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2008 Honda Fit Performance Review

July 14, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

dispenses fun disproportionate to its price
Car and Driver

slow to gather speed
ConsumerGuide Automotive

drove like a champ
Edmunds

good acceleration...well-suited for skating through traffic
Kelley Blue Book

you [can] control the shifts to get the most out of the power it has
Motor Trend

You're not going to win any street rallies in a small, four-cylinder economy car like the Honda Fit. However, for what it is, this 2008 Honda actually scores better than average in the driving pleasure department.

Road & Track reports that it's "the most fun to drive" of the three subcompacts they tested, with "sharp handling, an excellent gearbox, [and] proper heel-and-toe pedal placement." Car and Driver concurs: The 109-hp four-banger will "fling you into corners at a clip sufficient to experience a chassis so well tuned that it is one of the quickest cars ever " to go through the C/D lane-change test.

Handling and response is generally excellent for this particular 2008 Honda. Motor Trend reports that the Fit completed the slalom test at over 64 mph, an "agile go-kart handler."

Understand, however, that highway maneuvers that require sudden bursts of acceleration--passing, merging on to freeways, and so on--will require a good amount of judgment and planning on the part of the driver, because the Honda Fit is competing with the big boys out there on the automotive playground. Fortunately, the transmission compensates for this somewhat. Nonetheless, it's not a V-8, and owners should drive accordingly.

Where the Honda Fit excels is in the area for which it was designed: fuel economy. At 33 mpg city and 38 mpg highway when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, the Fill will definitely have you gloating at the gas pump. However, the Honda Fit's fuel tank capacity is only slightly over 10 gallons, so you'll still be visiting that pump regularly.

Conclusion

It's a sprightly little car, but the 2008 Honda Fit is better for fuel economy than it is for performance.

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:dispenses fun disproportionate to its priceCar and Driverslow to gather speedConsumerGuide Automotivedrove like a champEdmundsgood acceleration...well-suited for skating through trafficKelley Blue Bookyou [can] control the shifts to get the most out of the power it hasMotor Trend You're not going to win any street rallies in a small, four-cylinder economy car like the Honda Fit. However, for what it is, this 2008 Honda actually scores better than average in the driving pleasure department. Road & Track reports that it's "the most fun to drive" of the three subcompacts they tested, with "sharp handling, an excellent gearbox, [and] proper heel-and-toe pedal placement." Car and Driver concurs: The 109-hp four-banger will "fling you into corners at a clip sufficient to experience a chassis so well tuned that it is one of the quickest cars ever " to go through the C/D lane-change test. Handling and response is generally excellent for this particular 2008 Honda. Motor Trend reports that the Fit completed the slalom test at over 64 mph, an "agile go-kart handler." Understand, however, that highway maneuvers that require sudden bursts of acceleration--passing, merging on to freeways, and so on--will require a good amount of judgment and planning on the part of the driver, because the Honda Fit is competing with the big boys out there on the automotive playground. Fortunately, the transmission compensates for this somewhat. Nonetheless, it's not a V-8, and owners should drive accordingly. Where the Honda Fit excels is in the area for which it was designed: fuel economy. At 33 mpg city and 38 mpg highway when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, the Fill will definitely have you gloating at the gas pump. However, the Honda Fit's fuel tank capacity is only slightly over 10 gallons, so you'll still be visiting that pump regularly. ConclusionIt's a sprightly little car, but the 2008 Honda Fit is better for fuel economy than it is for performance. 2008 HONDA FIT STYLING | 5 out of 10 Cars.com: "a wedgelike affair that resembles many of today's larger vehicles" ConsumerGuide Automotive: "plastic surfaces...thin carpeting...uneven gaps" Kelley Blue Book: "lines suggest function more than fashion" Motor Trend: "[the] ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Fit outdoes nearly all of its competitors when it comes to accommodating passengers and cargo. Those who look for a sprightly feel might also consider the Rio5, but it’s not as refined overall as the fit, nor is the Aveo, which has disappointing performance but a smooth ride. The xD is the looker of the group, most would agree; and the Yaris is more fuel-efficient, at 29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, but it gets relatively poor marks for safety.

Next Steps:

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for the 2008 Honda Fit

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for the 2008 Honda Fit

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for a 2008 Honda Fit near you

See the Honda Fit in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (1 total)

  1. By CHUCK HILL #1, Posted: 5/22/2008

    BEST FOR THE PRICE

    WHILE SHOPPING FOR THE MOST FUEL EFFICENT/LEAST HARMFUL TO THE WALLET, I TESTED THE TOYOTA YARIS, VW RABBIT, CHEVY AVEO, AND THE HONDA FIT. THE FIT WAS BY FAR THE BEST OF THE LOT. THE STANDARD AMENITIES ARE EXCEPTIONAL AND THE INTERIOR ROOM IS PHENOMINAL. GETS MY VOTE AND WILL SOON HAVE ONE IN THE DRIVEWAY.

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