—Ann Arbor, Michigan
Even though the original Fit debuted in 2001, we Americans were deprived of the little Honda that could until it finally arrived Stateside in 2006. After years of successful sales in Japan and Europe (where it sold as the Jazz) the folks at Honda decided to see how the diminutive hatchback would do in the bigger-is-better United States auto market. At that time, a gallon of regular unleaded still cost less than three dollars and consumers were lined up for miles waiting for new crossovers and sport-utilities to hit dealer lots. Not even Honda had anticipated that the Fit would sell roughly 80,000 units each year in America.
If this revamped Fit is to continue as the class-leader in a segment that is more important than ever, it must not only trump the outgoing model, it will need to have quality and refinement standards that one-up other small car offerings.
(Click through the post to read the full review.)