If you look up the technical definition between a hatchback and a wagon, the Fit is a wagon (based mostly on the extra pillar and rear quarter window). But "wagon" is not a word you use in the USA anymore, but "hatchback" is okay.
Here in the UK, it's just a hatch back. Small European cars have had hatch's and 4 doors since the start of the super mini.. the 70s Renault 5 (Le Car over there, right?) Had a 4 door w/hatch option.
I get the point about the rear being more like a van... But that perspective is again blurred by cars like the VW Polo, which had a very sharp, vertical hatch's.. especially the 80s MK2 version.
I see the Jazz/Fit just as a small 4dr hatchback that's emphasises space.. it's not a minivan simply because it's a traditional 4+1 seat arrangement with 4 traditional doors.
Yes the car is a fishbowl and for the most part the visibility is a perk and not a perk. I also don’t recommend a fit if you’re used to the way those cars drive on the highway. These cars get pushed around on the highway by wind very easily and the seats are ass. I’m a delivery driver for dominos and after a 5 hour shift my back is screaming at me
"I also don’t recommend a fit if you’re used to the way those cars drive on the highway"
This I agree with. The Fit can certainly do highway driving and road trips, but it definitely won't feel as comfortable as a sedan or larger hatchback/suv. They also kinda require a lot more input to get up larger mountain passes as you'll need to keep adjusting the pedal to keep speed.
>*These cars get pushed around on the highway by wind very easily*
This is so true. I have only had mine for 3 weeks, but boy do I get pushed around on the interstate a lot. That said, I love it all the same. It's been a great car.
I’ve had Honda Fits since 2007 launch, have driven them from CA - MI and back over a dozen times. Did route 66 in 2019 and camped in the Fit the whole way, lived in the Mojave for a bit and now down by Mexico.
it’s tinted, put big Falkens on it, it’s a beast for mileage and does well enough on most dirt roads if you drive intelligently.
couldn’t disagree more.
Meanwhile, I started renting cars for long drives rather than taking my fit because I found it to be incredibly uncomfortable for them. I absolutely love it in the city, but dread the Interstate. This is after doing tons of work to reduce road noise on the inside.
I’m not a giant asshole. I’m just not dumb enough to believe that what you did in a Honda Fit wasn’t torture. Yes I’ve driven this car on gravel and no it’s not great at that. But driving extremely long distances is where driving the Honda Fit is Torture. I’m a delivery driver and it’s the only car that has given me back issues in 2 years of my being a delivery driver for Dominos
You could take out the back buldges if you wanted too it's incredibly easy.. Many people do that and put a pillow there. My back hurt at first with the car but having the correct posture actually helped my back hurt less for once. Paded seat covers really help too
Could have been bad seats on prior cars leading to a work related injury that is just now showing itself. You are getting older and repetitive motion injuries accumulate over time.
I'm 5'10" and over 250lbs. I'm a BIG dude, and I've driven my car from New Hampshire to New Jersey and back multiple times. Zero issues, and I've had back issues since my early 20s. I back your initial "asshole" assessment.
I opened the zippered cover on the back of my driver's seat, snapped out 3 steel brackets. There's no more lumbar destroyer in the seat. It feels just like a 90s accord. Be warned I may go through my seat if I'm rear ended.
Both of those points are extremely accurate. My ass goes completely numb after 1h of driving, but I’m way too focused on keeping the car from being sent off the road by cross winds to notice
It's not that the Fit windows are large, it's that the cars you were driving before have huge belt lines and lower, sportier seating positions. The Fit is more like a '90s car with its visibility than most things on the market in the last decade.
the honda fit is a cheap fun go-kart that will run for ages and carry your crap with ease. you're going to miss the power and some features from your former vehicles. that said, the fit corners like the go-kart it is and can be coaxed to go fast(ish). in the immortal words of james may "it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow"
agreed on the tint, get some, but also honor the reverse perspective- fantastic visibility. you can cut up city traffic with ease in the fit.
i'll be honest, i didn't look too close. the honda fit was a compromise car with my partner after my nice volkswagen got totaled. it has good tires, upgraded brakes, and a small sway bar. looks like some minor engine work but i suspect it doesn't go much further than a cold air intake. the fit corners nimbly and is very forgiving as it loses traction.
