The Honda Fit Is a Good Fit For People On a Budget

By David Plowman

The Honda Fit just hit the United States market, following a successful introduction in Europe and Japan. This sub-compact, five-door hatchback is deceptively roomy and stylish, but scores the fuel economy you'd expect from a car of its size.

Honda employs some design tricks to make the inside cabin as roomy as possible for its eight-foot wheelbase. One technique places the car's 11-gallon fuel tank underneath the passenger seats. Additionally, the Fit's backseats, dubbed Magic Seats, perform a nifty disappearing act and can be quickly folded into the floor, providing a storage capacity of 41.9 cubic feet.

While the roomy Fit won't always feel like a sub-compact, it offers one strikingly positive characteristic of other cars its size, fuel economy. Averaging a 31-miles-per-gallon in the city and 37-mpg in freeway driving, the Fit allows drivers to save some money at the gas pump. With an estimated $15,170 sticker-price, buyers will also be able to save some green when buying the car.

Other standard creature comforts include power windows, mirrors and door locks, air conditioning and an AM/FM/CD with four speakers. Optional features enable drivers to plug their iPOD or MP3 player into the system.

Underneath the hood, the Fit offers a 109 horsepower, 15-litter 4-cylinder engine that allows the car to go from 0 to 60 miles an hour in approximately 9 seconds. A manual 5-speed transmission is standard, with an available 5- speed automatic transmission.

While the Fit was just introduced in the United States, it boasts a proven track record in Europe and Asia and recently sold its millionth unit worldwide.

The Fit joins a growing cast of sub-compact cars that demonstrating that fuel efficient economy cards don't have to come at the expense of comfort and style.