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The Fit offers
impressive interior space for passengers and cargo, nimble handling, and
excellent gas mileage, blended with competence in most other areas. What kept
it from being the top economy car in this group was its uneconomical price of
$16,565, which is above any of the others but the all-wheel-drive Suzuki and
the premium-grade Volkswagen. It’s good, but it’s not that good, and the best
economy car needs to be inexpensive.
The Fit has a rather
firm but fairly comfortable ride. It is comfortable and controlled on smooth
pavement and recovers quickly from bumps, but isn’t too absorbent. The
suspension is clearly tuned more for handling, as the Fit corners very well
with limited body roll and responsive steering with good-for-this-class
feedback. It’s no sports car, despite that implication from some other
reviews, but it is the closest of any of its generally acknowledged
competition. The engine is smooth, but the car feels quite weak even by the
standards of this group. Road noise is excessive. Gas mileage ties with the
Scion xA to be the best in this group.
Inside, the Fit’s front
seats are high, well-shaped, and fairly comfortable, but the padding is a bit
thin. The rear seat is roomy and mounted high as well, and the seatback can
recline, but the cushion itself is rather flat and hard.
The interior is nice enough to look at, with attractive materials and
tight-fitting trim pieces, but most plastics feel budget-grade. The gauges are
attractive and clear, and the instruments are logically arrayed and easy to
use. A telescoping steering wheel and/or adjustable pedals would improve the
driving position, but neither are offered. Visibility is good, at least.
Entry/exit is easy to the front and rear. There is more usable cargo space
behind the rear seat than most of the others here, and the seats either fold
flat easily or can have the cushion flip up against the seatback to turn the
seating area into a deeper cargo well. When in use, the rear seats sit above
the floor, opening up a bit of storage space beneath them. All in all, the
Fit’s cargo space and versatility is a strong point in this group, especially
considering its exterior size.
The Fit reviewed here
came in at $16,565, which is its sticker price. Production has not kept up
with demand since the car’s introduction, and nothing seems to be about to
change, so expect the price to stay where it is for quite some time. At that
price, it doesn’t come exceptionally well-equipped either, though it at least
isn’t missing any essentials. The base model of the Fit lines up in price with
most of the others in this group, but lacks the basics of cruise control and
keyless entry, among other things included on this Sport model.
Overall, the Fit would
have won this comparison if it were about $1,500 cheaper. But as it is, it
remains too expensive to be considered the best economy car of the group. And
its ride comfort, refinement, and power are lacking as well. But it’s roomy
and practical, agile and fuel-efficient, and at least competent in most areas.
It’s definitely worth a look, but not necessarily worth sticker price and a
waiting list.
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