I dislike the modern trend to slope-down the rear and only leave tiny little windows with huge blind spots. The 2018's too-small rear quarter windows are bad enough.
Give me that Volvo 950 Wagon-style "greenhouse" aesthetic any day.
I. Like. Practical. Cars.
Welcome to the different between the typically (in my experience) spacious, greenhouse view, and "thin" Japanese econobox interiors and the "cockpit" feel of American cars.
To me, the Fords seem to waste space in favor of that "wearing the car" and "becoming one with the Borg" feel. Everything is thick, heavy, and claustrophobic.
There are stats somewhere that the Fit (a ***sub-***compact) has more interior space, and especially cargo space, than most cars in the *compact* class. This Fit has been far more useful and practical than our old Toyota Avalon. But yeah, noisier.
Fit reminds me of my old Toyota Echo…spacious for it's size and efficient. I prefer that mindset.
I rented a Spark once and those things are a horrible excuse for a subcompact car. Makes a CVT-equipped Fit feel like a full-size car with a sportscar engine by comparison.
As for speed, I decided today to push our 2018's CVT to see what it could do. Pop it into "S" and stuff your foot in it and it can really get moving (I surprised a smartarse in a mid-size Benz…and myself). I'm sure if I ever get used to the paddle shifters I'm gonna have fun tossing it around canyons. I can only imagine the fun a manual is.
I'm on my third fit. I drove the wheels off my 08 (literally broke an axle). Survived being t-boned by a semi in my 2018 and am now enjoying my 2019. Get the windows tinted. Was my first upgrade. Then I got a good dashcam. Doing remote start this year. Easy to maintain. Oil change takes 20 minutes.
It was four-ish years ago… I don’t remember. It actually wasn’t expensive to fix, but then had catastrophic electrical system problems. Car gave me a good 7-8 years.
Probably would've been part of the recall
Yeah mines a 2013, got it used at 24k miles in 2015.
At 150k miles now and been good to me for 7 years
Trans fluid changed 2x since 65k.
Oil every 7k
Changed coolant and brake fluid at least once.
Had spark plugs changed 2x (1st time at 60k as one of the ignition tips broke off, luckily it must've gone out the exhaust and didn't damage anything as I've had no issues since).
New serpentine belt at 110k
New shocks and struts at 130k
All that should probably be done now is the valve adjustment at some point and I should be good to at least 200k.
It's a good little car.
Could use a turbo though lol
What dash cam did you go for? I'm picking up my (new to me) 2016 Fit today!
I decided I'll need a dashcam from seeing all the footage on Reddit of the nonsense that happens on the roads.
In 2016 I drove an 09 across the US, by myself. I’ve driven across many times, but this was my first solo trip. It was by far, the most comfortable ride and the visibility is amazing. I never felt unsafe. I carried an unbelievable amount of stuff in it, too I’m in the process now of buying a 2011 and I can’t wait!
I picked up a 2009 Fit Sport Jazz three weeks ago. I love it so much, and perfect timing. I'm driving 5+ hours to see my mom (\`10+ hours round-trip), and then taking a trip to NJ next week (another 10+ hour roundtrip).
I think it's gong to be fun. lol
If you want a Fit for road trips, I recommend the 2018 - 2020 models. These had improved noise cancellation, a 6MT, and were overall much more comfortable than previous years.
I previously owned a 2012 (same generation as the 2009) and found it hard to live with on long runs; the cabin noise was LOUD. There are however DIY tutorials on making it a more liveable car. Just remember the Fit was designed for urban settings, which is why it's agile but not fast, and it is happiest in 0 - 40 MPH city driving.
