Fuel Savings and Fun with the New Honda Fit
While other auto makers were busy offering powerful V8 engines and gas guzzling trucks, Honda was sitting back producing affordable, reliable vehicles with solid build-quality and fuel efficiency. While this seemed silly at the time, it now shows that Honda’s conservative strategy has paid off.
With its fuel efficient and value-packed offerings, Honda has weathered the global financial crisis far better than the automaker’s larger competitors. In some months where other automakers had reported steep sales declines, Honda actually reported sales growth!
Much of Honda’s sales success in recent month could be attributed to vehicles like the Fit, which has just undergone its first redesign. Although you can call the Honda Fit an economy car, it provides qualities that are in demand at Honda Denver and aren’t typically associated with similar models, such as roominess, sportiness, and build quality.
For 2009 the Honda Fit has been redesigned, and has grown in size slightly – but that’s not saying much, it’s a mere 4 inches longer than a Mini Cooper Clubman. The Fit is currently sold in nearly 115 counties, and has quickly become one of Honda’s most popular models worldwide.
Competing against the likes of Toyota’s Yaris or Chevy’s Aveo, Honda Longview Texas shoppers have found that the Honda Fit provides a more quality ride, and a refined interior, that doesn’t exude a cheap feel.
Compared to its competition, the Honda Fit is sporty both inside and out, and posses the driving dynamics to match its sporty character. The latest models add 16 in. wheels and new front fascia with bold air intakes, and even a spoiler and chrome exhaust tip.
As with other Honda models, the new Fit offers plenty of safety, which is among the top concerns of Colorado Honda Dealer customers. With standard ABS, six air bags, new head restraints to curb whiplash, and even a more rigid body to reduce noise and vibration and improve safety. There’s even a Sport model that adds a stability control system.
Inside the Honda Fit, the Honda Fit provides a 160-watt audio system with MP3 connectivity and an organized dash. There are even 10 cup holders, so no need to worry about where to place your drink.
Americans typically don’t admire hatchbacks, but the Honda Fit’s hatchback design adds plenty of space that would otherwise be unavailable, which is also what many buyers noticed about the previous generation according to Louisville used car dealers. In addition to ample cargo space, there’s plenty of space for two adults in the back seat.
Despite its tiny exterior, drivers will appreciate the Honda Fit’s abundant interior space. The Fit even has more space in the cargo area than the truck space of any full-size luxury sedan. With a wide-opening rear hatch and plenty of tie downs, the cargo space is also very accessible and useful.
Powering the new Fit is a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 117 horsepower. The Fit goes from 0-60 in about 9 seconds, but at high speed is quiet and composed. Honda dealer Georgia drivers say the engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission which complements the engine well. The Sport model also adds paddle shifters for greater shifting speed.
Although it offers plenty of sport, one of the biggest draws to the Honda Fit is its efficiency says Honda Washington DC. The standard fit delivers 28 miles per gallon and 35 miles per hour on the highway. The Sport model offers 27 mpg city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Domestic automakers will have a hard time matching the value, sportiness, and quality of the Fit, but the Nissan Versa and Toyota’s Scion xD are perhaps the toughest competition. If car buyers can see past the economy image, they may see that the Honda Fit is precisely what they need to cut fuel costs and still have a fun to driver vehicle.
* * *
More on the latest Honda Fit hatchback can be found here.