2009 Honda Fit Sport Review
The 2009 Honda Fit does not look quite like the model that was introduced back in 2007. But while the overall design has considerably evolved (jewel-like headlights, sculpted hood, exaggerated roofline, smaller rear window, new dashboard, etc.), the formula is the same. The Fit is still a great example of efficiency in terms of space and performance.
Under the hood is a revised version of Honda’s fuel-thrifty, 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine. The 117 horsepower (+6) are sent to the front wheels through a precise-shifting, 5-speed manual transmission or a very flexible 5-speed autobox.
A couple of noteworthy additions can be found inside, like standard climate control in DX-A trim and above, a new fuel consumption display (which is always nice to have in these days of volatile gas prices), a tilt AND telescopic steering wheel as well as a dead pedal.
Wrong decision
Yet, despite all the good things that have been said about this car, it didn’t even win the award for “Best New Small Car (over $18K)” from the Automobile Jounalists Association of Canada (AJAC).
During the AJAC’s annual TestFest, which was held last October in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the new Pontiac Vibe got the most points, followed by its twin cousin, the Toyota Matrix. At 678 points, the latter finished 3 points ahead of the Honda Fit.
The Vibe? Really?
It has to be said, however, that manufacturers cannot enter more than one trim level for each car in the competition. Therefore, they have to make strategic choices and enter the model that gives them the best chance of winning.
Honda Canada executives decided to go with a 2009 Fit Sport equipped with an automatic transmission, which retails for $20,659. The result was that the Fit wound up in the “over $18K” category along with the Vibe ($20,405) and Matrix ($19,460), two larger though equally roomy hatchbacks that offer similar equipment.
Outstanding driving dynamics
The 2009 Honda Fit should have had the edge in several aspects. For instance, driving dynamics turned out to be way more predictable than both the Vibe and Matrix on the TestFest track.
With a lightweight, precise power steering and a great suspension system delivering fantastic stability in corners, the Fit felt safe and reassuring. It zigzagged through the course with effortlessness that rivals could not match due to their significant body roll and slow, heavy steering.
Queen of transformation
The new Honda Fit also benefits from a highly-versatile, configurable interior. It actually offers more cargo room than the Pontiac-Toyota duo, whether the rear seatbacks are down (14 percent) or up (5 percent). The Fit’s cargo area is even larger than a Mazda5′s with the rear seats folded. Go figure!
The Fit has another clear advantage over the Vibe and Matrix: greater fuel economy. In fact, judging by the numbers provided by the manufacturers, the little Honda burns 13 percent less fuel on average. The tests performed in Niagara-on-the-Lake gave us the confirmation.
Similar performance
With regard to performance, all three cars are in the same class. Acceleration times (0 to 100 km/h) recorded by AJAC test drivers hovered around 10 seconds, with variations of only a few tenths of a second. So it seems that the small displacement of the Fit is not a handicap. Truth is, the power-to-weight ratio is almost identical for each of them.
Braking distances were just as similar. The three hatchbacks took less than 42 meters to stop from 100 to 0 km/h.
Considering all these facts, there’s only one way to explain the disappointing result of the 2009 Honda Fit at TestFest: the price. Admittedly, paying more than $20,000 for a Fit is rather unthinkable for consumers (and even auto writers), most of whom prefer to buy their cars by the pound! You know what I mean — people always expect to pay less for a smaller car.
Would a Fit DX-A have gotten a better score than the new Aveo and smart in the “under $18K” category? Probably so. Then again, this category also included the 2009 Corolla CE, a very conventional and less versatile sedan that carries a more attractive price… and bears a much more familiar name!
