I've driven our long-term 2007 Honda Fit Sport many, many times, and I am growing increasingly enamored of it. Because it's just so incredibly well thought out. Is it fast or sexy or high-tech? Not really. But it knows exactly what it is and makes no pretensions otherwise...
It's inexpensive, bare-bones, and absolutely perfect at that. It doesn't have a nav system or a CD changer. It doesn't have any special bells and whistles.
But as such, it doesn't require the manual, pretty much ever. The layout you see before you could not be clearer. Everything's right there. Clearly marked, good, simple, large buttons and switches. Just get in and drive. Turn up the heat, switch on the lights. Check your fuel level. Toss in a CD. And then just GO.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 18,201 miles
estreka says:
12:13 PM, 10/18/07
I really like the steering wheel. Very Honda-minimalistic. You only have what you'll use.
aurakr says:
01:02 PM, 10/18/07
Believe it or not, that is the way my old 93 Saturn SL2 is. Except for the temperature knob at the bottom, could be larger.
I love the simple lay out. Many cars today, the new Accord included, are way too complex. Way, way too many buttons. That is why I like the XR interior, although not perfect.
Yet, unfortunately, many cars are criticized for not being complex enough. In my book, the simpler the better.
stovt001 says:
01:33 PM, 10/18/07
Gotta say, I'm really liking the Fit, and kinda wish I took a better look at them when buying my last car (though at the time they were really hard to find anyway). My fiancee is thinking of buying one and I like the thought of that. Good little car. I'm not much of an import fan, but Honda is really impressing me lately.
kevlang says:
03:02 PM, 10/18/07
if you can hold off a while...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=122688
stovt001 says:
03:18 PM, 10/18/07
Yeah, the new one sounds great. But 10 cupholders? Why? Just why? But yeah, the Fit, especially the upcoming model, is by far the most appealing sub-compact in the American market.
hondacura4 says:
03:34 PM, 10/18/07
This is how all Honda cars used to be engineered. Although Im a fan of the newer models the Fits design and the Honda cars from the 90's are my favorite.
Of course the newer Hondas are more efficient, safer, and perform better but there is just something about the old models that really stand out.
jriz says:
03:36 PM, 10/18/07
The Outlander has 5 cupholders for the front passengers alone. If Mitsubishi thinks its customers consume that much liquid whilst driving, perhaps they should replace the third-row seat with a latrine. Perhaps the Fit should do the same. After all, its back seat bottom already flips up.
stovt001 says:
03:53 PM, 10/18/07
Maybe you should just have your choice of soda fountain or espresso machine installed in each new car. Seriously now. First it was airbags. Then it was speakers. Now cupholders. It all reminds of that Onion article that had the CEO of a razor company vowing to go to 5 blades and a gel strip to crush the competition once and for all. Where does it all end? Eventually every interior surface of a car that isn't a seat, window, or control will be either a speaker or cupholder, and every car will have enough airbags to allow it to land safely on the surface of Mars.
dodo2 says:
08:58 PM, 10/18/07
jriz: The Outlander has 3 front cup holders and not 5. One of them is built into the dashboard. The door holders are for bottles as you cannot really put a cup in here since it's tilted towards the seat occupant (smart IMO). Virtually any decent car today has 4 cup holders and 4 bottle holders in the doors and it makes total sense (water bottle in the door, coffee in the cup holder). I wouldn't like a car without cup holders and bottle holders.
dodo2 says:
09:01 PM, 10/18/07
jriz: The Outlander has 3 front cup holders and not 5. 2 cup holders on the center floor console and build into the dash. The door holders are for bottles as you cannot really put a cup in here since it's tilted towards the seat occupant (smart IMO). Virtually any decent car today has 4 cup holders and 4 bottle holders in the doors and it makes total sense (water bottle in the door, coffee in the cup holder). I wouldn't like a car without cup holders and bottle holders.
dodo2 says:
09:02 PM, 10/18/07
Sorry for the double post. No Edit button anymore.
kevlang says:
05:21 AM, 10/19/07
the fit currently has two cupholders in the front, one between the front seats (sort of), and two "bottle holders" in the back. the problem isn't really too few cupholders, it's more their size/shape/usefulness.