Utility is hardly a word that appears on an enthusiast's checklist when buying a car. But it's just not possible to talk about the 2007 Honda Fit without mentioning how handy it is. The car is a revolution in space usage.
For starters, sit in the driver's seat. It's relatively high, because you're sitting on the gas tank. That space wasn't doing anything anyway-why not put the gas tank there? OK, don't ask a certain manufacturer (who shall remain unnamed) that question, but you get the idea. Having the gas tank under the front seats means there is a gaping hole behind the back seats and under the floor of the rear cargo area. When combined with ridiculously compact torsion beam rear suspension, the configuration nets the Fit more vertical space than vehicles twice its size.
The back seats fold down flush with the rear floor, which makes a lot of space. But that's been done before. Remember the missing gas tank and resulting gaping hole? The rear seat cushions are consequently able to flip upward, creating the perfect spot for a tall plant or a small banana tree. Then, keep the passenger side rear seat folded down, and fold the front passenger seat completely flush with the rear, and jam in all the surfboards, snowboards, and skis your heart desires.
Enough of the consumer reports.
Because of the gas tank location, the driving position is decidedly minivan, which is an interesting proposition when a stick shift is involved. There is a distinct sensation of pushing on the pedals from above, rather than forward into them from aft.
We found that unless you have the build of a chimpanzee or your arms are twice as long as your legs, the steering wheel is a tad too far away. A choice must be made; the driver can either sit too close to the pedals or too far from the wheel. We opted for the latter, which meant the seatback had to be adjusted to a very erect position to give our hands a good grip on the wheel, further accentuating the minivan sensation.
The combination of the two issues above give the driver an unrealistically conservative view of what's possible around the corners. So it comes as a great surprise when the Fit flings around the corners like no minivan could. For that matter, the Fit finds grip like few cars in its segment can.
Smallish hills caused by things like tree roots under the asphalt have a tendency to unsettle the suspension in the rear, creating a disconcerting bobbing that forces the driver to dial back the speed. The compact nature of the rear suspension means that travel is limited, so we're betting Honda used stiffer spring rates to keep the dampers from hammering the bump stops on rough terrain.
The Fit isn't a terribly quick car (the Toyota Yaris will walk away), but the innovative i-VTEC engine provides ample power to crest hills and even have some fun on the weekends. Rather than an additional lobe on the camshaft as with traditional VTEC, the Fit system instead uses two valves per cylinder until 3400 rpm, switching to full four-valve-per-cylinder operation afterward. Not the Honda purist's VTEC by any means, but effective at netting the Fit Sport 31 mpg city and 37 mpg on the highway.
By James Tate
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