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TEST DRIVE
2007 Honda Fit delivers -
Small 4-door hatchback stands up to class competitors
One of the newest entries to the newly rejuvenated compact car field comes from Honda, which keeps churning out quality vehicles in a range of categories.
The Honda Fit, on sale this month as a 2007 model, joins a field that has gotten renewed attention from buyers and automakers, thanks to higher gas prices, a still wobbly economy and environmental concerns.
That field includes the Mazda3, Ford Focus and Toyota Yaris, which is almost as new as the Fit.
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2007 Honda Fitr
(click on photo to enlarge)
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So how does Honda's entrant stack up to its competition?
Pretty well, as you might expect from the company that boasts the Motor Trend car and truck of the year (Civic and Ridgeline, respectively).
The Fit comes as a four-door with a hatchback and is based on a car of the same name Honda has been selling in Japan. A similar model, called the Jazz, has been sold in Europe.
Sure, this is a small car, but its spaciousness is remarkable. The front seats offer a comfortable amount of headroom and legroom. The rear seating is also fairly roomy. And when you open the hatchback, you're greeted by 21.3 cubic feet of space. You can fold the 60/40 split rear seats down and add to the cargo space.
So ample space, one concern you might have about buying a small car, doesn't really have to be a concern, as long as you have reasonable expectations (remember, this isn't an SUV).
Another concern about small cars: Aren't they kind of stripped down, devoid of the goodies that we've come to expect in our autos?
Not so much anymore with this new breed.
For example, the Fit has power windows and door locks, rear window wiper/washer, anti-lock brakes, AM/FM/CD player and front side-impact air bags, all standard.
Aren't small cars supposed to be kind of weak when it comes to engine power?
You'd be surprised how peppy the Fit's 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine is. It kicks out 109 horsepower and 105 pounds-feet of torque. The test model, the Fit Sport, had a five-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed manual gear box is standard on the base model Fit.
One of the key things that you would expect from a small car, and that has fueled its resurgent popularity, is great gas mileage. The Fit doesn't disappoint, posting EPA numbers of 31 mpg-city and 37 highway with the automatic, and 33 and 38 with the manual.
The Fit rides and drives pretty comfortably. Steering feels responsive, the engine noise isn't too bad and the suspension stabilizes the Fit's motion, especially at higher speeds.
After consumers throughout a good portion of the 1990s and the early part of this decade spent liberally on SUVs, it's now fashionable again to spend frugally on vehicles.
The Fit fits: The test-drive model goes for about $15,970, and the base model starts at $13,850.
As carmakers rediscover the value of making good, economical small cars, they seem to be mostly focusing on the market of younger buyers.
But young or old, a smart consumer knows good value. That's just what the Fit delivers.
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