2009 Honda Fit Sport: Introduction

I'm not particularly fond of the color :(

I think Magrath needs some help cleaning up his intro write-up. There are quite a few errors.

Woohoo, I have been looking forward to this. Thanks for getting a 5-speed, even though it seems to be in the ultra-minority of available Fits, especially a 5-spd with Navi. I am in the "other" demography--42, looking for economy, utility & some fun. I have a black Fit Sport manual 5-sp on order, and will pick it up in March. Cheers, Lee

I'll tell you what I think: you guys suck!

What a waste of money and time! Why do we need to read about the same fit twice? I am not even going to go into the whole thing with the second evo, which was ridiculous at best. You are supposed to be oriented towards us readers and what you do is buy the same vehicle you had last year and expect us to enjoy it?

Let me tell you, whoever is making business decisions such as this one needs to be fired at IL because clearly you are not addressing your consumers' needs. Guys I don't need to be telling you this but this is basic strategy 101. If you want more traffic to your website and earn more money because of it then listen to what the readers say. How many times have we told you on this blog that we don't want another fit?

^^ Who let Christian Bale in the room?

I'm with you guys, I really like this car and I think the new upgrades Honda has made is worth the exploration. I saw an Black '09 Fit on the road last night and it looked pretty shnazzy. If I lived in the city I'd be all over this thing.

"Best Fuel Economy: 33.5 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 34.2 mpg"

Worst econonmy, 34.2??? ;)

Cool. I'm glad you got this one since, despite ctpax's objections, it's not the same vehicle as you had before. Instead, it's the redesigned version. Fine by me. It's actually useful to compare two generations of the same vehicle.

Also, the introduction states that all Fits come with front and rear disc brakes. According to Honda, they come with rear drums. Finally, fuel economy only decreased on the Fit with the manual transmission. It stayed the same on the Fit Sport automatic and actually increased on the Fit Base with automatic transmission.

"This represents a full 1-inch increase in diameter across the board from the prior Fit, making it more American both in appearance and in on-ramp cornering grip."

Tell us, pray tell: what exactly does this mean? Is on-ramp cornering grip improved (as I would expect) by larger wheels and tires? Or is Magrath saying it handles more like an American car (which, in my experience, largely implies precisely the opposite behavior.)

And isn't this the same guy who told us Suzuki made the Impulse?

Mike's not having a very good 2009. I hope he starts to feel better soon.

From the intro: "When navigation is applied to a Fit Sport, stability control (Vehicle Stability Assist) and traction control are also added. It seems an odd pairing at first, but the reasoning is sound."

Are you serious? What the hell does traction/DSC have to do with Navigation? Where is the sound reasoning behind that? Honda is just a retarded company. On the Accord, you cannot even get Bluetooth unless you get the loaded EX-L w/navi.

I sat in this car at the Auto Show and I was not impressed. The interior is nothing but brick hard black plastic and the design is much too funky with no rhyme or reason. I won't even touch the exterior styling (hint: it's the worse looking car on sale today).

I hope IL plans to retest each redesigned vehicle in the future and not just BMWs, Hondas and Minis. Oh well, let the love affair continue...

How is the best fuel economy better than the worst?

Um, I mean, how is the worst better than the best? Hmm, glass houses, stones, etc.

"I won't even touch the exterior styling (hint: it's the worse looking car on sale today)."

Nah...You're just angry. Take a minute to calm down, and then look at a Chevy Aveo, Dodge Caliber, or BMW X3.

I understand IL's logic here: test the new version of a popular car. Contrary to what someone ctpax mentioned before, a test like this is actually more relevant to "normal" buyers as many of them tend to maintain brand/model loyalties. Thing is, I guess I'm just not as impressed with this car as they are. I'll admit that I've never driven it, but I have a few gripes:

1 - I have no problem with the interior design. A funky interior is a great way to make an econobox like this feel special, but the materials don't look like they're up to the usual Honda standard.

2 - Fuel economy should be better. If a Mini can get 28/37, this can should be able to as well. Give it a 6th gear if you have to.

3 - Braking isn't that great...and come on, rear drums? Is it 1996?

4 - I still don't get the Navi/DSC connection.

Edit: If a Mini can get 28/37, this car* should be able to as well.

"Nah...You're just angry. Take a minute to calm down, and then look at a Chevy Aveo, Dodge Caliber, or BMW X3."

I think the X3 and Caliber look at least as good as the Fit.

getting this car makes no sense but based on the intro I can see this is going to be a year long lovefest. Getting the same car back to back is just stupid. This is the same as the last car except it had a few more features and slightly more power. This test is pointless and with gas at under $2 a gallon this whole idea that people are desperate for subcompacts is a myth.

I finally sat in this car and as expected the interior is full of hard plastics and the design is totally incohesive as is the case with the Civic. Since it's a Honda it gets a pass and ends up on 10BEST and is praised as the greatest thing since the GTR. On top of that no car with such a small engine and 5 speed transmission should get 33mpg on the highway.

Here's a vote for continuing to test " just BMWs, Hondas and Minis", although I also like the A4, EVO, G8 and STi updates. And if you throw in a 370Z,, CTS-V, or a Z06 I wouldnt complain. If I want to read about minivans or dreadful vehicles like the U.S. Focus I'll pick up a copy of Consumer Reports.

this might be my next car, looking forward to reading about it.

"Here's a vote for continuing to test " just BMWs, Hondas and Minis", although I also like the A4, EVO, G8 and STi updates. And if you throw in a 370Z,, CTS-V, or a Z06 I wouldnt complain. If I want to read about minivans or dreadful vehicles like the U.S. Focus I'll pick up a copy of Consumer Reports."

I just think its funny that you believe the US focus is "dreadful" and not worth reading about Hondas are exciting. There is nothing exciting about the Fit or anything else in Honda's lineup save the Accord Coupe, S200 and maybe Civic Si. I dont really care much about the Fit or any Mini. The Mini is probably one of the most heavily long term tested cars out now and it needs no more exposure. Its a niche vehicle for those who are excited they can get a European car for that cheap. It's impractical and the interior is a disaster. Sure it gets good mileage but it should considering it's size.

