2009 Honda Fit: Bigger, Lighter, Safer
By Todd Kaho
You may be wondering why a car that has been on sale for just two years (introduced in April 2006 as a 2007 model) is in need of a redesign. While the subcompact Honda Fit is relatively new to the North American market, the first generation Fit (Jazz in Europe) was introduced to the rest of the world in 2001. As a global product, the Fit is actually a bit overdue for freshening.
The second generation Fit made its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Show late last year with the U.S. spec model announcement coming at the recent New York International Auto Show. Honda identifies the 2009 Fit as “all new” and it is scheduled to hit dealer showrooms this fall. In fact, though the look is familiar, the 2009 car is quite different.
Fit’s wheelbase, for example is pushed out an additional two inches to 98.4 inches, and the overall length grows by 2.2 inches to 153.5 inches. The car is a bit wider, too (0.8 inches overall) with the track increasing substantially by 1.4 inches. We know what you’re thinking: here we go again, witnessing the ruin of a great small car by adding size and weight. Not so. While the Fit has grown, curb weight has increased by just 22 pounds. One key dimensional change was moving the windshield forward 4.7 inches, which delivers a cabin that feels on par with the bigger Civic than a subcompact.
Importantly, Honda has incorporated its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) into the new car to enhance safety. Every Fit will come standard with dual stage, dual threshold front airbags, dual front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Also on the safety front, Honda has improved front and rear visibility with more glass area and an improved seating position.
The North American Fit will be powered by a new 1.5 liter i-VTEC four cylinder engine with either a five speed manual or five speed automatic transmission. The automatic will offer steering wheel mounted paddle shifters on the Sport model. Final specifications for the U.S. Fit haven’t been released, but judging by the Japanese version we expect power to jump about 9 hp and torque to increase by as much as 21 lbs-ft. The new Fit will come standard with larger 15 inch wheels while the Sport model will offer 16 inch alloys. Ride and handling are said to be better with a more forgiving ride and better road feel.
For 2009, the Fit’s interior is more spacious and comfortable. Honda is clearly using higher quality materials throughout. If you like the current model’s folding rear seat, you will love the new version’s improved Magic Seat. It offers a one motion “dive-down” function that stows the rear seat flat with the front seats when in the rear position, and does this without requiring removal of the headrests. A variety of seating and cargo configurations are available in seconds to fit the mission at hand.
The 2009 Honda Fit may be evolving, but it isn’t growing old. The changes promise to keep the Fit at the front of the small car pack, which is precisely where Honda aims to be.
Want to know more about efficient small cars? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
2008 Nissan Versa: Green Credentials, No Compromise
The 56 MPG Fiat 500 Returns
Chevy Beat: Reading the Pulse of the Minicar Market
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