New Honda Fit gets navigation
CNET Car Tech looks at the navigation system in the 2009 Honda Fit at the 2008 New York auto show.
At the 2008 New York auto show, Honda showed off its updated 2009 Honda Fit, the small car originally introduced to the U.S. market as a 2007 model. When we reviewed the 2008 Honda Fit, we lamented the lack of any interesting cabin electronics. The 2009 model addresses this complaint by making Honda's voice-recognition navigation system available, a system we've previously seen, and been impressed by, in the Honda Civic Si. The voice-recognition system lets you control the car's navigation, audio system, and other car functions with spoken commands. Honda also says that the new Fit will include a USB port that will let users plug in iPods or USB thumbdrives, a feature not currently available in other Honda models.
The new Honda Fit also includes an updated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an improved suspension, and refined interior functionality, improving on the configurability of the cabin for storage or passengers. Honda hasn't announced pricing for the navigation-equipped Fit, but the company managed to keep the option down to about $1,800 on the Honda Civic Si. The Fit will certainly qualify as the least expensive car to offer a navigation option.