I'm excited to see what you guys think of the new Fit! I have the 2008 orange Fit and I love it.

The ONLY interesting aspect of this test will be to see if this Fit has the same transmission problems as the first one.

I agree with the over-coverage of some brands and models. They might be popular, but they are made more so by such coverage. How about a Volvo XC70 or S80? These were brand-new models introduced just last year. Also Saab 9-3 (although it's getting old now)? Brand-wise, these two are not getting enough coverage. Would like to see some more diversity in the LT fleet.

"The ONLY interesting aspect of this test will be to see if this Fit has the same transmission problems as the first one."

Even if it does its not goint to sour their view of the car. Steering rack creaks and groans on a Saturn however, are a very different story. If you read the long term wrap ups of the two cars you would think the Aura was the one that needed a tow truck.

I just want to know how we a second Fit and 3rd Lancer before getting ONE Genesis. I would hope a Dodge Ram would be included if they are going to have at least one pickup. Still looking for an Escape hybrid or Vue Hybrid as well.

"The Mini is probably one of the most heavily long term tested cars out now and it needs no more exposure. Its a niche vehicle for those who are excited they can get a European car for that cheap. It's impractical and the interior is a disaster. Sure it gets good mileage but it should considering it's size."

...and yet it's never had any incentives placed on it. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it's unpopular.

The best subcompact on the market is absolutely worth a LT test. For those who don't like it, that thing way over on the right side of your browser is call a scroll bar; learn to use it.

I go back and forth on the Fit, style-wise. The sport trim really makes all the difference. Non-sport looks like a 1980-something Daihatsu. But the body kit and larger wheels make it kinda cool. But then sometimes I pull up beside one and think, is this REALLY any better looking than that old Geo Metro my wife had when we were married?... Or are we all just enamored of the Honda badge?

I almost bought an '08 some time ago. Loved the shifter and ride & handling, hatchback and crazy back seat utility. But I found it just a bit too small for me at 6'3". Almost there, and probably would be okay on the daily commute. But then the Metro flashbacks kept coming. How would this thing look, and would would I look in it, in 10 years? Like a financial genius for driving something with awesome mileage and resale value? Or like a responsibly green guy (from what I've read, most owners have no trouble exceeding the EPA ratings)? Or like a hypermiling weenie when gas prices fall? Or like a tall guy in a clown car? Vanity prevailed, I love my Mazda3. So anyway, I look forward to this LT test and comparisons between the two generations, especially WRT driver comfort for the taller guys on staff. Those extra couple inches might be enough to persuade me next time around.

Apart from relatively good fuel economy, totally normal for the engine and car size, and the flip rear seats, which make them very uncomfortable, there is nothing else to make this car stand out. Otherwise, the car has no style and it’s made very cheap, but the price is not that cheap at all for what you get.
I think it's only "the best" in class because there is no real competition in this segment. The other sub-compacts are just as bad.
I’m looking forward to seeing the really nice sub-compact cars hit our shores next year- Fiesta and Polo.

"I just think its funny that you believe the US focus is "dreadful" and not worth reading about Hondas[sic] are exciting. There is nothing exciting about the Fit or anything else in Honda's lineup save the Accord Coupe, S200[sic] and maybe Civic Si."

You really need to work on reading for comprehension. I never said that the Fit was exciting. However, it is a well-designed econobox that is pleasant to drive. The Focus is tottering along on almost a decade-old platform. The recent restyling is simply grotesque. The U.S. Focus was a great car when originally introduced(and the current European model is a knockout), but the car is long past its sell-by date.

"I dont[sic] really care much about the Fit or any Mini."

Funny thing; I don't care about anodyne FWD V6 transportation appliances, but you won't find me posting on those topics. Having to drive one is punishment enough- I don't feel the need to pile on.

"The Mini is probably one of the most heavily long term tested cars out now and it needs no more exposure. Its a niche vehicle for those who are excited they can get a European car for that cheap. It's impractical and the interior is a disaster. Sure it gets good mileage but it should considering it's size."

Yes, once again canny marketing and the evil automotive enthusiast press has conned thousands of people into buying a mediocre imported car. The success of the Mini can in no way be attributed to the fact that it is huge fun to drive...

I'm looking forward to this test, like I would for any small car thats added to the fleet. Small cars need to be increasingly relevant in North America and especially in the US. As such, I think this vehicle is much more important then a Challenger/Genesis, etc.

"I can see this is going to be a year long lovefest."

Lovefest or hatefest, depending on which side of the fence you're on I guess. I'm very interested in small cars, so I'm looking forward to hearing about the new Fit. As such, I'm sure there are plenty of haters out there who will spew their rhetoric my way.

"Its a niche vehicle for those who are excited they can get a European car for that cheap"

If you honestly think that people buy the MINI because they want to go out of their way to drive a European car, you are more ignorant than I thought. I can understand complaints about the interior and the size (even though calling a vehicle impractical is all relative to your position in life), but claiming that the MINI's selling point is its European design and construction is foolish.

IMO, its one of the weirdest designs on the road right now. How freaking long and out of proportion is the front end? Couldn't they have figured out a way of making it look a little better? And this is coming from a guy that has owned 3 Subarus, so I'm into funky designs.
I don't mind reading about the new Fit, I'm just thinking there are plenty of other cars out there that could have filled the spot.

BTW: I would've liked to read about the Saturn Astra instead of the Fit. It's a very nice car sold by the wrong company. The car itself deserves more attention, although its sales numbers are negligible.

"...and yet it's never had any incentives placed on it. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it's unpopular."

The "popularity" of the Mini is partially a concoction of the media. Yes the car sells withotu incentives but that is hardly remarkable considering the volumes of the car. The M3 probably sells without incentives as well but it wouldnt be deemed a popular car. The Mini is not poopular based on sales figures. It is however heavily hyped and adored by the automotive press. Here's the thing, I doubt many of the reviewers who love the car so much would actually buy one. Why? Outside of work they have real families and need real space and practicality.

