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2019 Honda Fit

Starting at $17,145

8/10 C/D RATING
Specs
2018 honda fit
Honda
8/10 C/D RATING

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  • Highs Peerless interior packaging, multi-way folding rear seats, excellent fuel economy.
  • Lows Quite slow, buzzy engine, handling isn't as fun as in Fits past.
  • Verdict Still the small car to buy if you must buy small.
By Drew Dorian

Overview

Honda's Fit is aptly named: You can fit much more stuff inside it than in any other subcompact thanks to its boxy shape and multi-way folding rear seats. It also is a strong value, with class-competitive refinement and build quality and a low base price. Driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking are optional or standard equipment on every trim level, further distancing the Fit from its humble competitors. What the Fit doesn't fit into its mix of capabilities is fun. Although you can get it with a manual gearbox, it is at best pleasant to drive—which is a bit of a disappointment considering that the previous-generation model was more engaging while being equally practical. But if impressive interior space and versatility in a tiny package are what you seek, the Fit is still a car we highly recommend.

What's New for 2019?

Not a lot. Models equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features will find automatic high-beam headlamps have been added to the roster and a new color—Platinum Pearl—replaces White Orchid Pearl—on the options sheet.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Honda's Fit is basic transportation, plain and simple, so we see no reason to opt for anything beyond the lower trim levels. Besides, the highly sought-after driver-assistance features are optional on every model—although on every version save for the EX, they're paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). We'd skip the fancy safety gear and nab the Fit Sport. One rung up the Fit ladder from the base LX, it adds a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch aluminum wheels, a snazzy body kit, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Fuel-sipping four-cylinder, available with manual transmission, surprisingly smooth ride for a small car.
Dislikes: Buzzy engine at highway speeds, fun-sapping CVT, even the Sport model doesn't offer driving joy.

The only powertrain decision that Fit buyers must make is the choice between the six-speed manual transmission and the CVT, although horsepower drops to 128 for CVT-equipped models. At the higher engine speeds where you'll spend lots of driving time, the engine is buzzy. The manual transmission affords greater control for getting the most power out of the engine; the CVT saps life from the engine and isn't as satisfying to drive.

Only the Fit's ride quality stands out as a highlight. The car is almost supple when driving over most road imperfections, particularly when equipped with the bigger tires of the base LX iteration. What goes up must come down—or, rather, what rides well doesn't always handle well, and the Fit's soft suspension leaves it dynamically unexceptional. There is still ample body roll in corners, and the steering offers zero road feel—nor is it as precise as it was in the Fit's predecessor. Call it competent, not fun.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

All Fits score a 36-mpg highway estimate from the EPA except the LX model with the CVT, which manages an exceptional 40-mpg highway rating. Only the stick-shift Fits fail to breach the 30-mpg city mark, although none of this really matters; we tested a stick-shift Fit, which the EPA rates as the least efficient, yet we nonetheless recorded an impressive 41 mpg in our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Well-built interior, magically spacious back seat, surprising cargo space.
Dislikes: No snazzy factor, limited infotainment features on the base model, small-item storage in the second row is limited.

Cleanly styled and well assembled from quality materials, the Fit's interior shines among the best in the segment. Factor in its spaciousness and the Fit's interior is a pleasant place to be. In most dimensions, the Fit's cabin is the largest in the subcompact class. Its rear-seat area in particular is astonishingly roomy and has significantly more legroom than any direct competitor; it nearly matches that of some full-size sedans.

Every Fit comes standard with Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, a backup camera, at least one USB port, and redundant steering-wheel audio controls. The 7.0-inch touchscreen, found on every Fit but the base LX trim, adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and two additional speakers for the sound system (for a total of six). In a sign of our smartphone times, Honda actually removed the Fit's auxiliary audio input, going solely USB.

There are few objects short of major appliances that you can't fit inside of a Fit. The model has built its reputation on the back of its rear Magic Seat. That split bench can fold flat—forming an uninterrupted surface from the rear bumper to just behind the front seats—or can flip its bottom cushion up and into a vertical position, allowing tall, wide items to be loaded through the side doors and set across the rear footwells. The result is unmatched configurability that is bolstered by the boxy Fit's cavernous interior and cargo volumes. With the rear seats folded, we fit 20 carry-on suitcases inside the Fit's cabin.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Good scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety—as well as its available (and rare for this class) driver-assistance features including automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning—are major positives. Key safety features include:

  • Available automated emergency braking
  • Available lane-departure warning
  • Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Honda's three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty is industry average, and the Fit expands on it with a strong five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and three years or 36,000 miles of roadside assistance.

  • Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
  • No complimentary scheduled maintenance

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