Acceleration

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
4	3	3.4

Adequate around town, but engine slow to gather speed, so highway on-ramps, most passing maneuvers demand judgement and often foot-to-the-floor throttle application. Assertive use of smooth-shifting manual transmission results in adequate acceleration for most situations. Fit feels notably lazier with automatic: Test automatic Sport took a lengthy 11.4 sec 0-60 mph. Automatic does have handy steering-column shift paddles that help get most from engine.

Fuel Economy

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
9	8	7

Extended-use test manual transmission Sport averaged 31.9 mpg over its 9023 mile evaluation. Another manual-transmission Sport averaged 35.6 mpg with slightly less highway driving. Automatic-transmission Sports averaged 28.7 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving, 38.4 in test that included mostly highway use.

Ride Quality

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5

Not harsh over bumps but tires do thump on potholes, sharp ridges. Lots of abrupt vertical motions if surface is not glass-smooth. Wagon design invites cargo hauling, but loading test example with some 300 lb of groceries, household items caused pronounced tail sag.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.1

Agile, fun even, in low-to-moderate-speed driving. Body lean increases with cornering speed. Tight, fast turns trigger noseplow. Stable at 70 mph, but can wander in gusty crosswinds and on grooved pavement. Some testers want heavier steering feel. Good stopping ability, but one test Fit's brakes reacted abruptly with just a little pedal movement.

Quietness

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
4	3	3.9

Engine loud at full throttle. Also maintains presence at cruising speeds, though slightly less prominent with manual transmission. Wind noise not intrusive. Tire thrum a constant on most surfaces.

Controls

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.7

Gauges set in deep coves, can be hard to read in some daylight conditions. Well-organized dashboard puts simple, smartly designed controls close at hand. Staff divided on relative quality of cabin materials. Some cite abundance of hard plastic surfaces, thin carpeting, synthetic fabrics, and, in one model tested, a few uneven panel gaps, as unacceptable even at Fit's entry-level positioning. Others maintain interior is nice for the price, with pleasing mix of textures, colors.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5.4

Adult-size roominess, though seat cushions a bit skimpy for larger folk. Driver sits slightly higher than in most other compact cars--a plus. But driving position is awkward because pedals are mounted close and steering wheel far away. Windshield pillars impede vision to corners; good visibility otherwise.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
5	5	3.7

Impressive for this car's small exterior dimensions. Good head clearance. Decent space for legs and feet; six-footers can ride in tandem without undue cramping. Reclining seatbacks a nice touch, but some testers criticize overall seat comfort. As in front, upright styling eases entry/exit.

Cargo Room

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
7	7	4.6

Split rear seat folds easily, creating wagonlike load floor and expanding usefully shaped cargo hold from 21.3 cu ft to 41.9--generous for class. Flip-up rear-seat cushions make room for side-door loading of objects too tall for main cargo bay. Seats can also be arranged to carry items up to 7-ft long. Ample small-item storage.

Value within Class

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
7	6	7.1

Given the tiny footprint it places upon the road, Fit is likely the most space-efficient vehicle on sale in the United States. There are less expensive entry-level rivals, and $1000-$2000 more gets you into a range of more substantial-feeling cars, including Honda's own Civic, the Mazda 3, and the Hyundai Elantra. But you'll be hard pressed to match Fit's blend of thrift, clever packaging, standard safety features, spry road manners, and Honda pedigree. That makes it a Recommended pick.

Total Score

Sport, man.	Sport, auto.	Class Average
57	53	50.9

Scores for all Subcompact Cars

Low Score		45
Average Score		50
High Score		57