Test Drive: 2009 Honda Fit

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

$17K worth of room in a $15K package
Likes:

Zippy powertrain when equipped with the manual transmission
Plentiful passenger and cargo room
Flush-fitting rear head restraints
Dislikes:

Fuel economy not as good as Honda Civic
Pricier than some competitors
Lack of Vehicle Stability Assist

Competes With: Nissan Versa Hatchback, Toyota Yaris, Scion xD

Test Drive: 2009 Honda Fit
Honda reworked the 2009 Honda Fit five-door hatchback after only three years in the U.S. market. At first glance, the compact wagon seems to have changed little and was actually only a minor refresh of the five-door Honda Fit hatch we've grown accustomed to. Closer scrutiny however, reveals that the new Fit doesn't share a single piece of sheet metal with the previous Honda Fit. Under the skin, new energy absorbing body structure called Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) further distinguishes the 2009 Fit from the previous generation.

We were introduced to the 2009 Honda Fit (with a starting price of $15,220) at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades along side three of its competitors to prove its supremacy over the competition. On hand for our review alongside the Fit and Fit Sport Nav as we wound our way through the mountains and along the Pacific Coast Highway, were the Nissan Versa Hatchback, Toyota Yaris and Scion xD.

The Engine
Although not designed for sports-car handling, the 2009 Honda Fit is still fun to drive. The Fit's 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine delivers a paltry 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 lb.-ft. of torque, but the drivetrain has been improved for zippier off the line action, and improved uphill pull.

Compared to the automatic transmission, which we found only adequate during our drive of the Honda Fit Sport Nav, we found the base Honda Fit with a five-speed manual transmission a fun car to drive. At least as long as you have a willingness to keep the engine in the higher rpms. And while we found the Honda Fit with the manual transmission to be perfectly willing to enjoy winding through the hills, it seemed happiest on flat ground where it has just enough grunt to create a sense of speed as it weaves in and out of traffic.

Ride & Handling
The 2009 Honda Fit leverages the advantages that many small vehicles have -- light precise steering and just enough torque to scoot you along -- which makes it feel much quicker than it actually is. Because of the small tires and high profile, the base Honda Fit tends to lean a bit when pushed in corners. And unlike the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) equipped Honda Fit Sport Nav we also drove, this Fit felt tippy and the wheels let us know their displeasure in being whipped so hard.

Even after hours of running up and down the tangled canyons above the Pacific coastline, the Honda Fit showed no sign of brake fade.

Interior & Exterior
Outward visibility in the 2009 Honda Fit is class-leading. Big windows all around and rear-seat head restraints that drop flush with the seat back almost completely eliminate blind spots. On the dash, the three climate control knobs that sweep in an arc around the outside diameter of the steering wheel are large, pronounced and easy to use.

A model of convenience, the Honda Fit squeezes a storage compartment into nearly every usable space. Plenty of cupholders, an upper and lower glovebox, and numerous door and side pockets nearly guarantee that you will not be wanting for more space for your stuff.

The second row of seating in the Honda Fit is referred to as the "Magic Seat" by Honda. The name fits the Fit. The ease of folding the Magic Seat for hauling cargo is unmatched in the compact car class. Each side of the 60/40 split seat can be folded flat for hauling longer items, or you can fold the seat cushions vertically to accommodate taller items. In addition, the Magic Seat now comes with a storage compartment built into the base that can be accessed when the seat is folded. Perhaps the most impressive trick of all is that the Honda Fit has enough room for four adults to ride comfortably.

Honda claims that there's room for five but we're going with four if they are all adults. The excellent rear visibility is improved even more by the addition of head restraints that set flush with the top of the seatback when not in use.

Next Page: 2009 Honda Fit Summary & Specifications

See the Overview: 2009 Honda Fit

See the Quick Look: 2009 Honda Fit



By Vernon Heywood

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