Item: 2017 Honda Fit
Author: Patrick Frawley

Overview

The Honda Fit doesn’t get nearly anything close to the attention bestowed upon the larger Civic, but this subcompact hatchback shouldn’t be easily dismissed either. Superior build quality, excellent cargo space, and a low price are three important reasons to consider Honda’s smallest car.

What's new for 2017

The 2017 Honda Fit is unchanged for 2017 except for one minor detail: Lunar Silver metallic replaces Alabaster Silver metallic among the eight available exterior paint colors.

Choosing Your Honda Fit

All 2017 Honda Fit models are powered by a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine making 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. Two transmission choices are available: a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Lightweight and thrifty, the 2017 Fit is rated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway when equipped with the manual transmission. The more efficient powertrain combination for this front-wheel drive, five-passenger hatchback is the CVT. It is EPA-rated at 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

All models are equipped with a second row “magic seat,” what provides four unique configurations for holding passengers and cargo.

Three standard trim levels are available.

Matthew Keegan

Contributing Editor - August 26, 2016

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Expert Review

Expert Rating

Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Patrick Frawley

Automotive Editor - May 18, 2017

The Fit takes many of Honda's automotive traditions – thoughtful design, clever engineering, a sense of driving satisfaction – and mixes them down into a small, economical and appealingly versatile form. Its compact dimensions enclose an impressive amount of interior space and it offers a level of refinement that is unusual in such an affordable vehicle.

Pricing and Equipment

The Fit lineup consists of three trim levels. The LX starts from $16,965 (all prices listed here include the $875 destination charge). Its standard equipment list includes Bluetooth connectivity and a rearview camera. The EX stickers at $18,875, and that increase pays for a number of features and upgrades such as:

Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot mitigation system
Touchscreen control for the infotainment system, which now includes Pandora compatibility
16-inch alloy wheels
A moonroof
Keyless ignition

The EX-L weighs in at a $21,240 and adds heated side mirrors and heated leather front seats, while the steering wheel and shift knob are also wrapped in cowhide. The EX-L is also available with an expanded infotainment system that adds voice-operated navigation and SiriusXM and HD radio receivers. Options on any Fit are limited to dealer-installed accessories

All Fits use a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual or a continuously-variable transmission sends power to the front wheels. The CVT is standard on the EX-L and optional on the LX and EX. Save for the wheels (15-inch steel wheels with covers on the LX, 16-inch alloys on the EX and EX-L) mechanical specifications are identical among the three trim levels. Manual-transmission Fits earn EPA mileage estimates of 29 mpg city, 36 highway, and 32 combined. Opting for the CVT boosts estimates to 33/40/36 mpg.

Performance Pros

Compared to its well-respected predecessor the current-generation Fit is a bit quicker, quieter, and smoother.
Both transmissions are excellent. The six-speed is quick and direct, and the CVT is very well-calibrated to minimize flat spots and lag.
To say the Fit gets some of the best safety ratings in its size class sells the car short – the Fit's crash scores are among the best on the market regardless of vehicle size.

Performance Cons

Compared to its predecessor the current-generation Fit is less fun to drive, with softer suspension tuning and more body motion.
The engine's good manners start to fade as the revs climb high, where noisy coarseness replaces power.

Interior Pros

The Fit's calling card is its interior, which is very roomy and offers class-leading versatility.
The second-row "Magic Seat" lives up to its name. Owners can set it in four different configurations to suit a variety of cargo or passenger needs, and switching between positions is easy.
Instead of radar-based blind spot monitors, the EX and EX-L feature LaneWatch – a wide-angle camera shows the right-side view of the car on the infotainment screen when a right turn is signaled – all but eliminating a troublesome blind spot.

Interior Cons

The front seats of the Fit are basic to the point of being slightly undersupportive.
The instrument panel styling is more sci-fi dazzle than straightforward logic.
The touchscreen controls for the infotainment system can be fiddly.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

We continue to be impressed by the Fit's abundant interior space. Tall passengers may find the rear seat more accommodating than ones found in much larger cars.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

One person's refinement is another's loss of directness and character. Honda's efforts to make the Fit feel smoother and more upscale continue to dilute the liveliness that once was a company trademark.

The Bottom Line

The Fit's size and price say subcompact, but no one told the rest of the car. Customers who value innate goodness and capability instead of external dimensions should give the Fit serious consideration.

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Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

1.5L I-4 / 130 HP / 114 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 6-spd man w/OD

Available: 2-spd CVT w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

29 / 36 / 33 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	1.5L I-4 / 130 HP / 114 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	29 / 36 / 33 Mpg
Brakes	Front Disc/rear Drum
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel	Compact Steel
Fuel Tank	10.6 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$40

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	52.7 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	96 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	160.0 "
Exterior Width	67.0 "
Exterior Height	60.0 "
Front Headroom	39.5 "
Rear Headroom	37.5 "
Front Legroom	41.4 "
Rear Legroom	39.3 "
Front Shoulder Room	54.8 "
Rear Shoulder Room	52.6 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	2,513 Lbs. / 2,544 Lbs.
Wheel Base	100 "
Turning Radius	17.5 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	15.0 " Steel
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote
Bumpers	Body-colored
Grille Moldings	Black / With Metal-look Bar
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Cloth
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats	60-40 Split-bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Am/fm Stereo, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers	4
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror	Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	2

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Smartvent Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Smartvent Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems	Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Immobilizer

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months	36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Used 2017 Honda Fit for Sale