Consumer Guide, Edmunds review Honda Fit
Both Consumer Guide and Edmunds have published new reviews of the Honda Fit, which went on sale this weekend.
The Consumer Guide report found the tested Sport’s version to be comfortable for the vehicle’s class. Steering was surprisingly agile, though there was some body lean. The 109 horsepower engine definitely required planning on the driver’s part when making a lane change. Driver seating, interestingly enough, is actually higher than the bigger Civic model.
The Edmund review found a surprising amount of room inside despite the exterior’s diminutive dimensions. Part of this is due to the vehicle's fuel tank placement. Their staffers really liked the reclining rear-seat headrests. As for driving, testers liked the manual shifter, though the automatic version seemed to have more ‘zip’ than its self-shift sibling. Testers also found the Fit to be balanced and stable on the road and track (similar to the Consumer Guide report). Their biggest complaint was the 10.8 gallon fuel tank, though the Fit did average 32 miles per gallon.
Full details can be found here (Consumer Guide) and here (Edmunds). Additional Autoblog coverage can also be found here and here.
[Sources: Consumer Guide and Edmunds]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Gale 8:19PM (4/03/2006)
It doesn't say it in this article, but although the Honda is "cuter" the Nissan Versa is roomier, more powerful and more practical for everyday use. Plus it gets well over 30 mpg as well.
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GM MAN 8:41PM (4/03/2006)
I already drove in this car in Turkey were it has been avaliable for a long time it felt like a typical Honda Civic. Personally it is very ugly and the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matric are way better than this Honda. To me the only cool Hondas have been the Acura MDX and thats it. Plus I think it is very stupid to make a truck with a transversally mounted engine.
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Jason 8:48PM (4/03/2006)
After watching and reading reviews of this car in Euro-spec form, I had really high hopes that this car would be great for the states. But, since Honda is going to be Honda, they are completely overpricing this car. The Nissan Versa base is going to start approximately $2000 lower than this car plus has much nicer features. It may not look as nice, but that is relative since it is a good looking car. Plus, at least you get the option of adding bluetooth integrated into your stereo and the trick key that can reside in your pocket. Plus the Versa has another 11 horsepower, an extra gear, and a CVT option. Overall, the Versa is a much better choice, especially for younger demographics who can't spend all that much money.
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Rob Z. 8:56PM (4/03/2006)
Jerry Flint hits it on the head. The Versa is more car for the money and it has a CVT! You may not like the styling, but if you have to move lots of stuff or people around and still get good gas mileage, the Versa is your future.
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_start_mileage_race_2/
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Nick 9:05PM (4/03/2006)
So, Edmonds says the Fit has a "lively engine", with "exciting options" while the Dodge Caliber is "fairly high" in versatility, and has "adequate" performance.
whiskey tango foxtrot.
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Mike 9:11PM (4/03/2006)
Car and Driver likes the Honda Fit too. In this month's issue they have a 7 way comparo that works out like this.
1st - Honda Fit Sport
2nd - Nissan Versa 1.8SL
3rd - Kia Rio5 SX
4th - Toyota Yaris S
5th - Hyundai Accent GLS
6th - Dodge Caliber SE (Suprising considering this is a new car)
7th - Suzuki Reno
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Frank 9:22PM (4/03/2006)
The Versa is looking better and better. Nissan states it gets 38MPG combined. Plus with the CVT and the timing chain, it's hard to argue against it. Although, I did build on with all the options, and the car easily hit 19 grand. Ouch!
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Jay 9:30PM (4/03/2006)
I'm also eager to see what the final Versa will be like when it hits these shores. When optioning out all kinds of cars in this class with the things I want, the Fit comes out most expensive, and the Versa comes out very reasonable...not far above Hyundai Accent territory. I personally like the Versa's styling and the interior looks to be well put together from photos, and not only does it get the above-mentioned excellent fuel economy, but it's supposed to have an engine delivering around 120 horsepower. The Fit looks to be a decent car, but it's overpriced, underpowered, and has bland exterior styling about 5 years out of date (though the interior is about as sharp as it gets in that class).
The Fit may be nice, but I'm waiting on the Versa.
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doug 9:37PM (4/03/2006)
#5 - all of those cars are new designs - I think the Reno is the oldest, maybe 2 years tops. The poor showing by the Caliber is a surprise, considering Dodge expects to sell the Caliber worldwide, and considering the Caliber is the largest car with the most powerful engine. I expected better.
