The Honda Fit is redesigned for 2009, but it may be tough to tell the first generation from the second.
Even placed side-by-side with the older model, it takes some scrutiny to discern the '09 from the '08. Although it's two inches longer in wheelbase and four inches longer overall, the '09's contours are nearly identical, and the same styling theme is reprised in front. It's easier to pick out from the rear, where the taillights are reshaped but set into similar sheetmetal. Still, it almost appears as though the designers just put blueprints of an '08 on the copier, punched in "102 percent," hit COPY, and called it a day.
Yet the Fit is, indeed, completely redesigned. We can tell because a two-inch wheelbase stretch usually requires a fairly extensive change to the basic platform, not to mention the main bodyshell. And because ... well ... Honda says so. Besides, you don't put out a bound, 40-page, three-color press introduction pamphlet; a 42-page, full-color press introduction kit; a one-gig, custom-printed jump drive with a four-page, four-color printout of its contents; and then fly a dozen journalists and at least that many corporate suits--a couple all the way from the mother country--to beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan for a "freshening." Unless maybe you're Mercedes-Benz.
But when the new model is almost indistinguishable from the old, the burning question becomes ... why bother? Particularly when the "old" Fit was so darn good?
A 2008 Fit (blue) was included in the press drive of the '09 (red) for comparison purposes. Note the new car's enlarged front corner window, thinner front roof pillars, and one-inch larger wheels. In back, the tailgate opening is now lower to ease cargo loading.
More People and Cargo BeneFITs
Fit was without peers in the subcompact class for space efficiency and cargo versatility, and both are better for '09. Aside from adding about an inch to rear legroom and a half-inch to rear headroom, cargo volume with the rear seatback folded increased from 41.9 cubic feet to an SUV-like 57.3 cubic feet--more than a Saturn Vue. Retained was Honda's rear "Magic Seat" (the company's name) that performs some impressive contortions: The seat bottom can fold up to create a high, wide slot for tall cargo; it can fold forward (now in one step, as the rear headrests no longer have to be removed) to leave a large, boxy area; and the front passenger seatback can fold forward in unison with the split rear seatback to form a 7'9" long channel. Plus, it still offers plenty of room for four average adults, five if three of them are really thin--and volunteer to sit in back.
But the Fit's packaging appeal isn't just in sheer volume. There are upper and lower gloveboxes, both of reasonable size, and numerous cupholders, pockets, and trays in easy reach of the driver, along with an underseat storage bin. Two of the cupholders reside just in front of the air vents at each end of the dashboard, which would allow you to keep cold drinks cool with the a/c on, and hot drinks warm with the heat on. Of course, if you want to keep your coffee hot in the summer, you'll have to either block that vent or use one of the eight other cupholders and let your venti half-caf skim double mocha latte fend for itself. A seemingly odd omission is a console box, but there are so many other storage options it's not really missed--at least not when looking to stow something.
A Fitting Interior
What is missed is a center armrest. Base models literally leave you hanging, but uplevel Sport versions offer a fold-down armrest on the seat. Sports also get a slightly nicer seat fabric, but no less hard-plastic interior trim. At least the plastic bits don't come off looking like dollar-store rejects. Otherwise, driver and passenger accommodations are overall quite good. Seats are reasonably comfortable and supportive, and though they lack height adjustment, drivers enjoy a commanding view of the road.
Visibility is better than before thanks to narrower front roof pillars, larger front quarter windows, a taller windshield, and a rear window no longer obscured by tall headrests, as the '09's retract into the seatback. The only gaffes here are the sunvisors, which, when rotated to block sunlight from the side, are worthless; they're far too high to do anyone but an NBA center any good, and don't extend back nearly far enough, covering only about the front half of the window.
Base-model interiors (top) feature stacked climate-control knobs and odd-looking, but functional, audio controls. The newly available navigation system on Sport models (bottom) absorbs some audio controls, but most just move to a different button.
Packaged with the new navigation system is Fit's first antiskid system, which includes traction control. While it's an important safety feature and a real plus in this class, it's available only on the top-line Sport with navigation. Not to complain, but we'd like to see it available on all models, not just the top-line nav-equipped one that starts at nearly $18,000.
Fit for the Road
While Honda claims there have been some mechanical changes that improve Fit's dynamic performance, their effect is subtle at best. The engine produces eight more horsepower with a broader power band, but driven back-to-back with an '08--which Honda kindly provided at the press preview--there wasn't much seat-of-the-pants difference. Around-town acceleration remains adequate with either the 5-speed manual transmission or optional 5-speed automatic, while highway merging and passing takes patience, though the automatic does its part by downshifting quickly for more power.
Sport models with automatic include steering-wheel shift paddles for easy manual override, and have a sport mode that tends to keep the transmission a gear or two lower at a given speed to improve throttle response. Sport mode also changes the programming for the manual-shift feature. When a lower gear is manually selected in normal mode, that gear is held only until the computer determines it's no longer needed, at which point the transmission automatically reverts to the previous ratio. In sport mode, the manually selected gear is held until it's either manually changed or the car comes to a stop, at which time it automatically reverts to first gear. The manual transmission is a joy to use, with a light, easily modulated clutch and slick, positive gear-change action, though the shifter makes an audible clunk during shifts--a characteristic carried over from '08.
Fuel economy seems to have been only slightly affected by the power increase. While we haven't yet had an opportunity to do mileage tests, the EPA has. According to the government agency, the base model with automatic transmission is, perhaps surprisingly, the most frugal. The EPA's ratings are up one mpg to 28 city/35 highway. Others are down about an equal amount, as all get a 27/33 rating. Honda says the Sport with automatic is lower than the base model due to some engine tweaks aimed at better throttle response, increased aerodynamic drag of the spoilers, and increased rolling resistance of the wider tires.
Speaking of tires, they're bigger across the board for '09. Base models go from 14-inch wheels to 15s, still steel with hubcaps. Sports retain alloy wheels that are also one-inch taller, but the tires are now a bit narrower, going from 195/55-15s to 185/55-16s. Sport models also get a firmer suspension, and the combination results in quicker steering response and less body lean in corners--but also a stiffer ride that suffers from a high-frequency jiggle over small bumps and rather jolting hops over larger ones.
Fits in Sport trim have established themselves as the sportiest-feeling cars in the subcompact field, and they retain that title, though folks who do most of their driving on pockmarked roads may not feel the handling benefit is worth the loss in ride comfort. Base models, on the other hand, are among the better-riding cars in the class.
Quiz: Which is the 2008 Fit and which is the 2009? Trick question. They're both '09s. The silver Sport model shows off its more aggressive front spoiler and standard fog lamps.
In a subcompact-car comparison test Consumer Guide conducted during spring 2008, the Fit came in a close second to the Suzuki SX4, which made its mark with a stout-feeling body structure, sprightly acceleration, nice interior accommodations and materials, and standard all-wheel drive. However, it has far less cargo room than the Fit, and it weighs a bunch. This doesn't help in the fuel-economy department, one that's more important today than just a few months ago. Both the SX4 and the Fit were extended-use vehicles, and the Fit had developed a very un-Honda-like squeak in its hard plastic dashboard that didn't do it any favors in balloting; its 31.9-mpg average vs. SX4's 24.7, however, did. So for those focusing on functionality and frugality, the Fit was an easy top pick.
Since the redesigned Fit is nothing but better than the original, we see no reason it shouldn't at least match its predecessor as a Consumer Guide Recommended choice. And with even greater functionality and additional modern features, we feel safe in saying that if you liked the 2008 Fit, you'll probably like the 2009 model ... at least 2 percent more.
09.16.2008
