. At the back, a low liftover height makes loading the large, flat cargo area a breeze and dropping the back seats is also easy and convenient.
Quality
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Here’s the bad news – at least on the outside. I found wide ranging gaps in the door panels and hood lines; noticed that the rear liftgate didn’t look like it lined up properly; and the plastic trim running along the bottom of the Fit moved around a bit too easily for my tastes. Using a credit card to gauge distance, I found significant gap variances between the doors and body, where the hood joins with the fenders, and in back, along the liftgate gaps. Perhaps our car was a prototype. After all, Honda has built a reputation as a maker of high quality cars, so the chances are that Fits on your local lot are nailed down nicely. This one, though, had some variances I did not expect to see on a Honda. Inside, the interior of the Fit is tight, with nice fitting plastics that have a quality feel, to go with sturdy seats and materials that feel as though they’ll last for a good long time.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Honda’s use of mesh-textured hard plastics coupled with gray metallic trim of the same caliber as you might find in an Acura goes a long way toward making the 2007 Honda Fit seem more expensive than it is. Add in the beautifully rendered gauge cluster, the plush fabric seats, the cloth door panel inserts, and the hook-secured floor mats with the Fit logo embossed upon them and you don’t feel like you’re in an entry-level car. Just take a look at that steering wheel, with its chrome Honda logo, silver metallic trim, and Acura-style cruise control buttons. Does that say cheap to you?
The outside doesn’t hint at the Fit’s base price, either. The paint looks terrific, the Fit Sport’s alloy wheels are brushed aluminum, and the gigantic headlights have an upscale appearance. However, I did notice a few build quality problems on the outside, such as inconsistent gaps between the headlight clusters and the hood, and misaligned greenhouse trim on the right side of the car. Inside, all the parts and pieces fit well, and while I did notice exposed screw heads, this is a $16,000 car, so what did I expect?
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
Sometimes you get what you pay for, even with a Honda. Sure, the brand is known for solid reliability, but our 2007 Fit Sport test car proved that build quality isn’t necessarily guaranteed. During my inspection I noticed a loose panel on the lower B-pillar, irregular gaps around the glove box and hood, cheap carpeting that was lifting in a few spots, flimsy panels in the cargo area, rear door panels that didn’t sit flush with the body, and welding splatter all over the front passenger’s door jamb below the A-pillar. Perhaps this is not unexpected for a $15,000 car, but it is surprising for a Honda.
On the plus side, the hard plastics found throughout the cabin feel durable and secure, with the few exceptions noted above. Fabric matching the seat inserts is used on the upper door panels, serving to decorate and add some comfort for arms resting on the sill. Buttons and switchgear all have some heft, and the leather steering wheel feels top-notch.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Quality:
You can’t expect burlwood trim and leather when buying a car like the 2007 Honda Fit, but you should expect decent quality materials when buying a Honda product. Unfortunately, the textured plastics that Honda chose to use on the inside of the Fit not only look cheap with their shiny finish, but also attract every scuff mark and dust particle within ten feet of the car. Our car had only a couple thousand miles on it and already the door panels were looking rough, as was the glove box door. The dash always looked dusty no matter how many times I wiped it, and the black seat cloth was a magnet for lint. Designers didn’t pay enough attention to the way the Fit’s materials would wear in real life use. Then again, you have to keep in perspective the price of the Fit. Not even Honda can make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
Outside, I didn’t see the poor quality issues others saw. All the seams looked to be tight and even, even where the fascias met the fenders, build quality was right on target.
Design
Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
It’s a world car – called the Jazz in Europe – and looks like it. If you don’t like that style, go buy a Dodge Caliber for that American Magnum Man look. Along with the Civic and the Ridgeline, the 2007 Honda Fit offers a different style, one that some may not like but others will gravitate to. For the tall and small size of the vehicle, it looks sporty, especially up front, where the oversized headlights really accentuate the style of the sheetmetal. The Fit avoids the cartoonish character of the old Toyota ECHO, dodges boring-as-heck design, and comes up with a unique, attractive and modern look.
