2010 Honda Fit

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

Honda's reputation for solid engineering translates well in the Fit. Although several reviewers grumble about noticeable road noise, everyone agrees that it works well as a daily driver. While it's not as zippy as the Mazda3, the Fit still has a bit of zoom-zoom of its own.

• "The engine makes a lot of noise under load, and with 115 hp, it's always under load, making it sound coarse and strained at anything other than idle. Drop a few gears while attempting to pass, and even turning up the stereo won't cover up the racket." -- Car Gurus
• "The 1.5-liter, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is tuned to deliver a rewarding combination of power and fuel economy." -- Automotive.com
• "The engine is fairly quiet at idle, but produces a buzzy whine under acceleration, especially at higher engine speeds. Bump noise is well suppressed, but wind and road noise combine for raucous highway travel." -- Consumer Guide
• "OK, 117 horsepower shouldering 2,500 pounds of subcompact car won't win you many stop-light grands prix. It won't bolster your confidence about merging seamlessly with fast-moving freeway traffic. And you'll not treat overtaking on two-lane roads as routine. If you sense an approaching "however," here it is: the Honda Fit never feels frustratingly slow." -- Iguida.com
• "We got behind the wheel of a Sport model with the automatic transmission, which includes a set of solid paddle shifters. This is and will be Honda's most popular model, and for good reason. For something this small and inexpensive, it's one of the most fun things we've driven in a long time." -- Motor Trend

Acceleration and Power

The Honda Fit is not a sports car, but it does deliver a reasonably satisfying ride for its class. Moreover, its excellent fuel economy would make nearly all of its class competitors green with envy. That said, if speed is important to you, consider the Mazda3 -- it has power to spare and a base price in the same general range as the Fit.

All Fits are equipped with the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 117 horsepower, giving the car some pep. Most reviewers agree that the standard manual transmission gives the Fit a sporty feel, but the Fit Sport's automatic with Dual-Mode Paddle Shifter System also delivers a more fun ride.

The EPA reports the base 2010 Fit achieves 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with an automatic transmission -- a fuel economy which is better than most of the Fit's competition. 

• "Adequate around town with either transmission, though Fit feels livelier with the manual. Highway passing takes patience, but at least the automatic kicks down quickly for more power." -- Consumer Guide
• "At 115 hp, the 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine in the Fit isn't fast. It's not even sprightly. However, the manual transmission does help it feel a bit more virile, especially when compared with the comparatively flaccid automatic." -- Car Gurus
• "Its smooth-spinning engine incites you to run it well up the rev range. Both transmissions shift quickly to exploit torque, which admittedly is a modest 106 pound-feet but surprisingly accessible thanks to Honda's latest i-VTEC technology that irons out its peaks and valleys." -- Iguida.com
• "The Fit earns its fuel economy the old-fashioned way: with modest acceleration. Technology like variable valve timing helps the 1.5-liter four-cylinder deliver even, usable power, but the emphasis here is on efficiency." -- Cars.com
• "As isolated and smooth as it is over rough roads, the new Fit isn't quite the go-kart it once was. A back-to-back drive of old versus new confirmed our impressions. We suspect most drivers looking for a car in this class will be willing to trade some of that spunky fun attitude for the more refined package -- especially if long freeway commutes are the norm rather than the exception." -- Popular Mechanics

Handling and Braking

Test drivers tend to agree that the Fit offers excellent ride quality although they say the Sport model offers better handling than the base model. The Fit is a great choice as an urban runabout, but if an ultra-smooth ride is high on your priorities list, you should definitely take the Volkswagen Rabbit for a test drive. It has one of the most velvety rides in its class, although it costs around $1,500 more than the Fit.

• "The real secret to Fit's zippy nature is terrifically direct steering and nimble handling. This is most apparent at low to moderate speeds, where the car dives into corners, carves them precisely, and exits with little bobbing or lean. Their tauter suspension and wider tires give Fit Sports enough advantage to convince sensitive drivers of extra money well spent." -- Iguida.com
• "Sport models shine here, as they exhibit sharper steering response and less body lean in turns that helps them live up to their name. Base models feel somewhat soggier. Tidy exterior dimensions make all Fits highly maneuverable." -- Consumer Guide
• "Sport models handle better than the slightly sluggish Base, with a sport suspension and low-profile tires on their larger 16-inch wheels, but the ride becomes harsh, and reactions to bumps and ripples much more pronounced." -- Car Gurus
• "Like all subcompacts, it's highly maneuverable and a great urban runabout. Where the Fit rises above the rest is in the way it actually drives. Because of its approximately 2,500-pound curb weight and wonderfully direct steering, the Fit feels light and nimble while cornering." -- Edmunds
• "Superb handling is what really stands out with the 2009 Honda Fit. It's no sports car, but we found the Fit rather agile, thanks in part to the added body rigidity and, on the Sport trim, the rear stabilizer bar." -- Kelley Blue Book