Honda Fit 2007 - 2008 review

 

2008 Honda Fit Sport. (Photo: American Honda) The Honda Fit reached the North-American market only in 2006 (as a 2007 model), even though it has been successfully sold in Japan, Europe and other markets since 2001. The Honda Fit with its versatile interior and great fuel economy is one of the best small city cars on the market.

• Overview
• Pros and Cons
• Overall
• What to look for when buying a used Honda Fit
• Few maintenance tips
• Specifications
• Resources

Overview

2007 Honda Fit interior. Click for larger photo 2007 Honda Fit with rear seats up. 2007 Honda Fit with rear seats down. The 2007-2008 Honda Fit is a sub-compact five-door hatchback. The only engine choice is an advanced 1.5L 16-valve SOHC VTEC 4-cylinder motor with a timing chain. The Honda Fit comes with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. The Honda Fit Sport with an automatic transmission has the paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. Inside, the Honda Fit is surprisingly roomy for a sub-compact car. Thanks to a tall roof line, the Fit offers easy access and plenty of headroom for both, the front and rear passengers. The interior is very basic, but the fit and finish is good. The instruments are straightforward; the controls are simple and easy to use. The visibility is good in the front; the rear view is a bit obstructed by the large rear-seat headrests. The 60/40 split rear seat can be folded down flat, providing impressive cargo room in the back. The rear seat cushions can also flip up, so you can place tall objects between the front and rear seats. On the road, the Honda Fit is fun to drive. The car holds the road much better than you'd expect from this type of vehicle. The Fit's compact size and small turning radius make city driving and parking easier. The 1.5L engine is responsive. On the downside, the ride is a bit too firm and not very quiet - the road, wind and engine noise are noticeable at higher speeds. The front, side, and side-curtain airbags, as well as the Antilock braking system (ABS) were standard. The 2007-2008 Honda Fit received five stars for both the driver and the front passenger in frontal crash tests performed by the NHTSA. In the side-impact crash test, the Fit received 5 stars for the driver and 3 stars for the rear passenger. For more details, visit Safercar.gov. In the frontal offset crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2007-2008 Fit received "Good" overall rating.

Pros

- Great fuel economy
- Practical interior
- Good cargo space for a sub-compact car
- Generous level of standard equipment
- Small turning radius
- Easy to maintain

Cons

- Road and wind noise
- Small tires wear fast
- Low-hanging front bumper scratches easily
- Front seats lack height adjustment

Overall

The Honda Fit is a great choice for a sub-compact around-town car. It's a well-built and surprisingly roomy practical small car with generous level of standard equipment. The Honda Fit is cheap on gas and easy to maintain. As this generation Honda Fit has already been on the market for some time in other countries, it doesn't have the usual first-year model glitches.
There are some complaints about the electric power steering, and some other issues, but overall, the 2007-2008 Honda Fit has above-average reliability. Toyota Yaris is the same type of car but with softer ride.

What to look for buying a used Honda Fit

As a first step, check the used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past. Read here: How to check used car history
- The Fit base model doesn't have a cruise control; if you need it, look for a Sport model.
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- During a test drive, watch for anything irregular with the way the automatic transmission shifts; a clunk when shifted in Reverse is a sign of problem.
- Check the headlights; there are few complaints about low beam not working due to a problem with the wiring harness connector. Honda issued a recall for this problem in 2010.
- Check with Honda if all the recalls have been done.
- Avoid cars with very high mileage.
- Watch for the front end damage; the front bumper is hanging very low and it's easy to hit a curb.
Read more what to look for when buying a used car
- Before buying a car, have it properly inspected by a mechanic.
- Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your vehicle regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the "rust belt" area, rustproofing can help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid in recommended intervals using original Honda transmission fluid.
- If your car has a hesitation or misfiring and the problem is diagnosed as a bad ignition coil, it's good idea to replace all the spark plugs along with a the ignition coil.
- If your low-beam headlights don't work, check with Honda dealer, there was a recall for this problem in 2010.
- Use original Honda parts and fluids.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more car maintenance tips

2007 Honda Fit short specifications (Canadian model)

Dimensions:
Overall length: Overall width: Overall height: Wheelbase:	3999 mm (157.4 in) 1682 mm (66.2 in) 1524 mm (60.0 in) 2450 mm (96.5 in)
Seating Capacity:	5
Cargo Volume:
with seat up: with seat down:	603 liters ( 21.3 cu. ft) 1186 liters (41.9 cu. ft)
Engine:	1.5L 16-Valve SOHC VTEC ® In-Line 4-cylinder 109 hp @ 5,800 rpm (SAE net) 105 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
EPA Fuel Economy (US MPG, L/100km):
Manual transmission: Automatic transmission: Automatic transmission (Sport):	city: 8.4 L/100km (28 US MPG) hwy: 6.9 L/100km (34 US MPG) city: 8.7 L/100km (27 US MPG) hwy: 6.7 L/100km (35 US MPG) city: 8.7 L/100km (27 US MPG) hwy: 6.9 L/100km (34 US MPG)
Recommended Fuel:	Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	41 liter (10.8 US gal)
Engine oil change capacity:	including filter: 3.8 US qt (3.6 L)

Resources

Owner Link - official US site for Honda owners. Check for recalls, download owner's manual, check vehicle tips and videos and more.
SaferCar.gov - compare crash test ratings.
Fueleconomy.gov - compare fuel economy ratings.
Extended warranty - find out more about an extended warranty for your car
Insurance quotes - compare insurance quotes.
How to buy a used car - step by step guide.
How to check used car history - check used car history records before buying a car.
What to look for when buying a used car - illustrated used car checklist.