Ditto that for the inside. The radio controls are easy and modern, with one knob offset to the left and surrounded by control buttons. To the right of that is the screen and preset keys; the combination makes for easy – really easy – channel surfing. There’s an auxiliary jack located at the bottom front of the center console, right next to a little compartment in which a driver can set a MP3 player. Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised that some automakers overlook this little facet of the new music age. Elsewhere inside, quality materials and nice touches abound – such as the blue highlights in the instrument gauge. The steering wheel is actually a little amusing. It looks like it belongs in a more expensive car, with leather wrapping and cruise controls. Perhaps Honda, in an effort to make the Fit match its price point, ordered up a few thousand more upstream wheels and stuck ‘em in there. It makes for a surreal picture: a subcompact, awash with plastic (albeit quality plastic) and, in the middle of it all, a bright and shiny Honda “H.”
And of course, there’s those Magic Seats in back. Whether folded flat into the floor; or into a bed, er, refresh mode; or flipped into tall mode – heck, whatever mode those seats can go in – the interior of the Fit will serve its owners as a useful, happy, sturdy, and comfortable place.
Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
From some angles, the 2007 Honda Fit is an appealing little car. From other angles, pretty much any that show the front end, it is an ugly little car. The headlights are just way too big, dominating the front end of the Fit, making it look more nose heavy than it already is, ruining any sense of proportion with what’s aft of the A-pillars. Walking up to its slab sides, tall roofline, and tiny wheels, I’m instantly reminded of the Suzuki Aerio SX – a car that never sold well in America, despite its fundamental goodness.
Inside, with the exception of the front seats, the Honda Fit is a brilliant concept. The materials, the patterns, the accent décor, and the way the rear seats morph into a variety of configurations – all terrific. There are lots of places to stow stuff, and you can collapse the rear seats using one hand. That includes removing the headrest, and flipping the bottom cushion up to make space for tall objects. Flop all the seats down, and you’ve got a big cube-shaped cargo area. Slide the front seats forward, and enjoy limo-like rear legroom. Fold the front seatbacks down, and you’ve got a plush, if misshapen, lounge area. But I couldn’t figure out how to fold the front passenger’s seat down so that the Fit can swallow a long object. Surely, Honda didn’t forget that one did it?
Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
This is one sharp looking little ride. Decked out with 15-inch alloy wheels, a lower body kit, fog lights, and a rear spoiler, the 2007 Honda Fit Sport actually makes a tiny, efficient wagon look fun. Inside, big gauges are prominently displayed and ringed with the same alloy accents as found on the radio, steering wheel, and shifter plate. Climate controls carry on with big, round dials, while the radio uses clearly-marked buttons for sound controls and tuning. Those systems are in the center instrument panel, below which are two cupholders, a large cubby, a power outlet, and an auxiliary audio jack. Other storage includes a slot next to the driver’s knee, a large glovebox, front door storage, a few cubbies in the center console, a front passenger’s seatback pocket, and cupholders in the rear doors.
Possibly most impressive about the 2007 Honda Fit Sport’s design is the cargo area. With its low rear bumper, loading items is a cinch, and with the second-row split seat folded flat (you need to remove the headrests first), there’s a generous amount of level trunk space. For an added touch of versatility, the second-row seat bottoms can be folded up to accommodate transport of tall items.
Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2007 Honda Fit’s Design:
I can’t say I love the way the 2007 Honda Fit looks. These small subcompacts, from the Pontiac Vibe to the Mazda 5, all seem to look the same to me: stubby and boxy. The giant headlights on the Fit also look awkward and out of place. Only a Bug-eye Sprite can pull off headlights this size. I am also not a fan of the hood line that sharply drops off from the A-pillar forward. From the driver’ seat you have no idea where the front of the car is. The rest of the Fit is void of character, and what little is does have carries too much Japanese influence.