As for the Fit, I think the dash looks more upscale than the Civic's. As usual, the Honda has the best chassis, transmission and engine. It may be pricey, but I think it is an alternative to the Civic, not a step down.
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Rob Z. 9:41PM (4/03/2006)
Picture a Focus hatchback sitting next to an Echo and an Aveo. That's what the Versa looks like next to the Yaris and Fit. The 120 hp will rock compared with either the Toyota or Honda banger, and it trumps the Prius' combo by 10hp. Even if in the end it only gets 32-33 mpg in the real world it's awesome.
All this for $12-$14 and I want one.
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PeterJ 9:56PM (4/03/2006)
Keep in mind when pricing out the Versa on the NissanUSA site that pricing is still preliminary (it mentions as much before you even get a chance to price out a car with options). Traditionally they've always been much higher on the prices in preliminary-guise than what it turns out to be when the car is released...at the end of the day, I'm sure a fully optioned Versa will be much closer to $16,000 than $19,000.
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Stoneman 10:14PM (4/03/2006)
OK.
Do you want the real deal review on this car?
www3.ns.sympatico.ca/sar
Click on Honda Fit review. 'nuff said.
-Stoneman from
Stoneman Auto Review
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Tom Design 10:52PM (4/03/2006)
I just read the Pontiac G6 GXP comments, and there, body cladding is the reason to drive the car into the ocean. Here, ugly plastic cladding is just fine. I don't get the critics. Or is it this simple, like in Consumer Reports: Honda=love it all. Pontiac=hate it all.
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bobdobbs 10:56PM (4/03/2006)
I can't remember the last time so much fuss was made over such a boring little car.
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T. 10:58PM (4/03/2006)
Looks like an amazing little car, but the price is the only thing that has me scratching my head. For 16 grand, I got my tC which outperforms just about everything about this car except the gas mileage and the stock SAB (the tC has them for an extra $600).
If this were priced lower, it'd be a slam dunk. Where it is, it may be a hit, or it might get totally obscured by the Civic when its all said and done.
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goat 11:16PM (4/03/2006)
32 mpg?!?
The '07 E320 BLUETEC should get around 35 mpg combined.
Even the the C230 Kompressor gets 27 mpg.
Why bother driving such a tiny car if it's not even efficient?
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djsyndrome 11:16PM (4/03/2006)
"Looks like an amazing little car, but the price is the only thing that has me scratching my head"
You're scratching your head because you don't realize that not everyone can live with a two-door fastback coupe. Some of us have kids, you know.
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Tedjs 11:19PM (4/03/2006)
32 MPG is really not that impressive for that car at all.
A Chevy Cobalt with a automatic gets about the same and a manual equipped one will average 37 to 38 with a little more style and a little more power...
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SaveGas 11:21PM (4/03/2006)
12. I can't remember the last time so much fuss was made over such a boring little car.
Thickheaded Americans like you is whats holding back society from embracing fuel efficient vehicles like the Fit. The SUV boom of the 1990s has nearly buried itself alive today; consumer interest is definitely shifting to smaller more economical vehicles. So what if sales of the 2007 Tahoe are up 47% over last year? Sales of the new model are strong due its novelty factor as and the neoconservative right that cant fathom driving anything smaller than a 3 ton brick. For the average American, $3.00 gas this summer will certainly prompt more than a few individuals to take a long hard on look at the vehicles they drive. I envision the Fit, Vespa, and Yaris accounting for at least 500,000 vehicles sold in the 2007 model year.
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palombasso 11:29PM (4/03/2006)
I own a Honda Fit here in Brasil since last year...since then I drove around 40.000Km (+- 25.000 miles). Mine has a 1.4liter engine with only 80hp, but I can say it's the only real disapointing feature...In brazillian terms, it's not a cheap car (payed around R$38.000, around U$18.000 on a plain conversion) but considering the options in our market it's a great purchase (won 4 car of the year awards i believe). The car is really smoth to drive, has good km/lts, and the interior is MUCH bigger than it appears. It's amazing what you can fit inside the Fit (no pun intended) by lowering the back seat.
Of course because of its engine its essentially a city car, but a very agile one and easy to park...but it can handle roads pretty well..It can withstand a comfortable driving speed if the asphalt is ok (120-130kmph is comfortable enough right?)..and mine is 80hp...I'm not familiar with the US auto market, and maybe there are better options cheaper...but I'd say take it for a test drive...doesn't hurt..:)
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