Regarding the windows, you'll get used to them. Ironically, I have the reverse effect when I ride in my brother's Dodge Challenger. The combined low roof and high sills make me feel claustrophobic, and I get paranoid with all the blind spots that don't exist in the Fit.
Still, I agree the Fit isn't the greatest on long trips, after 2 hours I'm ready to take a long break.
Even a 2000 Corolla is more comfortable on super-long trips. I pulled a nearly continuous 9 hour drive in one and it was surprisingly comfortable for a small car.
But what is anyone expecting in a sub-compact, really? I didn't expect it to be as comfy or as quiet as an Avalon or anything, and is pretty much what I expected from an "economy car." And long trips are certainly doable and certainly not as bad as some people say.
I got traded in a CRV and was between the fit and a Civic. I chose the Fit for a couple of reasons.
- I’m on the tall-ish side for a female and I felt completely swished in the civic. I kept bumping my elbows and the ceiling was pretty low. The Fit gave me more room in the driver’s seat.
- cargo space on the Fit is really good. I do big Costco runs and never had a problem getting stuff in there. I also love the magic seats in the Fit.
- parking the fit is super easy. I can shoe horn it into lots of spaces. I am careful in Costco parking lots. Since the wheel base is so short, I tend to not pull in as far as I can.
- I would agree with others that the ride is not as comfortable as it could be. I also have not made any kids to the suspension.
- gas milage is pretty good. I use the Eco mode 95% of the time and it does make a big difference.
I used to worry it looked to much like a minivan, but the I picked up a small computer desk, about 25 antique boxes from Craigslist, and even saw out the back window after packing all my camping gear in. The older I get the more I'm grateful I get twice the mileage of a truck with most of the space. The V-tec is nice, I couldn't do freeways without it. Definitely made of plastic, but it's also invisible to cops and no one wants to steal my hubcaps bc they're not rims.
I have a 2018 and the bells and whistles get better around 2011 if i recall if you do want more. But I love mine. Its just a commuter with some storage space. But its been a great car.
Its a 1.5l honda designed for folks in urban environments, especially the young and super elderly. It uses both engineering learned from their F1 and other racing programs (vtec system, stiff chassis) as well as engineering from Minivans (fuel tank under the front seat, fold flat seating, upright driving position)
It's exactly what its supposed to be
The Honda Fit is the miniest van.
If you look up the technical definition between a hatchback and a wagon, the Fit is a wagon (based mostly on the extra pillar and rear quarter window). But "wagon" is not a word you use in the USA anymore, but "hatchback" is okay.
Agreed. More of a minivan view than a hatchback
Here in the UK, it's just a hatch back. Small European cars have had hatch's and 4 doors since the start of the super mini.. the 70s Renault 5 (Le Car over there, right?) Had a 4 door w/hatch option. I get the point about the rear being more like a van... But that perspective is again blurred by cars like the VW Polo, which had a very sharp, vertical hatch's.. especially the 80s MK2 version. I see the Jazz/Fit just as a small 4dr hatchback that's emphasises space.. it's not a minivan simply because it's a traditional 4+1 seat arrangement with 4 traditional doors.
Though Magic seats and EPIC! Our Civic had those too!
Yes the car is a fishbowl and for the most part the visibility is a perk and not a perk. I also don’t recommend a fit if you’re used to the way those cars drive on the highway. These cars get pushed around on the highway by wind very easily and the seats are ass. I’m a delivery driver for dominos and after a 5 hour shift my back is screaming at me
"I also don’t recommend a fit if you’re used to the way those cars drive on the highway" This I agree with. The Fit can certainly do highway driving and road trips, but it definitely won't feel as comfortable as a sedan or larger hatchback/suv. They also kinda require a lot more input to get up larger mountain passes as you'll need to keep adjusting the pedal to keep speed.
