2008 Honda Fit: Road Test
2008 Honda Fit Manual
2008 Honda Fit ▼
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- MSRP: $13,950 - $16,070
- Invoice: $13,453 - $15,488
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Our road test for the 2008 Honda Fit includes a full evaluation of the 2008 Honda Fit from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2008 Honda Fit, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2008 Honda Fit help you decide if a 2008 Honda Fit is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 |
Adequate around town, but Fit's engine is slow to gather speed, so highway on-ramps and most passing maneuvers demand judgment and often foot-to-the-floor throttle application. Assertive use of the smooth-shifting manual transmission results in adequate acceleration for most situations. Fit feels notably lazier with the automatic: A Sport took a lengthy 11.4 sec 0-60 mph in our test. Automatic does have handy steering-column shift paddles that help get the most from the engine.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 8 |
In Consumer Guide testing, an 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 a test that included mostly highway use. Fit uses regular-grade gas.
RIDE QUALITY
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.7 |
Not harsh over bumps, but the tires do thump on potholes and sharp ridges. There are lots of abrupt vertical motions if the road surface is not glass-smooth. Fit's hatchback design invites cargo hauling, but loading a test example with some 300 lb of items caused pronounced tail sag.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | 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 Fit 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, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 4.1 |
The engine is loud at full throttle and maintains its presence at cruising speeds. It's slightly less prominent with manual transmission. Wind noise is not intrusive. Tire thrum is a constant on most surfaces.
CONTROLS
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5.6 |
Gauges set in deep coves and can be hard to read in some daylight conditions. Well-organized dashboard puts simple, smartly designed controls close at hand.
DETAILS
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.6 |
Fit's cabin is awash in hard-plastic surfaces, has thin carpeting, synthetic fabrics, and, in one model tested, a few uneven panel gaps. Most of our testers find that unacceptable even at Fit's entry-level positioning. Some testers maintain the interior is nice for the price, with a pleasing mix of textures and colors.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.5 |
Adult-size roominess, though the seat cushions are a bit skimpy for larger folks. The driver sits slightly higher than in most other compact cars--a plus. The driving position is awkward because the pedals are mounted close and steering wheel far away. Windshield pillars impede vision to the corners. Visibility is good otherwise.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 3.2 |
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 are a nice touch, but some testers criticize overall seat comfort. As in front, upright styling eases entry and exit.
CARGO ROOM
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 4.5 |
Split rear seat folds easily, creating a wagonlike load floor and expanding a 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 the main cargo bay. Seats can also be arranged to carry items up to 7-ft long. Small-item storage is ample.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 6.7 |
Though pricier than class rivals, Fit offers an enviable blend of fuel economy, space efficiency, and driving pleasure. Cabin materials fall short of what we've come to expect from Honda, but this frugal subcompact still earns our Recommended honor.
Total Score
| Sport, manual | Sport, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 58 | 55 |
Total Score: 60
Scores for all Subcompact Cars
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