Excited about a Honda Fit?? The only way I would be excited about a Fit was if I accidentally hit one with my 6,800 lb. Suburban.

Out of all the exciting new vehicles out there to test, you had pick a Fit?!? Especially since you just completed testing of another Fit like barely a year ago?? WTF?

Sorry Edmunds, really bad call on this one.

"You really need to work on reading for comprehension. I never said that the Fit was exciting. However, it is a well-designed econobox that is pleasant to drive. The Focus is tottering along on almost a decade-old platform. The recent restyling is simply grotesque. The U.S. Focus was a great car when originally introduced(and the current European model is a knockout), but the car is long past its sell-by date."

I dont like the Focus but you need to realize people dont shop based on platform age. Outside of this blog normal people could care less about how old the Focus platform may be. To most people the 2008 model is all new. It looks totally different inside and out and thats what counts. You (and most other self proclaimed enthusiats/Euro car lovers) are just mad because they dont sell the $30k Euro focus here. Most Americans know nothing about the Euro focus and thus don't really care.

"Yes, once again canny marketing and the evil automotive enthusiast press has conned thousands of people into buying a mediocre imported car. The success of the Mini can in no way be attributed to the fact that it is huge fun to drive... "

Mini's sell mostly in urban areas. I see them all the time on my City's streets. I assure you the owners could care less about how the Mini handles switchbacks. They like the car because its foreign, small, cute and good on gas. Yes "thousands" of people purchased Minis but thats doesnt mean it has broad based appeal. Selling 5k copies a month does not make a car a mainstream succeess. Its a niche car with niche sales. Certain cars (mini, Fit, civic hybrid, Prius) have a larger reputation in the media than their sales merit. I have read so many articles about how the Fit was a "huge" success but few references to it's actual sales. The Accord and Civic handily outsell the Fit by 3-1 or 4-1 margins in the average month. Honda offered a lowball sales projection which they easily exceeded and suddenly the media is pronouncing the Fit an unparalleled success.

doug,

Nothing wrong with testing a small car, just get a different one. With the Cobalt SS, Sentra and Elantra out there its not like IL had exhausted all small car options. The new 3 will be out soon so they should've waited on that if they wanted a newly redesigned model. The new fit will do the same things as the old one. Nothing new to see here. You act as if this car is some radical departure from the 2008 model and we will be shocked and awed with its newfound performance and capability.

Also, I have no idea why you would think owning a European car isnt a measure of prestige for many folks. Maybe its different iN canada. The Mini's Euro styling and pedigree is a major plus for many buyers.

"The best subcompact on the market is absolutely worth a LT test. For those who don't like it, that thing way over on the right side of your browser is call a scroll bar; learn to use it."

In case you missed it they just had one. We are all aware of how great the Fit is and dont need another one just to reinforce the fact.

"I think it's only "the best" in class because there is no real competition in this segment. The other sub-compacts are just as bad."

Good point. Its an OK car in a field of forgettable cars.

Another good vehicle choice on Edmunds part. If I were in the market for a 1.5L car, this Fit would be at the top of my list.

I'm looking forward to see how this car does over the course of the year. :)

ctpax: Sorry to hear you ran out of valium. I'd suggest you chime back in after you've refilled your prescription, but history would indicate someone like you is likely long gone by now.

I'd love to know when Honda will relent and make this thing available with a sunroof. Nothing better than sliding that sucker open and snicking through the gears.

"Also, I have no idea why you would think owning a European car isnt a measure of prestige for many folks. Maybe its different iN canada. The Mini's Euro styling and pedigree is a major plus for many buyers."

I'm not denying its a nice added bonus for some people, but its not the main selling point of the vehicle. Anyone who has driven one can tell you what the main selling point is.

For the record, I'd be happy with any small cars in the LT blog, including the ones mentioned above: Cobalt SS, Elantra, etc.

I'm in the dislike of deja vu camp. The changes to the 09 Fit are so stunningly superficial as to warrant an updates "what's new" paragraph and some new photos following a typical Edmunds road test, but a full on LT blog?

Cripes, of all the small cars out there, why this one again? I understand everyone wanted to make sweet tailpipe love to the 08 in the fleet and all, but, we car buyers out here have a hell of a lot of choices. How about a LT on the Yaris, or the Astra, or the Corolla, or the Cobalt, or the Aveo, the Accent, the Rio, or even something like an Avenger.

The overexposure of the Fit in the press is one of the things that repels me from the car. It's like talking to someone who likes a Mazda 3, they are the most annoying car drivers on Earth because nothing on the road can possibly compare to their Mazda 3, ever, in any way.

And, I, for one, would love to see Edmunds introduce an editorial moratorium on using the Euro Focus in reviews of cars that aren't the Euro focus. Honestly, the American focus, 10 year old platform and all, is what we get for 15k, which won't even touch an unpainted, no stereo, pay for your own tires and buy your own glass Euro Focus that ain't comin' here anyway! Don't care, dare I say, none of us who seek a new car are pining for the day a Euro Focus rolls off the boat at the pier. And to those about to spring the Mazda 3 (it's the same car as the Euro Focus) argument on me, please, go for a drive and shut up about your car.

Kudos to the pick of the new Fit - I'm excited to see how it compares to the previous generation. It's all the car most of us would ever need, even if we don't want to admit it. If I ever move somewhere out of the reach of German car mechanics, I'd seriously trading my BMW for one.

Allow me to quote 1487... ahem... "waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh"

Although I feel the Fit is a good choice, I would have liked to of seen something similar yet not as popular added as either a long term or short term ride... say... something like a Mazda 5.

utilitarian- as a Mazda3 owner, I know what you mean. The car has terrible fuel economy and yet other owners have told me I simply do not know how to drive. The car has its merits but economy is not one of them and the ride is rough and loud. I like my car but those rabid owners make me wanna trade it in sometimes.

The obsession of the Fit kind of boggles my mind. it seems like a good city car but beyond that, I fail to see it's advantage. A Fusion, Malibu, Sonata, Camry & Accord can get the same fuel economy on the highway in vastly superior refinement. You wouldn't catch me dead in this thing during one of my annual road trips.