Inside the Fit, the design flows and looks modern with design cues like the small tray above the glove box, the large round radio knob with the other controls integrated around it, and even the lip that protrudes over the gauges. The interior works well and flows nicely. There are lots of trays and storage areas that make storing and finding needed items a breeze. In the back, easy flip-down and fold-up seats provide lots of cargo area while allowing the ability to haul various large-sized items. Flipping the seats up allows you to transport plants without laying them down in the back and losing half of the soil into the carpet. It is, however, disappointing that you must remove the headrests to lower the seats and that Honda designers didn’t allot an obvious place to store them.
Advice
Brian Chee’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
The 2007 Honda Fit may be a better buy than a Civic. It’s a neat little car that drives big, lives big and, after a brief test drive, feels like a big value. You can luxe up the Fit to more than $16,000 – a big sticker – but this may be one subcompact that’s worth the premium, thanks to its zippy performance, excellent fuel economy and innovative interior. It’s not all chocolate bananas, though, as the Fit has some quality issues and is LEV rated – that’s LEV rated – which isn’t very clean for a class of cars that usually get at least ULEV-II ratings. Then there’s the price: if you’re budget shopping subcompacts, this may not be the car for you. If, on the other hand, you can afford two or three grand more, and want a fun sub with some cool interior innovations, give the Honda Fit a close look.
Christian Wardlaw’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
The 2007 Honda Fit, which has been heralded as the affordable solution to gas pains at the pump, is over-hyped in my opinion. We got 27.2 mpg during a week of driving, which is less than the 33.2 mpg we averaged in the larger, more powerful, and more comfortable Honda Civic EX sedan with an automatic. Add the fact that the Civic is one of the most crashworthy vehicles in its class, and that its 140-horsepower engine is ULEV rated while the Fit’s 109-pony motor burns dirtier with a LEV rating, and the $1,500 walk from the Honda Fit Sport to the Civic LX sedan seems like a worthwhile investment. Still, the Fit is a nice little car – roomy, useful, fun to drive, and equipped with a more appealing dashboard design than the Civic. Plus, it’s got youthful appeal, and everyone knows how easy it is to sell a young person’s car to older people, but not vice versa. Still, I’m not entirely sold on the idea, but that’s probably just because I never got comfortable in the driver’s seat.
Thom Blackett’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
There’s plenty to admire about the 2007 Honda Fit Sport, from the capable handling to the versatile and spacious cargo area. And then there are negative points to consider, like the sub-par build quality of our test car and the misguided automatic transmission. Even so, with gas prices continuing to rise, I find myself among many V8 drivers considering a more efficient alternative, and the Fit Sport is on the list. Get used to the lack of power and the drive can be somewhat entertaining, there’s plenty of room for the driver and a mountain bike or two, the price is right, and fuel economy should be excellent.
But, to be sure, I’d go over it repeatedly to check build quality and it’d definitely have a manual transmission. And if Honda decided to grace this little ride with a moonroof and a driver’s armrest, well it’d have those, too.
Ron Perry’s Advice about the 2007 Honda Fit:
As much as I loved my past Honda cars, the 2007 Fit leaves me longing for more, even in this price range. I feel Honda could have given it a bit more power and some better styling, but there is no doubt the Fit will be a success for Honda based on the stares and interest of other drivers that I encountered on the streets and freeways of southern California. I also feel it lacks the excitement I used to get driving my 1987 Civic Si. Like all impressions, though, personal taste is subjective and if the specs and design interest you, a test drive is definitely in order.
Specifications
Test Vehicle: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Price of Test Vehicle: $16,520 (includes $550 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with VTEC variable valve timing
Engine Horsepower: 109 at 5,800 rpm
Engine Torque: 105 at 4,800 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic with manual paddle shifting
Curb weight, lbs.: 2,432
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 31/37 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 27.2 mpg
Length: 157.4 inches
Width: 66.2 inches
Wheelbase: 96.5 inches
Height: 60.0 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.9/33.7 inches
Head room (front/rear): 40.6/38.6 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume: 41.9 cu.-ft.
Competitors: Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback, Dodge Caliber, Ford Focus ZX5, Kia Rio5, Mazda 3 5-door, Nissan Versa, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xA, Scion xB, Suzuki Reno, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Yaris
Photos by Ron Perry