Edmunds: 2009 Honda Fit Sport Full Test

[genjy]

It's the Right Time To Be Fit
When the Fit first arrived here in late 2006 as an '07 model, gas prices were about $2.30 per gallon and there didn't seem to be much of a compelling proposition for such a Japan-centric small car as the Fit. But now that gasoline peaked above $4 per gallon this summer, Honda ran out of its allotment of 85,000 Fits by September. Honda took a chance with its little car, and it paid off big.

The 2009 Honda Fit now fits our recently tightened American budgets, our ever varying cargo and passenger needs, and finally our 95th-percentile biometric bodies. This car is plainly not built to win races; instead, it's built to squeeze as much efficiency as possible out of every gallon of gas and every cubic foot of interior volume.

For the money, the 2009 Honda Fit Sport is the best small car for sale in the U.S. for most people.


Sauce and moar:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=132028

[eurohazard]

It got 2 mpg less than than Autoweek's Cobalt XFE. But this is a better package for cargo carrying.

[E. Haskell]

- uglier
- slower
- less grip
- longer braking distance
- bigger
- heavier
- more expensive
- not as fuel efficient

[N8s07ss]

I guess if you can get past the looks of it.

[N8s07ss]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

- uglier
- slower
- less grip
- longer braking distance
- bigger
- heavier
- more expensive
- not as fuel efficient

don't forget smaller gas tank (by 2.4 gallons) and in turn less fuel range

[montrealvue]

I would definitely consider one, but that's just me.

[Minnesota Nice]

The last generation Fit was a fantastic car, and this one is quite an improvement.

The look is much better in real life. The interior is absurdly versitile.

And I hope no one wants to pretend teh Aveo is even worthy of being compared to the Fit.

About the only thing I think it does better on is price, and it's pretty obvious why when you sit in it.

[Higher Rhymes]

I'm with Minnesota Nice, I vote Honda for president on this one.
It's very refined for what it offers, and sadly, it's more sporty than today's Focus.
The Cobalt has a few advantages but all of that is negligible in the long term because the Fit is much more simplistic in the design category. On top of that the Fit's engine is much smaller.

....Chevy pulled out all the stops to beat Honda by a few inches here..think about it.. all the weight reduction, changing gear ratios, aerodynamic adjustments, engine tweaks.... For what? An even more bland car that STILL looks like it should have been released in 1997? Stupid name as well. Xtra Fuel Economy?.... Cmon....

...

[EldoFan]

Oh boy.......look at those EPA numbers....

I get 33MPG or better already doing a 100mi round trip interstate commute......in the city I'm only off by 3-4mpg (how big of a savings is that at the pump.....?)

I'm surprised this thing is being touted as the best Honda can do, when with Honda being Honda, I would expect them to get much closer to 30city/40hwy......

Production is probably squeezed to the brink right now, but man....Honda should just hybridize this and let it advertise itself.

[BrickTamland]

Fine handling, great economy, versatile interior, and all that jazz (badum tisshh), but how much dealer markup will there be? And, by extension, how much of the purpose of buying an economy car is erased by said dealer markup?

[E. Haskell]

One of the UK reviews said this about the handling:

what have the engineers done to the steering? Its movement is assisted by electric motor, as before, and Honda claims it now feels more "natural". The opposite is true: it has the rubbery feel typical of today's poorer electric systems and is reluctant to self-centre.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

Oh boy.......look at those EPA numbers....

I get 33MPG or better already doing a 100mi round trip interstate commute......in the city I'm only off by 3-4mpg (how big of a savings is that at the pump.....?)

I'm surprised this thing is being touted as the best Honda can do, when with Honda being Honda, I would expect them to get much closer to 30city/40hwy......

Production is probably squeezed to the brink right now, but man....Honda should just hybridize this and let it advertise itself.

When you 0-60 mph tests, top speed tests, and 1/4 mile tests, not to mention 70-0 tests in your car....let us know what the gas mileage drops to!

I'm semi-teasing of course....but the truth is if you got to drive "someone else's" car, and get paid to do it.......how easy would you drive it? I'm sure I'm going to get flamed from some angels.

Originally Posted by BrickTamland

.....and all that jazz

lol, I get it!

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

- uglier
- slower
- less grip
- longer braking distance
- bigger
- heavier
- more expensive
- not as fuel efficient

Originally Posted by N8s07ss

don't forget smaller gas tank (by 2.4 gallons) and in turn less fuel range

Thats interesting - for about 6 months or so its been kicking ass in the JDM - including the Corollas

Does well against the Kei class cars too..

[AndrewGS]

I'm not overly impressed with the fuel economy numbers as they're down a hair and I'm a bit worried about the handling/steering feel, but I like everything else so far. I guess I need to go drive it, even though I'm leaning towards an HHR if I do get something.

[genjy]

I like its wider stance.

The old Fit was a bit too narrow-looking for me.

The Civic steering wheel looks a bit out of place; otherwise, the interior looks excellent for a sub-compact.


A nice Honda Civic (EG) throwback with the driver-oriented knobs.