Editors' Notes

Though Fit is 19.3 inches shorter than Civic, Honda designers were able to squeeze in nearly equal passenger space and more cargo room.

John Biel: There's no denying that the Fit is fairly inexpensive to buy, offers decent cargo space, and gets great fuel mileage. That said, this tester is increasingly disenchanted by the car's squeaks and rattles, a wobbly feeling shifter, and so-so traction in the snow.

Damon Bell: The Fit is a feat of space efficiency, with Honda's typical engineering excellence. But after spending 1,400 noisy, bumpy highway miles in our long-term Fit Sport, I'd gladly cough up the 1-2K extra for a more-comfortable, more-substantial Civic.

Chuck Giametta: Given the tiny footprint it places upon the road, Fit is likely the most space-efficient vehicle on sale in the U.S. It's also a vision of things to come, given the painful price of gas. Yes, you can buy less-expensive subcompacts, but you'll be hard-pressed to match Fit's blend of standard safety features, quality assembly, clever packaging, and Honda pedigree.

Tom Appel: Slow as this vehicle is, it is rewarding to drive. There's more lean than you'd expect in something this small and light, but the steering is a delight, and the engine is a blast to spool out--which you have to do if you have any intention of keeping up with traffic. Cabin and cargo-area materials disappoint and the price is high, but there's enough Honda spunk here to justify the purchase.

Rick Cotta: Fit costs more than other B-class cars, such as the Toyota Yaris, but might well be the class of the class. Interior materials best those of most rivals, and Fit's conventional instrument layout (located ahead of the driver) might appeal to folks who dislike the center-mounted gauges in most competitors.

Ed Piotrowski: Fit is a versatile little wagon that gets great fuel economy. But it's slow (even among others in the class), and the interior materials aren't up to Honda's usually high standards. It's also priced at the upper end of the new generation of subcompact cars. What would be a fine car from most other manufacturers is merely OK as a Honda. Honda's own Civic LX is far and away a better car, and it costs only $1,500 more than this Fit Sport.

Jennifer Geiger: Fit is a fun-to-drive, cleverly-packaged subcompact with quirky-cool styling. It belies its subcompact label with plenty of people and cargo space, yet impresses with subcompact-class fuel economy figures. The interior is a heaping bin of plastic, but its gauges are well laid out and easy to use. Despite Fit's compact car sticker price, this subcompact is worth a look.