I'm glad to see the Fit but if it were my choice I would have got an Accent or a G3 Wave (Aveo). Both can be bought for $10,000 (Canadian) which is $5000 less then a base Fit DX. That's huge amount of money in this class. Trouble is it's hard to find even a simple road test on either of them.

I'd love to see a long term test to see how good (or not good) they are.

"It's like talking to someone who likes a Mazda 3, they are the most annoying car drivers on Earth because nothing on the road can possibly compare to their Mazda 3, ever, in any way."

You sure you werent talking to a C&D editor? Or any member of the automotive press for that matter?

As for the Euro focus I would like to note that all the people pining for that car will be the same ones saying "they want $25k for a compact Ford? No thanks, I can get a Civic for less" when the new Focus comes here. Those who have an obsession with GM/Ford Euro products fail to acknowledge they think any GM/Ford product should automatically be 20% cheaper than a comparable imports. The nice cars GM/Ford sell in Europe are nicer because they are expensive.

"Kudos to the pick of the new Fit - I'm excited to see how it compares to the previous generation. It's all the car most of us would ever need, even if we don't want to admit it. "

I admit it, I have no need for a Fit. If the car got 30/40 per the EPA I might be slightly interested. At 27/33 I'll take a car with far more comfort, hp and style and slightly worse mileage.

BTW its a shame the Fit has nav.

OMG LOOK IT'S THE AWESOME FIT!!! Are you guys going to get one in red for comparison purposes?

I was going to complain about getting another fully loaded car with nav, but I see the new Fit is getting enough grief today. Can you just make sure that 1/2 of all the posts aren't about the nav no one buys anyway?

"The obsession of the Fit kind of boggles my mind. it seems like a good city car but beyond that, I fail to see it's advantage. A Fusion, Malibu, Sonata, Camry & Accord can get the same fuel economy on the highway in vastly superior refinement"

Maybe I can help explain it.

-The Fit starts $10,000 less then the cars you list.

-It may only get a little better mileage on the hwy but it gets vastly better mileage around town.

- The Fit is a ball to drive. You can toss it around like a little sports car. The cars you list are nicer on the hwy but not much fun to drive. I guess it depends how much of your time is spent on the long hwy trips.

- The Fit is a hatchback. Not only is it cooler then a sedan, you can stuff way more in it.

- you can easily get a Fit with a manual trans. Not sure if one is even available on the cars you list but if it is, it will be tough to find one on a lot.

Good choice on the Fit because it's the standard-bearer in this class and actually fun to drive. I have no interest in reading posts on the Aveo or other rental-fleet caliber car. Besides being critically acclaimed, its sales have remained pretty steady even with the economic slump. good/great car + consumer interest = worthy of long term car

Maybe I can help explain it.

-The Fit starts $10,000 less then the cars you list.

No it doesn't! Who in their right mind would even think that it's near 10K less. With Incentives so many of those are very close to the Fit's BASE price. Any no options Mid-Size is comparably equipped, the only thing they're really lacking is a navi system over this Fit Sport. Base Sonata vs Fit? The real value is in the Sonata. Base Sonata is $17,901! 27/33 is pathetic.

Mazda5 = more room, more car, not much more money.

"It's like talking to someone who likes a Mazda 3, they are the most annoying car drivers on Earth because nothing on the road can possibly compare to their Mazda 3, ever, in any way."

Speaking as a Mazda owner, words cannot express how happy I will be on the day that I finally unload my Mazdaspeed 3 and replace it with another 3 Series or ///M Car.
That day cannot come too soon...

Alright, well, I'm glad you're testing a new Fit. I am interested to see if the transmission craters in this one, and I also know that this is an all-new car, not just a refresh-some of these commenters seem to forget Honda's very long generation cycles and the fact that the States got the original Fit years after it first came out. All-new cars from Honda are few and far between, and worth taking a good look at.

I have to say, the Fit never did anything for me, and when it came out that Edmunds picked up another one, it was a real disappointment. The changes are honestly incremental, and in my mind don't justify a re-test when cars like the aforementioned Cobalt SS, Elantra, Ram, etc. are nowhere to be found. I still like Edmunds more than most other automotive publications, but they still really make me scratch my head every now and then...

I am looking forward to this long term test too. My gf is pretty sure this will be her next car.

carmizvi,

I'll go back to reading your post when you start writing intelligent things. Seriously dude...

firstwagon,

You must be doing that new math. The Fit is about $4k-$6k less than the cars Chavis mentioned and several of them have more standard equipment than the base Fit. Remember, the base model doesnt come with much at all.

"It may only get a little better mileage on the hwy but it gets vastly better mileage around town."

I dont call 4-5mpg better "vastly" superior mileage when you consider the hp of the Fit. The car only has 117hp so I would hope it gets better mileage than a 175hp sonata or 169hp Malibu. As for utility, the fold down seats in the sedans mentioned make them almost as usable as the Fit. With the rear seats up the Fit doesnt have much more cargo space than a midsize sedan.

Even if all the attributes were worth mentioning the bottom line is we have been through all this with the last car. The last one was fun to drive, a Honda, small, fuel efficient, etc. The new car is more of the same.

" good/great car + consumer interest = worthy of long term car"

You cant think of any cars other than the 2009 Fit that meet that standard?

"No it doesn't! Who in their right mind would even think that it's near 10K less"

Well my info comes from Canadian prices and I don't know what incentives are available in your area but by the list prices....

The Fit starts at $14,990 and the Acccord starts at $25,090. That's $10K.

The Malibu starts at $23,99 so that only $9K more.

The Camry starts at $23,499 so that's $8500 more.

The Fusion and Sonata are a better deal then I thought at $21,400 and $21,999 but it's still $6500 and $7000 more.

Those are all base models, most sell for much more.

But I did over estimate a bit. I should have said "up to $10,000 more".

@Firstwagon: there are two major things wrong with what you're posting here. First off, most people don't just go and pay cash- many people finance their purchase. It's the same reason your "Diesel gets better gas mileage so therefore it's more economical" argument doesn't make sense.

