If you want a great little car that's stylish, reliable, spacious, fuel efficient, and won't break the bank to buy, the 2018 Honda Fit should be at the top of your list.
2018 Honda Fit
Why Buy the 2018 Honda Fit?
At first glance, the upright stance and proportions of the Honda Fit can make you think it's some sort of subcompact minivan, but it certainly isn't. The front and rear of the little Honda are actually quite contemporary. A deep crease stamped low on the sides of the Fit make it appear a little longer than it actually is, and although the steep angle of the windshield and the short and stubby hood are reminiscent of the HR-V, the Fit wears those features a little better.
The interior offers you what you want--Bluetooth access on a display screen, steering-wheel mounted controls for audio and on-the-go phone calls, and a smart design that makes the most of its subcompact dimensions. You won't have as much room in the Fit as in the Accord, for example, but 39 inches of rear leg room in a vehicle this size is pretty impressive in our book. What may surprise a few people is that, although the Fit now has more power than earlier versions of the Honda, it's not quite a zippy or lively as previous models. The power comes from a 1.5-liter inline-four, which produces 130 horsepower and 114 lb.-ft. of torque. Regardless, it's hard to find this combination of style, room, and power in any vehicle this size, making the Fit a great value for the money.
Are Honda Fits Good Cars?
Hondas are renowned for being reliable and dependable, but they're also among the safest vehicles in their class too. The crash test ratings for the 2018 Fit are not perfect, but they rarely are for small cars. Honda is definitely one of the best of its type. The Fit gets the top rating of "Good" from the IIHS in its four crashworthiness tests, and a top rating of "Superior" for crash avoidance and mitigation when it is outfitted with optional equipment. The NHTSA has also given the little Honda a big thumbs-up, with a full five-star rating for overall safety.
Are Honda Fits Good on Gas?
Subcompact vehicles would likely be pointless if they weren't good on gas, but that's not a worry here with the Honda. The Fit LX, EX and Sport are rated by the EPA with the manual transmission at 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg combined. With the popular CVT, the LX sees those numbers rise to 33/40/36 mpg. Models with bigger tires and more equipment weighing them down do pay a penalty when it comes to fuel economy, but even then the numbers are as good as 31/36/33 mpg.
Are Honda Fits Automatic?
Not unless you want it to be! Although the standard six-speed manual transmission gets the most fun and performance from the Fit, the majority of buyers are likely to opt for the available CVT instead. In either version, the Fit is still a great handling little car that's better to drive around than almost any of its rivals. The fact that the Fit is so light definitely helps, but so does a good deal of advanced engineering that's gone into the car's underpinnings.
Disclaimer
*Any MPG listed is based on model year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid only) and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml.
** Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program. Model tested with standard side airbags (SABs). For additional information on the 5-Star Safety Ratings program, please visit www.safercar.gov.