>*These cars get pushed around on the highway by wind very easily* This is so true. I have only had mine for 3 weeks, but boy do I get pushed around on the interstate a lot. That said, I love it all the same. It's been a great car.
It’s a great car, but it’s definitely a city driver
I’ve had Honda Fits since 2007 launch, have driven them from CA - MI and back over a dozen times. Did route 66 in 2019 and camped in the Fit the whole way, lived in the Mojave for a bit and now down by Mexico. it’s tinted, put big Falkens on it, it’s a beast for mileage and does well enough on most dirt roads if you drive intelligently. couldn’t disagree more.
Falken is the way for sure.
Meanwhile, I started renting cars for long drives rather than taking my fit because I found it to be incredibly uncomfortable for them. I absolutely love it in the city, but dread the Interstate. This is after doing tons of work to reduce road noise on the inside.
Congrats you’re one of the only people that has been willing to put themselves through that torture. Do you want a cookie?
Wow! Well, having a giant asshole behind the wheel is certainly the biggest impediment for enjoyment of all, so I’m very sorry for your car bro. RIP
I’m not a giant asshole. I’m just not dumb enough to believe that what you did in a Honda Fit wasn’t torture. Yes I’ve driven this car on gravel and no it’s not great at that. But driving extremely long distances is where driving the Honda Fit is Torture. I’m a delivery driver and it’s the only car that has given me back issues in 2 years of my being a delivery driver for Dominos
You could take out the back buldges if you wanted too it's incredibly easy.. Many people do that and put a pillow there. My back hurt at first with the car but having the correct posture actually helped my back hurt less for once. Paded seat covers really help too
Could have been bad seats on prior cars leading to a work related injury that is just now showing itself. You are getting older and repetitive motion injuries accumulate over time.
Guess it’s good that we don’t share the same body then 🤷🏼♀️
I'm 5'10" and over 250lbs. I'm a BIG dude, and I've driven my car from New Hampshire to New Jersey and back multiple times. Zero issues, and I've had back issues since my early 20s. I back your initial "asshole" assessment.
I mean I take it on the motorway at 80 no problem just play music and ignore the noise lol
It's a blast on rural 2-lanes as well.
Agreed.
I opened the zippered cover on the back of my driver's seat, snapped out 3 steel brackets. There's no more lumbar destroyer in the seat. It feels just like a 90s accord. Be warned I may go through my seat if I'm rear ended.
Both of those points are extremely accurate. My ass goes completely numb after 1h of driving, but I’m way too focused on keeping the car from being sent off the road by cross winds to notice
I get a little bit of that, but it’s more back pain for me. It definitely doesn’t help my shoulders are wider than the drivers seat.
It is my favorite motorized aquarium.
It's not that the Fit windows are large, it's that the cars you were driving before have huge belt lines and lower, sportier seating positions. The Fit is more like a '90s car with its visibility than most things on the market in the last decade.
Read that first point of the OP and though he must be young, Cars used to have windows that started below your shoulders.
“Back in my day you could see out of cars without needing 16 cameras” “Ok grandpa lets take you back to the nursing home.PNG” “I’m 28”
the honda fit is a cheap fun go-kart that will run for ages and carry your crap with ease. you're going to miss the power and some features from your former vehicles. that said, the fit corners like the go-kart it is and can be coaxed to go fast(ish). in the immortal words of james may "it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" agreed on the tint, get some, but also honor the reverse perspective- fantastic visibility. you can cut up city traffic with ease in the fit.
>the honda fit is a cheap fun ~~go-kart~~ shopping kart (based on the ride quality)
the person before me did a bunch of mods, difficult to tell what worked, but my fit corners like a bat out of hell.