Second off, where on earth are you pulling these numbers? The Accord's base price is $21k, NOT $25k. That's according to Edmunds.com. With incentives, you can usually pull an Accord in for about 18k (that's what you can pull in a lot of its competitors for.)

The Fit at $15k lacks a lot of essential features, like cruise control and keyless entry. To get cruise control, you have to get the Fit Sport, which raises the price to about 18k out the door.

The kicker is when it comes time to finance the purchase. You'll pay about 5% interest on the Fit and about 1.9% on the Accord.

I don't really like the Accord, (if you want fuel efficiency + fun to drive then you get an Altima), but most Americans will prefer the Accord's much more composed highway manners (the Fit is buzzy and loud by comparison.) If you want a hatch, the Mazda3 is a much more refined machine.

Roadburner - Can you tell gift me your MS3 already so I can stop reading you complaining about it? I really enjoyed my test drive of one....I loved the steering weighting, stiff clutch with tons of feedback on grab, and ridiculous torque swell at 3000 rpms. I seriously thought about buying one, for quite some time, until I realized that I would be trading it in in 2-3 years for the new kid on the block.

Everyone else - I say this in all sincerity: If you haven't driven a Fit, you have no freaking idea why it's been such a hit.

If I look at the first generation Miata on paper, why in the hell would it excite me? Low on power, cheap interior, no amenities, loud, fairly unsafe, barely enough room to fit a 5'10 frame.....but then you drive one, and you find a little piece of automotive zen in the way it comes together.

The first generation Fit is like that. It has a cheap interior but...guess what....it's pretty damn luxurious nice compared to car's in it's segment. It's well-designed, with tons of storage cubbies and functionality. The engine is smooth and the shifter is sweet, in a class with rough low displacement 4 cylinders and slushy automatics.

This 2nd generation Fit is a complete re-design, not just a tweaking despite what all the fools on here would like to state. It is seriously revised in almost every way, and deserves a close look.

I'd like to see a Genesis and a Camaro in the LT blog ASAP, as well as maybe a Cobalt SS, a new Mazda 3, and some sort of 1995-1998 Porsche 911, but this is not exactly a poor choice in my book.

Joe

Joe,
As for the MS3, the need for a new strut and a turbo before it hit 25K dampened my enthusiasm quite a bit. It doesn't help that I have to drive 100 miles one way just to find a competent dealer. And try as I might, I just can't come to terms with FWD- especially on the track. Something about the car just doesn't do it for me. Like Top Gear said, how did they manage to make such a powerful car so dull?
As for your other LT picks, I'd like to see the Camaro and the 911. No more 250+ hp econoboxes for me...

I can't believe that I'm going to be reading another year of Honda Fit posts. One of the happiest days of my blog-reading life was when the last Fit went away. I could actually read something about other cars. Of course, now it seems all I read about here is about one of the two Lancers, or the R8. That started me thinking... it seems every time I open this blog I read about import after import after import. And I read repeated posts by the same people about how Edmunds is biased towards imports. Annoying, isn't it?

But then I did a count of the current and past long term fleet vehicles listed in the column to the right of the posts. Interesting results:

Domestics: 16
Imports: 47

Wow. And someone on the Edmunds staff must really like Mitsubishi, because there are three brands that are tied for the most number of appearances here (according to the posted list): Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi. Considering Mitsubishi's popularity (or lack there of) with the car buying public, it's surprising to see so many that have passed through the fleet.

And while I'm in analysis mode (hey, I'm a database guy), here is a list of brands that have not passed through the long term fleet in the recent past. Sure, some I would never expect to see due to their price and exclusivity, but there are plenty of more mainstream brands.

Acura, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Chrysler, GMC, HUMMER, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lotus, Maserati, Maybach, Mercury, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Tesla, and Volvo. I have excluded Isuzu for reasons that should be clear.

Oops, I forgot to add Lincoln to my list. Whatever happened to the edit feature?

"This 2nd generation Fit is a complete re-design, not just a tweaking despite what all the fools on here would like to state. It is seriously revised in almost every way, and deserves a close look."

Actually few said it wasnt an all new car. What people have been saying is that the car isnt appreciably different or superior compared to the 2008 model. Most consumers will have no idea the car is all new. It looks about the same, has the same powertrain and the same mileage. Basically they added a few features and freshened the look.

Sorry, I dont need to drive the Fit to know I dont get the hype. Most folks do their driving in suburban or urban environments. The Fit's catlike reflexes really wont do much to convince me its an automotive revelation since its handling limits dont mean much during daily driving. Also, what other low end cars have interiors that are far worse than this? The Accent/Elantra have decent interiors. So does the Sentra. You can also include the Rabbit. I think the Focus' interior is better than this as well. The Fit's interior is not luxurious by any means.

jstandeder:

I think you have to remember that just because they add a few domestics to the fleet for parity doesnt mean the staffers actually like those vehicles. the vehicles they find interesting get the most posts and those are going to be the sports cars and sporty or frugal imports. What happened to the Edge and Focus? I just looked at the current fleet and realized there are only about 6 domestics in the fleet so its no wonder we dont read about any. To be honest most of the compelling cars coming out in 2008 are from GM and ford so I hope to see some of them added. Same goes for Hyundai. Alas, we'll probably get more Hondas and Mitsus. Or a Mini Clubman.

The first generation Fit is like that. It has a cheap interior but...guess what....it's pretty damn luxurious nice compared to car's in it's segment. It's well-designed, with tons of storage cubbies and functionality. The engine is smooth and the shifter is sweet, in a class with rough low displacement 4 cylinders and slushy automatics.

I can't believe half of these posts, are you KIDDING me? The Elantra has a better interior. The Civic has a better interior, you name it and it's probably better. The Soul is better overall, even the door handles are dampened nicely. Not to mention it doesn't look like ass. THAT'S what I would want in place of this thing. The Kia Soul, something TOTALLY new and fresh from Korea. The only thing it's lacking is the trick backseat and the low load floor.

"It's the same reason your "Diesel gets better gas mileage so therefore it's more economical" argument doesn't make sense. "

It does if diesel is cheaper then regular which it is here (4 cents a litre this morning).

