CD Article: 2009 Honda Fit

[fitnomore]

I just checked the specs for my '05 Mazda3 Sport GT, and it has ABS+EBD (electronic brake-force distribution).  Is this the same as VSA?  Does this mean an '09 Fit would be a "downgrade" for me in terms of safety?  I do know the Fit has more airbags (side curtain) than the M3

The Fit, both old and new, have ABS/EBD.  ESC is one step further by correcting for loss of steering control in about 1/25th of a second, which is why there are some situations where even an expert driver can't out respond ESC. Canadian Driver had a great summary of ESC in April, 2008 (search "electronic stability control").

[dave 2]

Air filtration is something I would skip. On my Accord these filters are buried in the dash and cost a bit of labour to change.  Just another mtce issue and expense to deal with.

I have had my Accord for 8 years and have never been able to tell that the filtration even exists. Maybe they are good for people that are allergic to everything. For me it is usless and a complete waste of money.

On newer models Air filter is real easy to replace.  Also cheaper at Cdn Tire than dealer.  Filter for my 05 Accord cost around 20 bucks vs 36 at dealer.  Once you take old filter out, you'll want to replace it every few years (yuck)

[Picollus]

I am exactly in the same situation...

For the same price (20300 $) i can get a matrix base + b package for 6 % of interst versus a honda fit Lx for 19800 for 8.2 % !!!!

I am very hesitating between these two cars

[Cortina]

I am exactly in the same situation...

For the same price (20300 $) i can get a matrix base + b package for 6 % of interst versus a honda fit Lx for 19800 for 8.2 % !!!!

I am very hesitating between these two cars

What about the Pontiac Vibe.

[PJungnitsch]

What about the Pontiac Vibe.

Very true, 0% for 60 on the Vibe, and standard ESP. If only it wasn't such an ugly mutt.

Saw a base Fit w/air today at the dealer (DX-A) and it actually looks quite decent, much better than the old base Fit did with its tiny tires. Not a bad price either, $16,300 if a person can live with manual locks.

[PMREdmonton]

The 09 Fit appears to be a great car which I was ready to purchase this fall.  However, no stability control (VSA), no car.  Stability control is a proven life saver, for all levels of drivers.  I find it unconscionable that Honda would engineer VSA into this car, and then not offer it to Canadians, at any price. Does Honda think that Canadian lives are more expendable than the lives of Americans?  I now may have to condsider the Vibe/Matrix, or perhaps the upcoming Elantra Touring (although there are suggestions that Hyundai may also delete ESC for us apparently expendable Canadians, as well).

I wouldn't be surprised.  Elantra SE in use has ESC, but it is not available in Canada.

Hyundai Sonata I4 has ESC standard in the US, but not available in Canada even though the car costs several thousands more.

Fairly typical - we spend more and get less.  If only they could take down those importation barriers we could then get some real competition going up here.

[Jem_hadar]

"The cargo area behind the rear seats is a class-leading 585 litres (20.7 cu. ft.), but slightly less than the 2008 Fit's 603 litres (21.3 cu. ft.)."

Is this statement correct? If so, this is an impressive cargo space  - bigger than mid-size sedans, compact hatches and some small SUVs.

EDIT: A quick visit on Honda's website showed that it is. IMPRESSIVE!!!

Personally I think they should show the real trunk volumes (IE: Under the cover) and not all the way to the roof line. Or at least give measurements.

Exactly -- agreed!

Bc if you look at the VW MKIV Golfs or the new MKV Rabbits, you will quickly see how much wider the length of the hatch cargo area is. Same with the Nissan Versa. Both are much wider length-wise, which to me is a key factor. You can add more stuff in before you have to start piling it on top of each other. I *never* like to pile stuff all the way up the roof in my hatchbacks, so having more good "ground-level" storage is far more important than having the "height" level of storage advantage that the Fit has over other hatbacks.
The Fit's hatch cargo area w/ rear seats up doesn't seem to be all that much wider length-wise than the Yaris when I was looking at my co-workers last year.

Jem

[carcrazy]

I think you might be able to get that measurement by looking at the Euro Jazz and potentially other cars too. It seems like in Europe they list the cargo space behind the seats, up to the window level.

Why I believe this? Well, in the past few days I was looking at Euro sub-compact cars for my father and I'm trying to steer him toward Fit/Jazz. I can't believe I'm doing that, but the truth is it's a great little car if you can get past its looks, which I personally cannot, but he might be able to do that. Plus, over there it seems to be cheaper and better equipped compared to the competition. I guess different market with different strategy.

