The 2012 Honda Fit Sport: King of the hatchback hill (pictures)
I was amazed by how well the fantastic Honda Fit has aged! Unfortunately, the same can't be said for its navigation system.
Fits like a glove
With the Honda Civic and its class continuing to grow with each generation, the B-segment Honda Fit is, in many ways, the true spiritual successor of the great Civic hatchbacks that elevated the brand in the '90s.
Second generation
The second-generation Honda Fit launched back in 2008 with a more angular aesthetic and more interior space than the preceding model. The hatchback hasn't changed much at all since then.
Fully loaded
Our Blue Raspberry Metallic Honda Fit Sport with Navigation is as loaded as the Fit gets at an MSRP of $20,480. At this level, there are no more options to add aside from dealer add-ons like floor mats and cargo trays.
1.5-liter aluminum engine
The Fit is powered by a minuscule 1.5-liter engine that outputs 117 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque -- no direct injection, no forced induction. The engine is mostly unremarkable, but really comes alive near its 6,800rpm redline.
5AT with paddle shifters
The Fit Sport is available with either a five-speed manual gearbox or this five-speed automatic transmission. That's one cog below the current standard of six forward speeds, but the Honda gearbox features a Sport program that is surprisingly responsive and a manual shift mode with paddle shifters that is actually useful for enthusiastic driving.
Sport upgrades
The Fit Sport is upgraded from the standard Fit with 16-inch alloy wheels shod in wider tires for increased grip and a 17-millimeter rear stabilizer bar for more responsive handling.
Fuel economy
Fuel economy is estimated by the EPA at 27 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. I was unable to keep my foot off of the accelerator, so our tester averaged about 26 mpg for the week. The greenest of Fit drivers should take a look at the fully electric 2013 Honda Fit EV.
Visibility
The Honda Fit isn't available with a rear camera of any sort, but it doesn't really need one. Front and rear visibility from the driver's seat are great thanks to generously sized windows and short overhangs.
Interior
The Fit's interior is plain and inexpensive-looking. However, while it screams "economy car," it doesn't feel cheap. The large frontal glass area affords very good visibility, while letting lots of light into the cabin for a less cramped feeling.
Ergonomics
One thing that Honda gets right with the Fit is the placement of the controls. From the steering wheel buttons to the climate controls to the audio controls, everything that the driver needs is within a few inches of the steering wheel and high up on the dashboard.
Electronic power steering
The Honda Fit uses one of the better electronic power steering (EPS) systems in the business -- which is odd for an econobox -- providing good responsiveness and feedback.
Cruise control
Cruise control is standard on the Honda Fit. I like that the steering-wheel-mounted controls are illuminated and integrated into the design of the spoke.
Audio and voice controls
The Fit Sport trim level adds steering-wheel controls for the audio system and voice command buttons for the navigation and phone systems, if the car is so equipped.
Instrument cluster
Instrumentation is simple, but attractive. The three-gauge setup features a central speedometer flanked by a small tachometer and fuel gauge. A simple, monochromatic LCD trip computer sits at the center of it all.
Satellite-Linked Navigation
Honda's Satellite-Linked Navigation System adds $2,630 to the Fit Sport's bottom line. I'm not totally convinced that this is money well spent. This system uses one of the oldest interfaces in the business; there's no traffic data; you don't get spoken street names; and the graphics are pixelated and hard to read.
Destination input
The destination input menu is easy enough to understand, but locks the driver out of most search methods when the vehicle is in motion. Needless to say, there are no connected or Web-based search options here.
Voice command
Honda has done a good job with the Fit's voice command system, giving the driver control over the phone system, the navigation system, and a selection of audio control options. There's even an extensive onscreen Help menu to get you started.
MP3 playback
At the Sport trim level, the Fit features standard USB/iPod connectivity. Artist, song, and album data are displayed on the screen and you can browse and search reasonably quickly.
The long reach
The Fit hides its USB pigtail connection in the far corner of the upper glove compartment -- possibly the least accessible spot in or on the dashboard from the driver's seat. Any further away and it'd be outside of the car!
Audio quality
Our Fit was equipped with the optional six-speaker audio system (up two tweeters from the standard four-speaker rig), but even with 160 watts of amplification, audio quality was merely passable.
Terrestrial radio
AM/FM radio are standard, but we were unable to find a satellite radio option in the Fit's list of available features.
Bluetooth hands-free calling
Bluetooth hands-free calling is built into the navigation system and can't be had as a separate option. The system features an automatic address book and call log syncing.
Audio streaming
The Bluetooth connection also adds A2DP audio streaming to the list of media sources. When reported by the connected device, the Honda audio system can display metadata of the currently playing track.
Check out the full review
Because its tech options are so dated and oddly packaged, I'd recommend that prospective Fit owners seriously consider skipping the expensive navigation option. From there, it's up to you whether you'll just enjoy the Fit's low-tech appeal or DIY your own tech with an aftermarket receiver.
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