"Second off, where on earth are you pulling these numbers? The Accord's base price is $21k, NOT $25k"

Honda.ca

"The Fit at $15k lacks a lot of essential features, like cruise control and keyless entry. "

How are those essential features? I can't remember the last time I used my cruise control and keyless entry is just a nice perk. It's not a great inconvenince to stick a key in a door.

"The kicker is when it comes time to finance the purchase. You'll pay about 5% interest on the Fit and about 1.9% on the Accord."

Ahh, but you will pay $1200 more in sales tax (here anyhow) on the Accord which will cancel out the finance saving.

It does seem a bit soon to add another Fit when you only just got rid of the old one, new design or not.

My personal whine is the choice of the manual. yes, yes, yes, I get that the manual is more fun to drive. I have owned many. But the reality is that they are not big sellers in the US and IL should (for economy cars at least) focus on the cars the typical consumer would buy, not the far less common typical "enthusiast".

I loved my MGB, my Mustang LX5.0 5-speed, my '90 Sentra SE-R 5-speed, but these days I live in a big crowded city with lots of stop lights and traffic jams (as do most of the IL staff) and the occassional benefits of the manual aren't worth the hassles of day-to-day reality.

Buy a manual Camaro, but a slush box Fit.

roadburner- the AUX jack in my 3 just stopped working so I'm heading to the dealership next week to get it fixed before my road trip next Thursday. Don't even ask me about the '05 lemon I had before my current '07 which has been program free up 'till now.

joefrompa- I don't recall anyone saying the Fit wasn't a complete redesign. Whatever improvements made are the same as any other newly introduced vehicle. There's nothing earth shattering or ground breaking here. It's quieter, heavier and more powerful- par for the course for current redesigns. Oh yeah, and much uglier.

@Firstwagon

Keyless entry is a MAJOR convenience, especially if you are hauling anything or have to get groceries. And if it's raining and you're fiddling for your keys in the dark? Oh yes, you'll be glad you had it.

As is cruise control. Cruise control is necessary for any stretch of rural/highway driving, and is helpful in maintaining maximum fuel economy.

Both are things ~90% of the cars sold on the road in the past 15 years have had them, it's pretty much something most car owners take for granted and I would never consider a car without either (not for that money at least.)

For a lot of car buyers, there's nothing about the Fit (other than that it's a hatchback) that would override both of those niceties compared to an Accord.

Honda did a great job on this vehicle - it is a small ray of hope that they haven't completely lost their minds after such duds as the Accord and TL. My wife has had her '09 Fit Sport for a few months now and is completely happy with it - almost giddy, actually - and she is someone who just does not get excited about cars as a general rule. I look forward to hearing your impressions of the vehicle, just as I look forward to ignoring all the strident haters who have lots of time and little brains.

Re. 1487 - "I dont really care much about the Fit or any Mini."

Gosh, I'd never guess that from the number of your posts on the Fit blogs. ;-)

"the AUX jack in my 3 just stopped working so I'm heading to the dealership next week to get it fixed before my road trip next Thursday. Don't even ask me about the '05 lemon I had before my current '07 which has been program free up 'till now."

I suppose that the MS3 isn't that bad a car, but unlike my Club Sport or my '02-or even my Wrangler for that matter-I NEVER look for an excuse to drive it. In any case, Joe's point is well taken regarding my posts on the MS3. It's my fault; I made an extremely bad choice, so I'll just suffer in silence.

"If I look at the first generation Miata on paper, why in the hell would it excite me? Low on power, cheap interior, no amenities, loud, fairly unsafe, barely enough room to fit a 5'10 frame.....but then you drive one, and you find a little piece of automotive zen in the way it comes together."

Ahh Joe, your posts are always refreshing. Your point about the Miata highlights exactly why magazine racing is such a problem. Cars aren't always what the numbers make them out to be. For instance, 1487 mentioned in one of his numerous posts that "The Fit's catlike reflexes really wont do much to convince me its an automotive revelation since its handling limits dont mean much during daily driving." Yes, the Fit has fairly low levels of grip, but it's those "catlike" reflexes that make such a hoot to drive (much like the Mini). Skidpad numbers don't tell the whole tale. Like all highly rated cars, you've got to drive to really understand.

"Cars aren't always what the numbers make them out to be."

Exactly. My Club Sport only packs 150 hp, but it is an absolute blast to drive- whether its a twisting rural two lane or a BMW CCA drivers school.

God some of you people bitch just to hear yourselves bitch I think. Must have nothing better to do.

This 2009 Fit is certainly new enough that it warrants a 12 month test. It would be like testing a 2007 Accord and 2008 Accord. Same name, almost completely different vehicle.

Reading some of these posts is humorous, as I now understand the mindset of the idiot fashion truck and SUV owners who buy when the price of gas is low, and then bitch when it's high. Yes, you are the same ones bitching that Edmunds shouldn't be testing a sub-compact now that gas is so cheap. Hey, in case you didn't get the memo, it WILL go up again in price. It's not a question of if, but when. Since nobody and their mothers (including the so called expert Analysts and Economists) can predict when the price of gas will go up, and by how far, buying a vehicle like the Fit is a good hedge against the inevitable.

Also, for some of you bitching (yes, bitching is a theme in this thread) that a car with such a small engine and small stature should get better highway mileage, well guess what, it does, much better. Forget about what the EPA says, you people need to actually own and drive the damn thing before freaking out (the EPA must have test the Fit with A/C on full blast driving at 90 mph to get that kind of hwy economy). I own the exact same vehicle Edmunds is testing (only mine is silver) and I get about 38 mpg on the highway driving 65 mph. And that is hand calculated, not the wonky real time gas gauge that isn't very accurate. I'm sure that number will get better as the engine breaks in.

Lastly, there is no demographic for inexpensive, small, fuel efficient vehicles any more. With record high unemployment, gas price instability, and an economy that gets worse by the day, cars like the new Fit are all many people will be able to afford, or will want to spend the money on. I bought mine as a second car actually, but I find I'm driving it far more than my main vehicle, which is a Hyundai Sonata V6. It is certainly more fun to drive than the Hyundai, the 5-speed manual is a pleasure to operate, and it's a very comfortable sub-compact. It also makes hauling around my dog in the hatch area much, much easier than in my sedan (and it saves my leather seats from pit bull nails and slobbering).