Anyway, looking at the Jazz’s specs, the cargo space with the rear seats up is listed at 353L (12.5 cu.ft.) and with the seats down is listed at 845L (29.8 cu.ft.).

[wing]

wongnog -- NO.

VSA is NOT the same as EBD+ABS.  ABS is Anti-lock braking system.  VSA is a stability control program they are different things.

EBD allows the car to brake wheels at different rates depending on weight transfer and lock-up.  Stability control will do one or more of a few things such as: reduce throttle being applied, brake individual wheels in the result of a skid, change power output to different wheels etc.

[Jem_hadar]

Anyway, looking at the Jazz’s specs, the cargo space with the rear seats up is listed at 353L (12.5 cu.ft.) and with the seats down is listed at 845L (29.8 cu.ft.).

Think you may be right. The Yaris is listed at 228L, and I know that the Fit's hatch cargo area is a bit wider length-wise, and the cargo floor is deeper than the Yaris's (its recessed lower).

I can believe that.

[dave 2]

They're gonna sell a ton of these Fits with the direction gas is headed again!

[Jem_hadar]

Just saw one at our Honda dealership. Stopped to look at it on the way home...

MAN! What a hot redesign. I never liked the old Fit AT ALL (inside or out) appearance-wise... everything about that car's appearance really just bothered me -- though I quite loved its amazing Magic Seats -- WOW.

Anyways... now... this vehicle is looking sharp as hell -- VERY impressed. Im dying to take it out for a test drive!

I think I actually like the new 09 Fit better than my Yaris Hatch. Cant believe I've saying that. Its a gorgeous redesign. And so nice and practical. Car looks less "mini-minivan-y" from the outside, and the dash is fantastic! Love the fuel efficiency gage! UGH... so jealous abt that, you have no idea.

[Schmengie]

Three '09s finally showed up at the dealer here, went and had a look at 'em this morning. It's a nice redesign, much sleeker on the outside than the old one which always looked a bit top-heavy and awkward to me. The cars had content stickers on them but no prices. The relatively large stock of '08s on the lot haven't had their prices reduced as yet, so it'll be interesting to see what happens here.

 The one DX-A that I saw had black plastic exterior mirrors and paper-thin plastic wheel covers which screamed CHEAP so loudly it was hard to look past them, and that model apparently doesn't include things like heated exterior mirrors which should be standard across the line.

 The LX models had odd-looking disc-style alloy wheels straight out of the Eighties. They're very out of place on the new Fit, almost like someone had raided a salvage yard somewhere. 

Edit - pics added





 

[safristi]

 test drove the mid range '09 Fit......after sitting in the basic and Spurt! model....it was a 5speed auto(methinks why a D3 detent on the "shifter"?...is it really a 4 speed wif  reverse counted!!!!) any HOoo.....i was not underwhelmed..nor ovr whelmed.....kinda "whelmed"!!!...i've always tho't( tho never driven on "older" one) that i'd love IT...so...lookes kinda "funky" with sharp angles inside and out...massive windshield and wipers and the front bumper dissapears from sight...lotsa triangulations in view too many IMHO....the dash is OK but the mix of blue dotted circle guages and a "headstone" shaped odometer and fuel efficiency guage LCD thingie right inna middle proved distracting...bar graph B/S as ya slowed and revved..it was a nuisance........rode well but firmly and tracked true thru the hills and twisties but felt "slowish"...i fear the Hype i'd read lead me to expect more...wifey loved it.....maybe I'm still GTR/Lotus materiel ........prices wre same as last year....and NO Navi...very lil minor add ons....no heated seats/sunroofs etc..... $17K...$18K...20500K.....fer the 3 iterations....I agree with the assesment of the Mid Range "mag" wheels   an ABOMINATION...rather have the basic model wif 5 speed manual and wheel covers...NO MORE PADDLES fer U Max Mosely wannabees.....

[Demosthenes X]

Those are the hybrid-style alloys Honda has taken to sticking on everything lately.  I think they're lower-weight and thus improve gas mileage, but they are ugly as sin. 

I'm surprised your dealer still has 08s on the lot.  Our dealer in Victoria had none - all the Fits that were received were already sold.

[Schmengie]

Those are the hybrid-style alloys Honda has taken to sticking on everything lately.  I think they're lower-weight and thus improve gas mileage, but they are ugly as sin. 

I'm surprised your dealer still has 08s on the lot.  Our dealer in Victoria had none - all the Fits that were received were already sold.

I counted at least 5 '08s on Sunshine Honda's lot this morning. Prices for them are still pretty high, even though the '09s are here. The cheapest one I saw was just under $18K for a basic model with plastic wheel covers and A/T. That might explain it.