Power comes from a 16-valve, 1.5-litre inline-4 that develops 117 horses and 106 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 5-speed manual, the Fit is good for 10.2-second sprints to 100 km/h. The engine feels lively, while the clutch and shifter combo make the car pretty fun to drive, perhaps the most amusing among subcompacts after the MINI Cooper.
What spoils the driving experience quite a bit, though, is how noisy the Fit’s cabin gets on the highway. At 100 km/h, the engine spins at 3,000 rpm, which is just too high. The optional 5-speed automatic includes taller gear ratios; they make the car a little slower during acceleration, but engine revs are lower on the highway, which means less noise and better fuel economy.
Even published figures favour the automatic on the open road, at 5.4 L/100 km versus 5.7 with the manual transmission. Still, our average of 6.2 L/100 km over the course of the test week is pretty good. Imagine if the Fit could count on a 6-speed manual with a tall 6th gear, fuel consumption would be even better. If you spend most of your commute on the highway, the automatic would be a better choice in the Fit.
The base Fit DX starts out at $14,480 before tax, freight and delivery charges, while our Sport trim lists for $18,780. The mid-grade LX is arguably the best deal at $16,880. Competition for the Fit Sport includes the Ford Fiesta SES ($18,899), the Mazda2 GS ($18,195), the Nissan Versa 1.8 SL with Sport Package ($19,448) and the Toyota Yaris RS ($19,530). A MINI Cooper Classic is more thrilling but much less spacious, and lists for $21,950.
And let’s not forget the newcomers in the subcompact category, such as the Scion xD (well, new in Canada at least), the 2012 Hyundai Accent, the 2012 Kia Rio and the Fiat 500.
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| The 1.5-litre engine develops 117 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Honda) |
What spoils the driving experience quite a bit, though, is how noisy the Fit’s cabin gets on the highway. At 100 km/h, the engine spins at 3,000 rpm, which is just too high. The optional 5-speed automatic includes taller gear ratios; they make the car a little slower during acceleration, but engine revs are lower on the highway, which means less noise and better fuel economy.
Even published figures favour the automatic on the open road, at 5.4 L/100 km versus 5.7 with the manual transmission. Still, our average of 6.2 L/100 km over the course of the test week is pretty good. Imagine if the Fit could count on a 6-speed manual with a tall 6th gear, fuel consumption would be even better. If you spend most of your commute on the highway, the automatic would be a better choice in the Fit.
The base Fit DX starts out at $14,480 before tax, freight and delivery charges, while our Sport trim lists for $18,780. The mid-grade LX is arguably the best deal at $16,880. Competition for the Fit Sport includes the Ford Fiesta SES ($18,899), the Mazda2 GS ($18,195), the Nissan Versa 1.8 SL with Sport Package ($19,448) and the Toyota Yaris RS ($19,530). A MINI Cooper Classic is more thrilling but much less spacious, and lists for $21,950.
And let’s not forget the newcomers in the subcompact category, such as the Scion xD (well, new in Canada at least), the 2012 Hyundai Accent, the 2012 Kia Rio and the Fiat 500.
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| Our fuel consumption average is 6.2 L/100 km. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |