When planning a road trip, the vehicle you choose can make or break the experience. While large SUVs and minivans are common choices, small cars like the Honda Fit are also excellent options for road tripping. Though the Fit is compact, it has many features that make it a great pick for both short and long trips on the open road. The Honda Fit has great fuel efficiency, ample cargo space, useful tech features, and renowned reliability—all important factors for road trip vehicles. This article will explore how the nimble Honda Fit can handle road trip duties despite its small stature.
Fuel Efficiency
Known for its impressive fuel economy, the Honda Fit gets excellent gas mileage that ranks high among compact cars. According to Fuelly, real-world MPG data on the Honda Fit shows an average of 33.8 mpg across various model years and configurations.
The 2019 Honda Fit with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is EPA-rated at 33 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined, as reported by Honda City Chicago. With the optional 6-speed manual transmission, MPG drops slightly to 29/36/32 mpg city/highway/combined.
Compared to other subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa, the Honda Fit is a segment leader in fuel efficiency. Its high MPG gives it excellent gas mileage for a small hatchback, making it a top choice for road trips when fuel costs are a concern.
Cargo Space
The Honda Fit is known for its impressive amount of cargo space for a small hatchback. According to Battison Honda, the 2020 Honda Fit has between 16.6 – 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space depending on whether the rear seats are up or folded down.
With the rear seats in place, the 2020 Fit has 16.6 cubic feet of cargo volume. This expands to an impressive 52.7 cubic feet with the Magic Seat folded down, allowing you to haul large and bulky items. As Motor Trend notes, the Honda Fit’s cargo space beats out many other hatchbacks including the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, and Toyota Yaris.
The Honda Fit’s “Magic Seat” system with its flip-up rear seat bottom is key to providing so much flexibility. The different configurations make it easy to mix passengers and cargo as needed on a road trip.
Comfort Features
The Honda Fit offers excellent comfort and convenience for drivers and passengers. There is ample legroom in both the front and rear seats, allowing even tall passengers to sit comfortably1. Headroom is also generous, enhanced by the Fit’s tall roofline and upright seating position. Both the driver’s seat and steering wheel are highly adjustable, making it easy to find an optimal driving position2. Conveniences like the multi-angle rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and the 60/40 split Magic Seat make the Fit an accommodating small car for both drivers and passengers.
Entertainment and Connectivity
The Honda Fit comes well equipped with entertainment and connectivity features to keep drivers and passengers connected and entertained on the go. All models come standard with a 5-inch color LCD screen that displays audio information and rearview camera visuals. Higher trims upgrade to a 7-inch touchscreen display with smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto [1]. The touchscreen enables easy access to audio controls, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and other features.
Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming are standard across the lineup, allowing for safe and convenient hands-free calling and wireless audio playback from compatible devices [2]. The Fit also comes equipped with multiple USB ports for charging devices and connecting them to the audio system. Available features like HondaLink provide access to apps and remote vehicle features via smartphone.
With its suite of tech features, the Fit aims to provide an enjoyable and convenient in-car experience for drivers and passengers in an affordable, fuel-efficient package.
Reliability
The Honda Fit has proven to be a very reliable subcompact car over the years. According to RepairPal, the Honda Fit has an above average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0. This ranks the Fit 4th out of 21 subcompact cars for reliability. The average repair costs for a Honda Fit are well below other vehicles in its class at $368 per year. Further research shows most Honda Fit owners are very satisfied with the overall dependability and quality of their vehicles.
Reviewing data across multiple years and generations, the Honda Fit consistently scores well for low repair frequency. Common issues that do appear on the Fit are minor, such as squeaky brakes, a rough idle, and interior rattles. These are easy fixes and infrequent compared to repair issues on other small cars. Overall, the research indicates the Honda Fit is an excellent choice for those prioritizing reliability and lower maintenance costs.
Safety
The Honda Fit has received mixed reviews when it comes to safety. In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2020 Honda Fit received a 4-star overall safety rating, with 4 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars in the side crash test (VehicleHistory). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Fit mostly good ratings in crash tests, but a poor rating for headlights and an acceptable rating for ease of use of LATCH car seat connectors (IIHS).
Despite the mixed results in crash testing, the Honda Fit comes standard with some key safety features like stability control, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitors and six airbags including side airbags for front and rear passengers. Available advanced safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist (US News). So while the Fit may not ace every crash test, it does provide a decent array of standard safety tech for a small vehicle.
Cost
The Honda Fit has an attractive starting MSRP of around $17,000 for the base LX model, making it one of the most affordable subcompact cars on the market. According to Edmunds, you can expect to pay around $19,500 for a mid-range EX model. The top-of-the-line EX-L starts at around $21,500. With the Fit, you get a lot of value and versatility for the price.
In terms of ownership costs, the Honda Fit is known for good fuel economy and low maintenance requirements, which help keep costs down. It earns excellent reliability ratings from J.D. Power and typically has lower than average insurance rates in its class. Overall maintenance and repair costs are minimized by the Fit’s simple design and lack of unnecessary frills. Parts and labor tend to be very affordable compared to other vehicles.
Alternative Vehicles
While the Honda Fit offers great fuel efficiency and cargo space for road trips, there are several other small and fuel-efficient vehicles that could also work well. Here’s a look at some of the top alternatives:
The Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available with EPA estimates up to 58 mpg highway. It offers ample cargo room and a smooth, quiet ride perfect for logging highway miles. While not as fun to drive as the Fit, the Prius is hard to beat for maximum fuel savings on a road trip. [1]
For a more affordable option, the Hyundai Accent delivers up to 41 mpg highway fuel economy. It has one of the lowest starting prices in its class, making it a budget-friendly road trip choice. The Accent offers less cargo space than the Fit but enough room for a few suitcases. [2]
The Kia Rio is another small car with excellent fuel efficiency, rated up to 41 mpg on the highway. It provides a comfortable ride and quality interior appointments comparable to more expensive vehicles. While cargo space is limited, the Rio remains a solid road trip option for value-focused buyers.
For those wanting more performance, the Mini Cooper delivers brisk acceleration and nimble handling. Fuel efficiency reaches up to 40 mpg highway in some configurations. The Mini’s small dimensions make it easy to maneuver and park in cities. Cargo space is extremely limited though.
While the Honda Fit stands out for its blend of efficiency, practicality and driving enjoyment, several alternatives can also handle road trip duties depending on preferences and budget.
Conclusion
In summary, the Honda Fit has several strengths that make it a viable option for road trips, but also some limitations to consider. On the plus side, it gets excellent gas mileage, even on the highway, so you’ll spend less on fuel over long distances. The Magic Seat system also allows you to configure the interior in multiple ways to maximize cargo capacity, which is useful when packing for extended trips. Comfort-wise, the Fit has a smooth ride and spacious front seats. On the downside, the rear seats and cargo area are quite small, so larger groups and amounts of gear may be an issue. The entertainment system and connectivity options are also basic. Reliability and safety are strengths of Honda models in general, though the Fit lacks some advanced driver assistance features. Overall, the Honda Fit is best suited for solo travelers or couples on shorter road trips with minimal cargo. For larger groups or longer trips, a small SUV or minivan may be a better bet.