If you people don't want to read about "another economy" car, well Edmunds tests plenty of gas guzzling sports cars and SUV's all of you can slobber over. For the rest of us more interested in our wallets and practicality, we'll continue to enjoy reading about 12 month tests of cars like the 09 Fit.

dgs4 - good point about the Fit appealing to a broad cross-section of buyers. Another reason why a vehicle such as this makes perfect sense for a long term review.

$18,700 is a lot of money for this little car that has a 1.5 litre engine. That price was the MSRP, but I've seen a few Honda dealers mark-up the prices $2k or so on new Fits. If I needed a small economical car, I would rather have a Yaris for $6k less. For the inflated price of a Fit, I could get:

A: A larger Civic from the same dealer
B. A fun car; like a Mustang or base model Mini
C: A family car, like a Sonata

The Fit is a good car, but cheap and economical it is not. It totally defies the whole reason to get a cheap, small car

If your dealer is charging a $2k markup, you need to get a new dealer. We bought ours for a few hundred below MSRP. And we went in looking the new Civic first to replace my wife's 01 Civic. We liked the Fit better, period.

Oh - and you cannot get a comparably equipped Civic for the same price as a Fit - compare apples to apples. We also shopped the Mini - unless the pricing is WAAAAY different in the States than in Canada, those two aren't close in price.

"The Fit is a good car, but cheap and economical it is not. It totally defies the whole reason to get a cheap, small car"

Um, actually $18,500 is very inexpensive for a car with VSA, a real navigation system (not that Garmin crap offered on the Suzuki SX4), front, side, and curtain air bags, ABS, tilt telescoping steering, power windows and locks, engine immobilizer anti-theft system, cruise control, vanity mirrors, power folding side mirrors, 16", wheels and tires, and other features I can't think of right now. Please find me another car for the price that offers as much as the Fit does.

If you really want to go cheap, skip the Navigation/VSA option and cut $1,800 off the price and you still have a fantastic car that is better than anything in its price range. And if you really, really want to go dirt cheap, I suppose you could get the base Fit and save more money, but in my opinion it wouldn't be worth the savings for all you give up on the sport model.

Everyone's budget is different I suppose. $18,500 to me is very inexpensive, as average new car purchase is a range of $20,000 to $30,000. Anything below $20,000 is cheap, but you get what you pay for. If the Fit is too expensive for your budget and you purchase an Aveo, Ford Focus, Yaris, etc. that you're not getting a car even half as well made, safe, or fun to drive as the 09 Fit. Personal opinion, no, rather the opinion of every automotive journalist who has tested the 09 Fit, naming it easily the best car in it's class.

dgs4

Um no it isn't. The KIA soul comes with it and ABS STANDARD at 13K. LOLLLLLLLL Do some research, but then again if you did you probably wouldn't regard Honda's overpriced and under contented cars as highly as you do. The KIA Soul sports nearly the same or BETTER test numbers with good feel to boot. Not to mention more power and just more features! All for less than the ripoff Honda is charging.

The KIA Soul starts under 14K and comes with all the safety features the FIT lacks at the same model level for MORE money with a lesser amount of warranty coverage, What now? Options? A moonroof and sound system..

First of all, as I said in another post I don't know WTF a "Kia Soul" is, but I understand you have wood over the thing. I guess this "Kia Soul" is an inexpensive 5 door hatch, but as good as Kia is getting, they aren't at the level of a Honda yet, in many areas.

Hey, come back to me and show me when this "Kia Soul" you're obsessed with ranks better than the Honda Fit in ANY comparison test (i.e. Edmunds, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road & Track etc)/Consumer Reports testing. Seriously I hope you prove me wrong and this new Kia dethrones the 2009 Fit as best in its class, but until that happens, do everyone on the 2009 Fit blogs a favor and STFU!!!

To say that a Yaris or Focus aren't even half as good as a Fit is absurd. The Fit is a very good economy car, no doubt about it, but it's not twice as good as its competitors (or even as good as those cars in some aspects). I agree with cx7lover, one could get a well optioned Kia Soul for much less, or get a Focus with the Sync or an Elantra with satellite radio for much less than a Fit. Those cars are larger, roomier, faster, and are just as safe as a Fit and you'd save some dough. I really don't buy into the hype that Hondas are indestructible. Hyundais and Kias have been extremely reliable and have a much better warranty.

In a recent comparision on drive.com.au in Australia between the new Fit, Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift, and Toyota Yaris, the Fit came dead last, mainly because it was so much more expensive and wasn't good enough to justify the premium price.

I think dgs4 needs to take the blinders off and peer into the automotive world outside of the Honda badge. The Inside Line review of the Kia Soul was very favorable, and they did mention that although the Soul doesn't quite match the Fit's handling dynamics, the Soul is significantly quicker. (The Soul is really targeted more against the Scion xB than the Fit.) Regardless, Honda better get as much of an impact as possible with the new Fit. Ford's upcoming Fiesta has the Fit squarely in its sights, and the initial reviews have been phenomenal:

"No excuses need to be made for the Fiesta, as this car will be as happy of the Jersey Turnpike as it will be in Greenwich Village." -Inside Line

"American drivers are in for a treat because this new Fiesta is probably the best handling and most driver-friendly of all the world's microcars." -Car & Driver

"The Fiesta is as good a small car as can be found, sourced from anywhere in the world." -Autoweek

"The Fiesta is a superb little car." -Motor Trend

"What the Fiesta brings to the game is a balance of styling, interior space, dynamic feedback and refinement." -Autoweek

If we're lucky, the U.S. market may also get the Fiesta's zoom-zoom platform-mate, the Mazda2. And I hope we see the hatchback versions of the Fiesta in addition to the sedan (C&D believes the 5-door will be offered here). Of course, it would be awesome to see the Fiesta here in this long term fleet when it hits the market. However, something tells me we won't and instead I will be reading about the addition of a 2010 Honda Fit, yet another Lancer, and perhaps a third Jetta.