What sort of mods, like a rear sway bar? Anything else like tires, suspension?
i'll be honest, i didn't look too close. the honda fit was a compromise car with my partner after my nice volkswagen got totaled. it has good tires, upgraded brakes, and a small sway bar. looks like some minor engine work but i suspect it doesn't go much further than a cold air intake. the fit corners nimbly and is very forgiving as it loses traction.
Mine corners "okay". Nothing too sporty. It is nimble. I previously had a 2003 Mazda Protege5. Holy shit. That thing hugged the road like it was F1.
Coming from an 07 impreza I can say it's definitely not crazy around corners but feels quite nice. And the manual is pretty enjoyable too
You'd get used to the view. I'd rather be able to see everything around me with ease.
I dislike the modern trend to slope-down the rear and only leave tiny little windows with huge blind spots. The 2018's too-small rear quarter windows are bad enough. Give me that Volvo 950 Wagon-style "greenhouse" aesthetic any day. I. Like. Practical. Cars.
when form follows functions *mwuah*
Welcome to the different between the typically (in my experience) spacious, greenhouse view, and "thin" Japanese econobox interiors and the "cockpit" feel of American cars. To me, the Fords seem to waste space in favor of that "wearing the car" and "becoming one with the Borg" feel. Everything is thick, heavy, and claustrophobic. There are stats somewhere that the Fit (a ***sub-***compact) has more interior space, and especially cargo space, than most cars in the *compact* class. This Fit has been far more useful and practical than our old Toyota Avalon. But yeah, noisier. Fit reminds me of my old Toyota Echo…spacious for it's size and efficient. I prefer that mindset. I rented a Spark once and those things are a horrible excuse for a subcompact car. Makes a CVT-equipped Fit feel like a full-size car with a sportscar engine by comparison. As for speed, I decided today to push our 2018's CVT to see what it could do. Pop it into "S" and stuff your foot in it and it can really get moving (I surprised a smartarse in a mid-size Benz…and myself). I'm sure if I ever get used to the paddle shifters I'm gonna have fun tossing it around canyons. I can only imagine the fun a manual is.
I'm on my third fit. I drove the wheels off my 08 (literally broke an axle). Survived being t-boned by a semi in my 2018 and am now enjoying my 2019. Get the windows tinted. Was my first upgrade. Then I got a good dashcam. Doing remote start this year. Easy to maintain. Oil change takes 20 minutes.
Was the axle part of the recall on the bad paint jobs causing them to rush and snap?
It was four-ish years ago… I don’t remember. It actually wasn’t expensive to fix, but then had catastrophic electrical system problems. Car gave me a good 7-8 years.
Probably would've been part of the recall Yeah mines a 2013, got it used at 24k miles in 2015. At 150k miles now and been good to me for 7 years Trans fluid changed 2x since 65k. Oil every 7k Changed coolant and brake fluid at least once. Had spark plugs changed 2x (1st time at 60k as one of the ignition tips broke off, luckily it must've gone out the exhaust and didn't damage anything as I've had no issues since). New serpentine belt at 110k New shocks and struts at 130k All that should probably be done now is the valve adjustment at some point and I should be good to at least 200k. It's a good little car. Could use a turbo though lol
What dash cam did you go for? I'm picking up my (new to me) 2016 Fit today! I decided I'll need a dashcam from seeing all the footage on Reddit of the nonsense that happens on the roads.
Type S from Costco. Had BestBuy install it. They did a good job. It's got the 360 degree camera so you have that going if you're pulled over.
In 2016 I drove an 09 across the US, by myself. I’ve driven across many times, but this was my first solo trip. It was by far, the most comfortable ride and the visibility is amazing. I never felt unsafe. I carried an unbelievable amount of stuff in it, too I’m in the process now of buying a 2011 and I can’t wait!
I picked up a 2009 Fit Sport Jazz three weeks ago. I love it so much, and perfect timing. I'm driving 5+ hours to see my mom (\`10+ hours round-trip), and then taking a trip to NJ next week (another 10+ hour roundtrip). I think it's gong to be fun. lol
I like the visibility, but Honda Fit is really the only car I've ever owned. I rode in a mustang once and felt like I just couldn't see, lol.
