The Honda Fit gets a mild redo and a new Sport trim, which we have been driving this week. The Fit gets a few upgrades but keeps its best attributes of reliability, economy, performance, and interior versatility. It’s a good choice for city dwellers and a nice place to spend time commuting.
This week we drove the new Honda Fit Sport to see how it stacks up.
What’s New For 2018
The Honda Fit features updated styling and a new, mid-tier 5-Door Sport model. It also comes with more active safety technology and driver aids, an updated infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, re-tuned suspension and steering, and added sound insulation for a quieter ride.
Features & Options
The 2018 Honda Fit Sport ($17,500) comes standard with a rearview camera, remote entry, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and driver-seat height adjustment.
The new-for-2018 Sport trim adds some “sporty” styling highlights, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Sport’s infotainment system is a seven-inch touchscreen interface that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio. Total MSRP including destination: $18,390.
Interior Highlights
Stepping inside the Fit Sport reveals a cabin that feels bigger than a subcompact should. Most subcompacts feel tight and leave you with a feeling of claustrophobia. It features attractive cloth seats, some hard plastics, but still plenty of soft-touch surfaces. Controls are logically positioned and you don’t get the sense it’s an economy hatch. The fit and finish is good and the quality of materials is above average for this price point.
Fit is still a small car, but there’s a surprising amount of room in the front and back. We adjusted the steering wheel and height-adjustable driver’s seat and found the ideal driving position.
In the back, we were again surprised at how much legroom rear passengers are afforded, although headroom will be tight for 6-footers. The Fit comes with a 60/40-split folding rear seat Honda calls a Magic Seat. The rear seat can be positioned in a number of configurations, making the subcompact car able to handle more types of cargo than other typical hatchbacks. There’s also a handy hidden cargo tray for valuables under the rear deck. The rear hatch features a low-load height and it’s wider than others in this class, making it easy to pack larger items.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Fit Sport is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection, producing 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft. of torque. Our Sport tester came with a smooth-shifting standard six-speed manual gearbox. EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 29/36 city/highway and 31 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
We noticed two things about the Fit Sport after we got underway. Visibility is very good for a subcompact, and Honda’s engineers added more sound insulation which translates to a quieter ride on the highway. We also noticed the 1.5-liter engine is not particularly high-revving, and it takes awhile to get up to highway speed. We tested the Fit at altitude, however, so it will develop a bit more power at sea level.
The Fit Sport is nimble around the tight mountain curves, staying relatively flat when we took them fast, and is generally fun to drive. At highway speeds, the Fit is stable and composed. If you want a hot hatch, you will need to move up to the Civic, but the Fit is a capable commuter that’s easy to live with. It won’t leave you tired after a longer commute in traffic either.
The six-speed manual is a smooth-shifting gearbox for those who like to drive. Once you get used to the clutch uptake, shifts are precise and one of the better subcompact manual rowers we’ve driven.
Where the Honda Fit shines is in tight city streets and parking spaces. Thanks to the car’s small footprint, we were able to zip right into a small parking sport on the street without parallel parking. The Fit offers up nimble handling and a tight turning radius, allowing us to make a 180-degree turn around in the middle of the street. Overall, the Fit offers a fun and satisfying drive for urban dwellers.
Conclusion
The 2018 Honda Fit Sport is a very capable subcompact offering hatchback utility, sporty driving dynamics, smart packaging, excellent rear passenger and cargo carrying ability, good looks, and fuel efficiency. Add in Honda’s reputation for reliability and longevity, and you’ve got all the qualities needed.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Honda Fit Orange Fury Gallery
2018 Honda Fit Crystal Black Pearl Gallery
2018 Honda Fit Official Site.
Photos: Honda North America (other trim levels also shown).
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