"Of course, it would be awesome to see the Fiesta here in this long term fleet when it hits the market. However, something tells me we won't and instead I will be reading about the addition of a 2010 Honda Fit, yet another Lancer, and perhaps a third Jetta."

Seriously? They bought the also-ran Focus just so they could play with Sync. Let's talk about pointless tests, shall we?

sabastian,

As usual you are confused. I believe that the Fit handles well FOR A CHEAP CAR. My post was explaining that in stop and go driving I really could care less about the car's handling potential. The Fit's handling is what everyone is raving about but when you consider its an urban car and how it will be used its handling is almost irrelevant. Why do you think the corolla is the #1 selling compact? Its not because of its tight handling. I get annoyed with all this dismissal of "numbers" and magazines. data serves a purpose. I never said you should buy car based strictly on figures and test results but they serve a purpose. Usually people who want to defend an overpriced underperforming car that is close to their heart are the ones kicking and screaming about "numbers dont tell the story". If they dont tell us anything I dont see the point of having automotive publications. I mean is the Fit REALLY slower than an M3? Can the numbers be trusted? Does the ZR1 really handle better than the Fit or are the numbers playing tricks on us again?

"Seriously? They bought the also-ran Focus just so they could play with Sync. Let's talk about pointless tests, shall we?"

Its only pointless in the minds of people like you who woulnt be caught dead in any Ford. The test makes sense because a) they didnt have a Focus recently and b) no other comparable car has Sync. The Focus is no more dull or cheap than the Fit. The primary difference between the two cars (aside from body style) is that the Fit is more focused on sharp handling while the Focus is more focused on a traditional smooth ride. That doesnt mean the Focus is crap and the Fit is "great". It just means the two manufacturers had different goals in mind.

dgs,

Unfortunately you appear to be a typical defensive Honda fan. You wrongly presume that there are no other decent options available on the market and that only Honda can build a reliable, fuel efficient vehicle. As others have stated this Kia Soul has been getting good reviews and appears to match up well with the Fit in terms of fuel economy while offering more interior style and more standard equipment. If you dont check out anything outside of the Honda store you wont be able to know if Honda is truly as superior as you believe. For the record the Kia Soul has been tested or previewed by virtually every major auto publication in recent weeks.

"Um no it isn't. The KIA soul comes with it and ABS STANDARD at 13K. LOLLLLLLLL Do some research"

Is the KIA Soul information and pricing officially up on the kia.com yet? Not last time I checked. Lets hold off on Soul comparisons until we can actually build a comparable model with official numbers. BTW as a little plug, I'm very excited for the Soul and I hope Edmunds gets one!

I found the Soul pricing for Canada this morning.

Looks like it starts $500 more then a base Fit DX but with a lot more equipment. ($15,495 CDN)

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/02/08/kia-announces-pricing-on-all-new-soul.htm

I'm hopeing Edmunds gets one for a long term test soon as it looks like a real contender.

"Seriously? They bought the also-ran Focus just so they could play with Sync. Let's talk about pointless tests, shall we?"

Well, Sync has surprised just about everyone and has driven sales at the Blue Oval. Being a prior new vehicle salesperson myself, I still have a lot of friends that sell cars. I was visiting one at a Mazda dealership a few months ago and he was telling me a story about a guy that was turning in his CX-7 at the end of his lease.

He really liked the CX-7 and was very interested in leasing another one with all of the options. Unfortunately for my friend, that customer decided to take a look at a few other SUVs and came across the Lincoln MKX. He was really torn between that and the CX-7 but ended up with the Lincoln for one reason: Sync. The Lincoln was more money every month, but the thing that he disliked about all of the cars he has had recently was integrating his iPod and cell phone, and had to have a different setup in each car with cables and adapters and cradles that would all battle for space and the attention of the car's radio. Sync fixed all of that. My friend just couldn't grasp why that customer was excited about Sync (but then he doesn't understand the whole "iPod thing" and thinks whatever is playing on the radio is just fine).

So, Sync has defied what the experts have predicted and spurred sales even on cars that should have been put out to pasture years ago. Is Sync really that good? Does Sync offer enough convenience to drastically sway a consumer away from vehicles that don't have it? It sounds like a science fair winning project to me.

"If they dont tell us anything I dont see the point of having automotive publications. I mean is the Fit REALLY slower than an M3? Can the numbers be trusted? Does the ZR1 really handle better than the Fit or are the numbers playing tricks on us again?"

I realize that this is an enthusiast blog on an enthusiast website, but I'm forced to ask: Have you ever had fun driving a car? Is a car only fun if it can hit 60 in under 4 seconds? Does that mean that cars weren't fun until 10-ish years ago? Alright, I realize that there's an appeal to performance, but it's not a black and white world. Exhibit A: The Nissan GT-R is ridiculously fast but has been criticized for lacking involvement. On the other hand, the Fit's performance numbers don't look fantastic, but it can be fun to dart around in an urban environment where ultimate grip and 0-60 times aren't as much of a concern. At Laguna Seca? Yeah, you're gonna be bored.

By the way, as for the Corolla: It's dull as dishwater. It's bought largely by people looking for basic transportation who are drawn to the Toyota reputation for reliability. It should be noted that if most of these people did even a little bit of research, they would probably end up with something else.

"Its only pointless in the minds of people like you who woulnt be caught dead in any Ford."

My grandfather worked for Ford for 53 years, but sure, I wouldn't be caught dead in one. I'm also an enthusiast, on an enthusiast blog, on an enthusiast website, but I make car buying decisions based purely on what other people think about the badge. Oh by the way, check out the LT intro for the Focus. "So why, eight years later with no significant changes, have we bought another one? Sync. Yes, Sync." Does a single option on a ten year old car deserve a year long test? You may not like the Fit, but at least it's a new car.

Seems like a nice car but in no way, by almost any parameter--performance figures, mileage, utility- can this car even top an 87 Integra. Where's the progress?