2011 Honda Fit Review and Prices

Styling: The 2011 Honda Fit’s styling is a rerun of the 2010 Fit’s. This five-passenger hatchback belongs to the smallest class of cars sold in the U.S. The subcompact category includes even-tinier novelty acts like the stubby 2011 Scion iQ and the two-seat Smart ForTwo. But its foundation is cars like the Fit and the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 2011 Nissan Versa, and 2011 Toyota Yaris that aim to fill a need for basic, economical transportation. The hatchback body style is clearly the best way to maximize passenger and cargo room in small cars and the 2011 Fit is one of the more unusually proportioned examples. Its styling, however, serves a greater purpose than mere aesthetics. Fit has a short snout highlighted by big, swept-back headlights. Its radically angled roof pillars frame a huge windshield. And its long-roof, wagon-like body is chopped off just behind the rear wheels. With lots of side-glass, small wheel openings, and an overall length of just 12 ½ feet the effect is a bit toy-like. But with a tall roofline and relatively generous wheelbase -- the distance between front and rear axles – Fit devotes most of its volume to cabin space. Indeed, this subcompact surprises with room for four adults to ride in comfort and class-leading cargo versatility. The dashboard layout is more orthodox than the exterior styling but is similarly functional, with large, unobstructed gauges and smartly designed controls arrayed within the driver’s easy reach. The 2011 Honda Fit reprises a three-model lineup: the base Fit, the Fit Sport, and the Fit Sport with a navigation system. As before, the 2011 Fit Sport models are distinguished by standard fog lamps, rear spoiler, a chrome exhaust tip, and slightly larger tires on alloy wheels.

Mechanical: The 2011 Honda Fit gains a noteworthy safety enhancement with expanded availability of Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system. This antiskid technology is now standard on all Fit Sport models not just those equipped with the navigation system. Characteristic of antiskid systems in this class, VSA is designed to keep the Fit from skidding sideways in a turn by automatically activating individual brakes and modulating the throttle. Otherwise, the 2011 Fit is a mechanical repeat. It comes with one engine, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 118 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices are a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. On Fit Sport models, the automatic transmission includes steering-wheel paddles that allow the driver manual-type control of gear changes. Fit’s engine specs are fully contemporary for this class and although there’s no real surplus of power, the 1.5-liter is a smooth runner and moves this lightweight along nicely so long as you’re not trying to win a drag race. Fit is best enjoyed with the easy-shifting manual transmission; the automatic softens throttle response enough to drain the sporting life out of brisk driving. Like every subcompact, Fit is front-wheel drive, which puts the weight of the drivertrain over the wheels that propel the car. This enhances traction in the snow and concentrates the mass of the powertrain in the nose, leaving maximum space for passengers and cargo. Fit’s suspension is also subcompact-typical, with a rear torsion beam and drum brakes. That’s prosaic compared with the fully independent suspension and four-wheel-disc brakes of the top cars just one class size up. Same goes for the modestly sized wheels and tires, 15-inchers on the base model, 16s on the Sport versions. But get Fit on a twisty road, and Honda’s smart engineering trumps the humble blueprint. Fit responds alertly to inputs from its sharp electric power steering and bites into corners eagerly, succumbing to noseplow only on high-speed bends that expose the limited grip of the tires. The news isn’t so good for ride quality, which can be raw over bumpy or cratered pavement. And marginal buffering against wind and road noise means you’re unlikely to relish the prospect of long hours behind the wheel. On that score, cruise control is confined to the Sport models, where it’s standard.

Features: We’ve urged Honda to make the antiskid system standard on all Fit models – every  2011 Toyota Yaris comes with one -- so it’s nice to see the carmaker take a step in that direction for 2011. All Fit Sport models now also come with fitted floormats, which previously were an extra-cost accessory. Beyond that, the 2011 Fit features list mirrors the 2010 version’s. Fit doesn’t offer a sunroof or leather upholstery – few cars in its price range do – but it is available with a good factory-installed navigation system. It includes voice recognition, a 6.5-inch dashboard screen, and a digital audio-card reader. The navigation system continues to be limited to the Fit Sport, where its addition creates a separate model. Standard features on all 2011 Fits include air conditioning, power windows with automatic up/down driver’s window, power locks, and tilt and telescope steering column. Exclusive to Fit Sport models are a security system with remote keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, and cabin map lights. Sport models also get a rear stabilizer bar for steadier handling. Fit’s audio system is a 160-watt single-CD unit with four speakers on base models and six on Sports. All Fits come with an auxiliary plug for digital players while Sport models add a USB interface for iPods. Unavailable is Bluetooth hands-free mobile-phone connectivity, a feature increasingly available on subcompact competitors. Fit’s defining feature is an innovation Honda calls the Magic Seat. This triumph of levers and hinges allows the 60/40 split rear seatback and cushions to fold down nearly to floor level. Fit’s floor is usually low because the fuel tank is beneath the front seat and folding the Magic Seat forms a deep, van-like load platform. The Magic Seat design also enables Fit’s rear seat cushions to flip up, creating a side-to-side chasm behind the front seats big enough to swallow objects as tall as a bicycle. The front passenger seatback also folds so Fit can carry long items such as skis. In all, the 2011 Fit is the pacesetter for subcompact-class cargo volume, with an impressive 20.6 cubic feet behind the rear bench and a compact-crossover-SUV-like 57.3 cubic feet with the Magic Seat fully folded.