HONDA could be forgiven if it resorted to some trash talk right about now. While Detroit — and even Toyota and Nissan — went whole hog for big pickups and S.U.V.’s, Honda stuck with its long-term game plan: no Texas-size trucks, no V-8 engines.
Now the American and Japanese automakers that hitched their stars to big trucks have been humbled. While they’re suffering a protracted sales slump, buyers have beaten a path to Honda, lifting the brand’s sales this year despite a full-blown recession in the broader auto industry.
Cars like the Fit deserve much of the credit. This stubby hatchback arrived to general acclaim in 2006. The Fit defied the image of small economy cars — honed over decades of flaming Pintos, rusting Renaults and D.O.A. Dodge Omnis — as cramped, chintzy or unreliable. In contrast, the Fit was roomy and ship-shape, even a little bit sporty.
A second-generation Fit steps in for 2009, slightly larger but still barely 13 feet long — and just 4 inches longer than a Mini Cooper Clubman. Already sold in 115 countries and so popular that Honda dealers can barely keep them in stock, the Fit is all about driving cheaply without feeling cheap.
From its tight construction and smooth powertrain to upscale options like a voice-activated navigation system, the more refined new Fit gives off a quality vibe that penny-pinching rivals like the Chevrolet Aveo and Toyota Yaris cannot match.
I drove the latest Fit around New York and through the Hudson Valley, as part of a press convoy that included the outgoing model, making comparisons easy. Side-by-side parking helped to highlight the Fit’s modestly sportier styling, with a more angular nose, a V-shaped bulge in the hood and two enlarged slashes for headlamps.
The upgraded Fit Sport model adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a front fascia with larger air inlets, rocker panel moldings, a perky spoiler on the hatch and a chrome exhaust tip. (The base model’s bargain-basement touches include plastic covers on 15-inch steel wheels).
The Fit’s thorough safety checklist includes antilock brakes, six air bags and new front head restraints that help to prevent whiplash injuries. A vastly more rigid body structure helps to reduce noise and vibration. That structure is engineered to line up better in collisions with S.U.V.’s and other large vehicles, and the Fit’s front end is designed to minimize injuries to pedestrians. Sport models also have electronic stability control, which is not available, unfortunately, on the base model.
A larger windshield and front-quarter windows, together with slim front-roof pillars and rear headrests that retract into the seats, give the Fit outstanding visibility. A telescoping steering wheel is a welcome addition. The attractive cloth seats feature bolsters that are surprisingly thick for an economy car.
The climate controls are arranged higher on the dash for an easier reach. Once again, the Sport model goes one better with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated audio and cruise controls; two extra speakers for the 160-watt audio system and a USB port to connect MP3 players.
There are also 10 cup holders; don’t ask why a car this small needs so many.
Consumers who’ve never poked their head into a modern hatchback may be amazed at how much space is packed into the petite body. Two large adults fit quite comfortably in back, thanks in part to reclining second-row seatbacks. Three adults will even fit in a pinch.
Honda’s so-called Magic Seats dive flat into the floor in a slick one-hand operation, with no need to remove the headrests — even when the front seats are all the way back. The load floor becomes perfectly flat, unlike those in many rivals, creating a class-leading 57 cubic feet of storage. For comparison, the Ford Escape, a compact S.U.V. that’s 13 inches longer, 8 inches taller and 4 inches wider, holds 65 cubic feet.
Dorm-bound college students will rejoice. Even with passengers in back, the Fit’s hatch exceeds the trunk space of nearly every full-size luxury sedan, at least if you stuff it to the roof. And the front passenger seat folds forward to let you carry ladders or other long items.
The rear hatch opens at a higher angle, making it easier to lean deep inside. There are tie-down hooks, a storage box and a cargo light.
The new 4-cylinder engine displaces 1.5 liters and turns out 117 horsepower, up 8 from the previous Fit. The Honda takes a modest 9 seconds to reach 60 miles an hour and works hard to climb especially steep hills. But once at cruising speed, the Fit hums along smoothly at 80 m.p.h., and the cabin is notably quieter than it was before.
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