I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.
The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.
Continue reading The Big List of Fuel Economy.
Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Ford GT,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2007 Honda Fit Sport,2007 Kia Rondo,2007 Saturn Aura XR,2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab,2008 BMW 135i,2008 BMW X5 4.8i,2008 Buick Enclave CX,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6,2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD,2008 Mazda CX-9,2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Scion xB,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Nissan GT-R
Thanks to the unique folding properties of our 2007 Honda Fit Sport's rear seat, a trip to the groomer was easy for Rudie, our 80 lb. German Shepard mix. He came from a shelter, so the actual ingredients of the mix are anyone's guess. Rottie or Doberman are the two leading theories.
What isn't in doubt is the utter flexibility of the Fit's rear seat design. In addition to folding down the usual way to expand the volume when loaded from the hatch, the rear seat bottoms can be folded up against the seat backs to create a tall space suitable for a big dog, a bicycle or any other sort of tall, slender cargo. A big-screen, perhaps? Framed artworks? No problem. Simply load them from the curb via the rear door.
The hidden secret that makes it work even better is an unusual gas tank location--under the front seats. This provides an ultra-low and ultra-flat load floor unlike any other.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 25,765 miles
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Good gracious. The last time we posted fuel economy numbers for our spry little Honda Fit was last September
. I guess we've had our hands full with other things
and more other things
since then. But gas mileage is the name of the game these days, so here's how we're doing.
Best tank: 40.1
Worst tank: 22.4
Lifetime average: 31.0
Discuss.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 26,545 miles
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Call me weird.
Ok, you can stop now.
Anyway, I like the car I'm driving to have controls with the weight and feedback proportionate to the car's performance potential and personality. Take the Fit, for example...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: Input = Output.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Sometimes I like to stir the pot with a controversial manual-shifter-related post. Today's bold claim: shifting our long-term Honda Fit smoothly is not the no-brainer it should be. I was trying to figure out exactly what the problem was while puttering around town last night, and I've concluded it's twofold: (1) the clutch's takeup point is narrow and abrupt (as opposed to the Lancer's, for example, which is extraordinarily forgiving), and (2) the Fit's emissions-control software causes the revs to "hang" for an extra beat or two while the clutch is depressed, so that if you're shifting quickly -- which the snick-snick shifter encourages you to do -- the revs may still be hanging when you've finished upshifting to the next gear, causing the car to lurch a bit.
Honda has historically made some of the best shifter/clutch combos in the business, so the Fit's awkwardness in this regard is a surprise...
But when I look at our roster of long-term manual-shift cars, the Fit's the only one on the list that I never feel entirely comfortable driving. Even the Ferrari's clutch is a cinch after a couple miles. In the Fit, though, I'm never quite sure whether my next shift will be a smooth one.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 25,609 miles
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Here's what the driver's side floor mat in our long-term Honda Fit looks like every time I climb inside:
Notice that it's jammed up under the gas pedal which prevents one from achieving wide-open throttle -- a much-needed position in a car with only 109 horsepower. The red arrows show where the retaining clips which once held it in place used to reside. Good-bye full throttle. Rest in peace...
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 25,430 miles.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
I have put many miles on our long-term Honda Fit, and I have to say, it's really quite an enjoyable little car. As a car fan and a fast, enthusiastic driver, I'd want something more powerful, quick and sporty, but that said, it's really such a pleasant little city car. What I think I like most about it is its utter simplicity and purity. While so many cars come loaded to the gills with gadgets and lights and beeps and cameras and traffic sensors and all kinds of, well, extra goodies (the dreaded iDrive comes to mind), this one's got a single-CD stereo, easily readable buttons and a great climate control system...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: Simplicity Itself.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Above, our Fit is patiently waiting for a photo shoot to wrap. It's been getting a lot of use as the photo mule these days. So why is that?
1. For some reason the Ford GT is never available...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: The New Mule.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
The Fit doesn't always get the respect it deserves. We might as well call it Rodney.
Well Rodney, my good friend, If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to do my job. With your seats folded flat I'm able to haul my gear around easily...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit: My Photo Sherpa.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
We've praised the Honda Fit's
incredibly fluid shifter before
, but for some reason, I was more aware of it than ever this weekend. Every shift was so light , so effortless. It honestly felt as if my hand was being guided by a chorus of incredibly attentive anime angels. When the temperature is as butt-scalding-hot as it was the weekend, the last thing you want to have to do is work too hard...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: Supple Shifter.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
I took our 2007 Honda Fit Sport to the relatives' this weekend, where I was bestowed with a hand-me-down vanity set for my young daughter. The obvious question: Could I get it home in this tiny economy car?
Fortunately, the answer was yes, The vanity, which was about 17" deep and twice as high, fit nicely behind the second row of seats when turned on its side. The stool tucked in as well...
Continue reading What really fits in a 2007 Honda Fit Sport?.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
We are dope fiends for big wheels, aren't we?
It's the sidewall of the tires that we should be talking about, of course. Since big wheels simply make it possible to produce tires with narrower sidewalls, and that's the feature that delivers quicker steering response. But instead we're all over the wheels, equating bigger with better. When you look at design renderings for future concept cars, you can barely see any tire at all.
And yet the secret to the Honda Fit is its tiny wheels.
If you want real packaging efficiency with as much interior space as possible, it's a good idea to start with smaller wheels. Take a seat in the Honda Fit and you'll notice you're not swinging your legs around a giant wheel well in front of you, and there's plenty of room in the footwell to set up the pedals in a natural position...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: The Secret of Tiny Wheels.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
I don’t know about you all, but I refuse to drive around by myself with the front passenger seat slid all the way forward. Whenever I see that someone’s left the seat that way, I compulsively slide it back so that it’s roughly parallel with the driver seat. So it was in our long-term Honda Fit when I brought it along to Joshua Tree National Park last week -- someone had left the passenger seat all the way up, so I promptly slid it back. Except this time I got a little more than I’d bargained for. “In the name of Soichiro Honda,” I exclaimed, “what…is…THAT!”
I’m taking suggestions. Meanwhile, browse onward for a few Joshua Tree pics. I averaged a little over 35 mpg for the trip, by the way -- mainly unimpeded highway driving, A/C blasting (to the extent that the Fit’s apathetic A/C can be said to blast), with some stop-and-go mixed in.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 23,283 miles
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: My Unlovely Honda Hump.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Ive been spending a lot of quality time with our venerable long-term Fit recently, and I have to say Im less than aurally impressed with its engine. While the Fits engine note has been
lauded
by at least one of my colleagues, I cant find much to like about the 1.5-liters uncouth booming north of 4,000 rpm. Thing about the Fit is, youll be north of 4k rather frequently if you want to keep up with traffic, so youre going to hear that strident soundtrack on the regular, like it or not. It doesnt help that the emissions-friendly engine calibration has given our Fit an unfortunate (though not uncommon) case of hanging revs...
Continue reading 2007 Honda Fit Sport: Boom-Boom.
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport
Dash rattle so soon?
Coming from the center stack.
Japan-made. What gives?
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 22,509 miles
Categories: 2007 Honda Fit Sport