The 2011 Honda Fit offers near minivanlike roominess and utility in a small, fun-to-drive car that’s great on gas and easy to maneuver and park. Maximum cargo space is a whopping 57.3 cu ft. A key enabler is the Fit’s rear Magic Seat, which, due to the gas tank being located under the front seats, can be folded flat no matter where the front seats are positioned by using a handy lever that accomplishes the task in a single motion. With the passenger seat folded forward and the rear seat down, the tiny Fit can easily hold a 6-foot ladder, yet the Fit remains nimble and maneuverable, with a curb-to-curb turning circle of just 34.4 feet. New for 2011 is standard VSA (or Vehicle Stability Assist) stability control. The 2011 Fit doesn’t achieve hybridlike fuel economy, but equipped with its perky 117-horsepower 4-cylinder, it’s rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 28 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the optional 5-speed automatic. The Fit’s standard equipment list now includes cruise control, keyless remote entry, a USB audio interface, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, a driver’s footrest, and driver and front-passenger vanity mirrors. A navigation system is optional.
Autotrader’s Advice:
After gas prices spiked several years ago, automakers retooled subcompacts offered in other parts of the world for U.S. consumption. The Honda Fit, sold elsewhere as the Jazz, is proof that small cars don’t need to feel cheap or be boring to drive. Any used Fit, provided that it has received regular care and maintenance, is a good used-car choice for first-time buyers or for anyone who appreciates a well-designed, well-engineered small car that’s fun to drive and economical to own. While the base Fit offers a lot of car for the money, the Fit Sport provides an upgraded appearance, sportier handling and higher amenities that make the small-car ownership experience all the more enjoyable. Look for lower-mileage examples that have seen obvious care and maintenance, and make sure to get a car-history report.
What We Like:
Fun-to-drive character; great outward visibility and maneuverability; outstanding interior roominess and versatility; good fuel economy; value for dollar; standard stability control.
What We Don’t:
Engine is buzzy at freeway speeds; some wind noise; no sixth-gear option.
Original MSRP:
$15,870-$17,630 (when new).
MPG:
The Honda Fit and Fit Sport are powered by a thrifty 1.5-liter single-overhead-camshaft 4-cylinder. Equipped with four valves per cylinder and Honda’s i-VTEC (which stands for intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control) system, the 1.5-liter generates 117 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel. Both the Fit and Fit Sport are available with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic. The automatic in the Fit Sport includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the option of manually controlled sequential shifts. Fit models with the 5-speed automatic are rated by the EPA at 28 mpg city/35 mpg hwy, while Fit Sport models with the automatic and all Fits and Fit Sports with the 5-speed manual gearbox receive a 27 mpg city/33 mpg hwy rating. All models are equipped with front-wheel drive.
Standard Features & Options:
The 2011 Honda Fit is available in Fit and Fit Sport trims.
The standard Fit includes 15-inch steel wheels, 175/65R15 tires, air conditioning with cabin air filtration, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a 4-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with speed-sensitive volume and an MP3 decoder, a USB audio interface, intermittent wipers, reclining front bucket seats, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, cloth upholstery, anti-lock brakes, VSA stability control, dual front- and side-impact airbags, overhead airbags and power locks, windows and mirrors.
The
2011 Fit Sport models gain 16-in alloy wheels, 185/55R16 tires, a 6-speaker upgraded audio system, map lights, a perforated-leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated controls, steering-wheel shift paddles (automatic transmission only), fog lamps, a chrome-tipped exhaust, a rear spoiler, an underbody aero kit, a security system and body-colored side skirts. The Fit Sport is also available with optional navigation with voice recognition.
Safety:
NHTSA did not rate the 2011 for frontal impacts or side impacts, but the small hatchback did earn four stars for rollover performance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2011 Fit Good ratings for moderate-overlap front and side impacts, as well as for head-restraint and seat tests, but an Acceptable rating for roof strength and a Poor rating under the new, upgraded tests for small-overlap front impacts.
Behind the Wheel:
The Honda Fit is a great first car for buyers with limited funds and is a good used-car choice for anyone looking for a thrifty, fun-to-drive small car with incredible roominess and versatility.
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