 2007 Honda Fit LX. Click image to enlarge |
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2007 Honda Fit
The first car Honda sold here was the original Civic hatchback. It was one tiny car, but despite being far smaller than any of the subcompacts you could buy today, it was a surprisingly roomy car. I still remember being a kid and helping my dad load luggage into the back of his blue 1978 model for road trips (he was a brave man for driving that car on Ontario’s Highway 401): it seemed, as he said, that you could “fit anything in a Honda.”
In 2007, that slogan of my dad’s could have been adapted to the company’s then-newest small car, the Fit: a tiny car into which almost anything could be made to, er, fit. (The name, of course, lends itself to countless puns and silly plays on the word “fit.” I will attempt, with no promises, to spare you from the worst of these.)
Though it’s been on sale in Japan (where it’s known as the Jazz) since 2001, we didn’t get it here until 2007. It’s gained a lot of fans in a short time for many reasons, but mostly for its flexible cargo hold, which will fit – er, accommodate – items that logically shouldn’t fit (see what I mean?) into a subcompact. A fully-redesigned, second-generation Fit was introduced in late 2008 for the 2009 model year. For the moment, though, let’s see how the first-gen car has held up since its introduction in North America.
The Fit’s 1.5-litre, 109-horsepower engine is about average for the class. So is the standard five-speed manual transmission, but the optional five-speed automatic is a nice touch in a segment where four speeds is still de rigueur.
 2007 Honda Fit LX. Click image to enlarge |
Fuel consumption is low: Natural Resources Canada’s ratings for the 2007 Fit were 7.3 L/100 km (city) and 5.8 L/100 km (highway); these numbers improved slightly to 7.1/5.7 (city/highway) in 2008. The forums at FitFreak.net offer a fuel economy section for drivers who keep track of fuel consumption.
The Fit’s relatively long life cycle – by the end of its run in 2008, it was more than eight years old, despite only being sold here for the last two – means that any early model issues have apparently been worked out, but there are still a couple of minor things to look out for.
Some owners complain of paint peeling off the front and rear bumpers. Also, bug splatter on the front bumper can cause paint chips.
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at 8:23 am
In renewing my 2007 Honda Fit insurance this week (with RBC Insurance) I noticed that my premiums had gone UP over last year. Instead of going down as one would expect for a car that is one more year old.
In doing some research, the RBC agent said that the Honda Fit general insurance rates had gone up. The statistics are starting to show two things:
1. That it is more expensive to fix than originally thought.
2. That it isn’t as safe as originally thought.
Just wanted to pass this along.
Craig Delmage,
Ottawa
at 9:42 am
“de rigeur” is spelt “de rigueur”… sorry to be a pest.
As for the insurance thing, I noticed that my premiums had steadily risen too. I was curious and sought a few quotes elsewhere; they were substantially lower! I wonder if insurance companies aren’t just raising the rates of loyal customers hoping that they won’t bother shopping around. BTW, I switched from the TD to RBC!
at 9:48 pm
Michael, you’re right. Thanks.
at 10:09 pm
Yea, I’ve noticed the same thing as well, the cost of fixing the FIT is actually quite surprising. I damaged the bumper recently and the car hood is slightly misaligned, both front lights work but the dealer wants to replace the whole bumper (understandable), one of the lights and of course the hood realignment. I believe only the bumper truly needs replacing… translation with the dealer this means 300$ per year to insure the fit. Will check out RBC to see if I can maintain premier below a grand, if lucky…
at 6:29 pm
ha, you guys are funny moaning about $300 insurance – try ICBC
*****
$900 without drive to work, nearly full discount and no frills (and I live on vanc island)…