2009 Honda Fit
OVERALL: 9.5/10 - I STRONGLY recommend it.
Reliability: 10/10 - Just a leaky tire so far which could have been from anything, but the car was nice enough to let me know one of the tires was low in the first place.
Price: 10/10 - This was less than $18,000 brand new and fully-loaded, though if you want a deal like that you may need some good haggling skills. Still a damn good price for a new car.
Fuel economy: 9/10 - I can usually average above 30mpg over the short trip to and from school, and this is mostly city driving, but then again I know how to drive efficiently so literally YMMV. It’s not quite into the hybrid territories (though I’ve averaged over 45mpg back home in rural MA), but it’s pretty much the best you’ll get from a full-gas car.
Comfort: 8.5/10 - back seats aren’t terribly comfortable but good enough, and like most small cars the suspension is a little hard, but again most cars of that size will be the same.
Performance: 8.5/10 - It’s a small, efficient economy car so it’s got a tiny little 1.8L engine, but it’s not SUPPOSED to be powerful, and it still gets the job done.
Safety: 8.5/10 - This one’s a bit tough to really measure. Collision-wise, you have to accept that it’s a small and light car, so most vehicles out there will do more damage to you than you will to them, though the car is loaded otherwise with collision protection features. Also, GET THE SPORT MODEL WITH VSA/NAVIGATION. VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) is basically the best thing since antilock brakes, and could save your life and/or your car in a situation where you start skidding. There’s already regulations mandating all car companies to start including VSA in all their new vehicles within the next couple years because it’s so great. The navigation system comes packaged with it, which is good for idiots like me. The sound system is pretty sweet, too.
Other pros: Insane amount of storage space. I could probably fit just about everything I own in this car. It’s small and convenient, but capable. Damn good deal for the low price. Honda continues its reputation here.
Other cons: I heard that for some reason Honda Fits are prone to get their wheels stolen, so you should probably get the lock nuts and the security system. The navigation system gets the job done, but it’s the same system Honda has been using in their cars for years, so it’s fairly outdated. Not that big a deal for most of us, but for some it may be enough to make you buy a new aftermarket one. Also, the car looks so nice you’ll cry big baby tears every time a little scratch or whatever happens.
