Review: 2009 Honda Fit, just an expensive economy car or something special?

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The 2009 Honda Fit isn't cheap and doesn't feel expensive, but it's very practical.

There are two basic things every economy car should be: cheap and fuel-efficient. That’s what makes them economical. That’s what you’re giving up the power, space, and safety of a larger car for.

 

The redesigned 2009 Honda Fit subcompact hatchback is certainly fuel-efficient, rated for up to 35 miles per gall on the highway, but it’s not cheap. A base model without options runs over $15,000, and it can make its way to within hailing distance of $20,000 fully loaded. 

 

Does that mean, then, that the Fit offers a premium quality to make it worth a price premium over larger compact cars? 

 

Some reviewers would answer yes, but they’d be wrong. 

 

Get inside, and you won’t find the sort of upscale interior that has begun gracing many of the latest economy cars. You’ll find hard, cheap-feeling plastics throughout. Other Hondas, and high-end Fit models, have nicer cloth seats, too. 

 

Get on the road, and you hear the little engine buzzing away as it gradually makes its way up to speed. According to car enthusiast magazines, the Fit excels at zipping back and forth between cones at high speeds on a closed course, but unless that’s a part of your daily commute, you’ll likely appreciate the Fit’s maneuverability but find its drive pleasant but unremarkable. (There's a model called the Sport, but the only sport it adds is in appearance add-ons like a spoiler and larger wheels.)

 

In short, the Fit does not offer sophistication that sets it apart from its competitors. 

 

But does that mean the Fit just a basic unremarkable economy car that you can’t get for under $15,000? No.

 

You’re certainly giving up power compared to a larger car. There’s no doubt about that. 117 horsepower isn’t much to move 2500 pounds of car. But you aren’t necessarily giving up the space or safety of a larger car.

 

The first-generation Fit, which arrived in the United States two years ago, had a very well-packaged interior that fit a fair amount of space into tidy exterior dimensions. And the new Fit’s exterior dimensions have grown, further increasing the amount of room inside. Though a bit hard and flat, the front and rear seats offer abundant space, with the comfort in the rear beating many significantly larger vehicles. Fold down the rear seat, and you end up with as much cargo volume as in some SUVs.

 

Do remember that the Fit’s practicality is limited by its engine, however. Just because you can get a lot of people or cargo into the car doesn’t mean it has much power to deal with all that load.

 

And while there is an inherent advantage to a higher weight in terms of safety, the Fit should do well in crash testing, based on the performance of its predecessor. And if the high-speed cone-dodging the car magazines noted is any indication, it should do better at avoiding accidents than a larger, less-nimble vehicle. 

 

This takes us back to the original question: is the Fit just an expensive economy car or is it something special?

 

The answer is that it’s really neither. With its ordinary driving dynamics, buzzy little engine, and downscale interior appointments, it’s certainly no premium car. But its unusually spacious interior makes it a better alternative to a larger car than many other subcompacts or compacts. 

 

That said, shop carefully before buying a Fit. Their sticker prices aren’t low, and the allure of a Honda with high gas mileage means most dealers can sell them at the full MSRP. High gas mileage does not cover the extra cost.

 

If you’re just looking for a basic inexpensive economy car – economy referring to both gas mileage and purchase price – the Fit is probably not the best choice for you. Look to better bargains like the Chevrolet Aveo5 or Toyota Yaris subcompacts and the slightly larger Nissan Versa and Hyundai Elantra. 

 

But if a particularly spacious interior for passengers and cargo is important to you and you need tidy exterior dimensions and a tight turning radius for city parking, consider paying the price premium for the Fit.

 

Vehicle tested: 2009 Honda Fit Base

Vehicle base price: $14,550

Vehicle price as tested: $16,020

Test vehicle provided by: College Park Honda of College Park, Md.