The Honda Fit is a subcompact car, sold as the "Jazz" in some markets. Affordable, durable and backed by Honda's rock solid quality standards, the Fit may just be the best "value" car on the market.
For a subcompact car, the Honda Fit offers buyers a lot. Its fuel efficient 1.5-liter 16-valve four cylinder engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Optionally, a five-speed automatic transmission is available and comes with dual-mode paddle shifters with the Honda Fit Sport model. This engine is rated at 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 foot-pounds of torque at 4,800 rpm.
Ample Storage Capacity
Powered by its front wheels, the Honda Fit has enough room to seat five and provides ample storage capacity, particularly when the rear seat is folded down. This four-door hatchback is at once roomy and stylish, demonstrating why the Fit is a strong seller in the ultra-competitive subcompact market.
One Fit model that makes a lot of sense and is already on sale in Japan is the Fit Hybrid. Honda's hybrid prowess rivals that of industry leader Toyota, but Honda has not been able to match Toyota's success thus far. Right now, the Insight and Civic Hybrid are the two hybrid models sold by Honda stateside. However, the Honda Fit Hybrid isn't sold in America and the Japanese automaker has not said when or if the model might appear.
That's too bad as the Honda Fit Hybrid would be the smallest and perhaps the most fuel efficient hybrid on the market. Currently, the Toyota Prius wins the fuel efficiency crown as it is rated at 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway.
Inside Line Review
What we know about the Honda Fit Hybrid can be gleaned from enthusiast websites as well as in a carefully written "Inside Line" overview published in October 2010. That review was based on a test drive of the Fit Hybrid in Japan, a car powered by the same 1.3-liter engine used in the Honda Insight. As the publication's "first drive" review reported, the Fit Hybrid is 220 pounds heavier than the standard model and also carries a $4,000 price premium. That puts the Fit Hybrid in $20,000 territory, some $2,000 more than the Honda Insight.
Pricing alone should explain why this subcompact hybrid won't be crossing the Atlantic anytime soon. Honda doesn't want to create competition for its Insight and the Fit Hybrid simply doesn't offer equivalent fuel economy to the larger Prius. Honda also needs to upgrade its hybrid technology to offer a more fuel efficient alternative to Toyota technology. For now, Honda hybrid shoppers need to be content with the Civic and Insight, even if this subcompact hybrid isn't suitable for stateside retail.
Matthew C. Keegan is editor and publisher of "Auto Trends Magazine." Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including vertical doors and cat-back exhausts.
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