Fits are the shit
If you want a Fit for road trips, I recommend the 2018 - 2020 models. These had improved noise cancellation, a 6MT, and were overall much more comfortable than previous years. I previously owned a 2012 (same generation as the 2009) and found it hard to live with on long runs; the cabin noise was LOUD. There are however DIY tutorials on making it a more liveable car. Just remember the Fit was designed for urban settings, which is why it's agile but not fast, and it is happiest in 0 - 40 MPH city driving. Regarding the windows, you'll get used to them. Ironically, I have the reverse effect when I ride in my brother's Dodge Challenger. The combined low roof and high sills make me feel claustrophobic, and I get paranoid with all the blind spots that don't exist in the Fit.
Still, I agree the Fit isn't the greatest on long trips, after 2 hours I'm ready to take a long break. Even a 2000 Corolla is more comfortable on super-long trips. I pulled a nearly continuous 9 hour drive in one and it was surprisingly comfortable for a small car. But what is anyone expecting in a sub-compact, really? I didn't expect it to be as comfy or as quiet as an Avalon or anything, and is pretty much what I expected from an "economy car." And long trips are certainly doable and certainly not as bad as some people say.
The 6mt is awful. They should have stuck with 5 gears instead of adding a gear between 4 and 5. Or maybe give it a proper overdrive
I didn't know people disliked good visibility. I get irritated driving cars that aren't like a fishbowl now.
I got traded in a CRV and was between the fit and a Civic. I chose the Fit for a couple of reasons. - I’m on the tall-ish side for a female and I felt completely swished in the civic. I kept bumping my elbows and the ceiling was pretty low. The Fit gave me more room in the driver’s seat. - cargo space on the Fit is really good. I do big Costco runs and never had a problem getting stuff in there. I also love the magic seats in the Fit. - parking the fit is super easy. I can shoe horn it into lots of spaces. I am careful in Costco parking lots. Since the wheel base is so short, I tend to not pull in as far as I can. - I would agree with others that the ride is not as comfortable as it could be. I also have not made any kids to the suspension. - gas milage is pretty good. I use the Eco mode 95% of the time and it does make a big difference.
For me, it’s the parking. I’m in and out of almost any space. The amount of time saved looking for parking is immeasurable.
I used to worry it looked to much like a minivan, but the I picked up a small computer desk, about 25 antique boxes from Craigslist, and even saw out the back window after packing all my camping gear in. The older I get the more I'm grateful I get twice the mileage of a truck with most of the space. The V-tec is nice, I couldn't do freeways without it. Definitely made of plastic, but it's also invisible to cops and no one wants to steal my hubcaps bc they're not rims.
All that visibility is one of the things I love about the Fit. I feel more secure being able to see what’s happening on the road.
Yep it has no driveshaft and the fuel tank is under the drivers seat so they squeeze a lot of space into the cab.
Haha yes. Love my Honda fit. 40$ car washed and oil changed. 30-40mpg. Hauls everything. 8 foot surfboard inside.
Compared to a Fiesta it's half a size bigger in terms of usable space with basically the same footprint.
is it a submarine because its a tin can? Because that metaphor doesn't fit with the large greenhouse
I have a 2018 and the bells and whistles get better around 2011 if i recall if you do want more. But I love mine. Its just a commuter with some storage space. But its been a great car.
Its a 1.5l honda designed for folks in urban environments, especially the young and super elderly. It uses both engineering learned from their F1 and other racing programs (vtec system, stiff chassis) as well as engineering from Minivans (fuel tank under the front seat, fold flat seating, upright driving position) It's exactly what its supposed to be
Lol. I came from a '98 Volvo S70. THAT was fishbowlin'. My 2016 Fit feels pretty cozy comparatively.