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Honda pulled the sheets off its new 2009 Fit hatchback at the New York auto show today, just two model years after the city-sipping hatchback first joined the Japanese automaker’s lineup. What left us a little verklempt was the lack of complete powertrain info on the new vehicle, which doesn’t actually go on sale until the fall. Honda ’s press release says the Fit will be powered by a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a new five-speed automatic with paddle shifters (on the Sport model shown here). No word on fuel economy or total power output just yet. Honda also promises better standard equipment on the new version, including an improved “Magic Seat” that swings into its folding position in one motion; a hidden storage bin in the cargo area; better steering and handling thanks to a better body structure; and on Sport models, an available navigation system with voice recognition. The Sport version also gets a USB audio interface that words with iPods...
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The Fit belongs to a class—basic transportation—that we once acknowledged with a patronizing pat on the head but now take more seriously. There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious: Soaring fuel costs and environmental concerns are making small cars increasingly popular. The second is not so obvious: Basic transportation no longer means deprivation. Not only does the Honda Fit deliver what you’d expect—high mpg numbers and low ownership costs—but it also delivers something you might not: high-quality interior appointments, a high level of usefulness, and a high fun-to-drive index. The Fit scores well in those areas of unexpectedness. There seems to be more room inside this car than the tidy exterior could possibly contain, the seats flop and fold to yield great cargo versatility, and the interior appointments would do justice to an Accord. But it’s the Fit’s agility and terrier spirit that win our hearts. With 109 horsepower, blazing acceleration isn’t part of the deal, but it...
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