The Honda Fit, known as the Honda Jazz in some markets, has become a popular compact car for tuning enthusiasts since its introduction in 2001. Its lightweight chassis, front-wheel drive powertrain, and affordability have made it a versatile platform for all kinds of customization projects over the years.
According to https://www.torquecars.com/honda/jazz-fit-tuning.php, “The Jazz is popular among our members for tuning projects. We see car enthusiasts add new suspension, fit bigger brakes, and upgrade the exhaust system. The Honda Fit makes a good sleeper car thanks to its light weight and ability to put down surprising power figures when tuned.”
With a wide range of mods available from cosmetic enhancements to serious performance upgrades, Honda Fit enthusiasts have many ways to make their car uniquely their own. This article will explore some of the most popular customization ideas for the Honda Fit.
Suspension Upgrades
One of the most popular modifications for the Honda Fit is upgrading the suspension for improved handling and a lower stance. According to KsportUSA.com, the stock suspension on the Fit is designed more for comfort than performance driving (source). Upgrading to an aftermarket suspension setup like lowering springs or coilovers can provide a firmer, more responsive ride.
Lowering springs are a simple upgrade that lower the Fit 1-3 inches for a more aggressive stance. They reduce the gap between the wheel and fender for a sportier look. Brands like Eibach, H&R and Tanabe offer spring kits for the Fit (source). The Tanabe NF210 lowering springs are a popular choice that lower the Fit approximately 1.2 inches.
For more adjustability, coilovers allow you to customize the height, dampening and spring rate. KW and BC Racing make affordable coilover kits for the Fit that provide lowered ride height and improved handling. Coilovers let you really dial in the suspension for your driving needs from daily commuting to aggressive track use.
Wheels
One of the easiest ways to customize the look of your Honda Fit is by upgrading the wheels. The Fit comes stock with 15 or 16 inch steel wheels from the factory. While these get the job done, there are many stylish aftermarket wheel options in larger diameters to give your ride a more aggressive stance.
Some popular aftermarket wheel sizes for the Honda Fit are:
- 15 inches
- 16 inches
- 17 inches
Larger diameter wheels paired with lower profile tires can dramatically change the look of your Fit. Brands like Enjuku Racing, XXR, and Konig offer cool multi-spoke designs in larger diameters.
If you want to go bigger without rubbing, consider wheel spacers. Quality hubcentric spacers like the ones from Fitment Industries allow you to push your wheels outward for increased clearance.
Just keep in mind that larger wheels and lower profile tires may impact ride comfort and handling.
Tire Upgrades
One popular upgrade for the Honda Fit is installing wider and stickier summer tires. The stock tires on the Fit are relatively narrow, with common sizes being 185/55R16 or 195/55R16. Installing wider tires allows you to put more power down to the ground and improves handling by increasing the contact patch.
Many Fit owners choose to upgrade to a 205/50R16 or a 215/45R16 tire for improved grip and performance while still fitting the stock wheels. According to forums like FitFreak, a 205 width tire can safely be installed on a 7″ wide wheel, which the stock 16″ Fit wheels are (1). Lowered Fits may need to go with a narrower width.
As for compounds, installing a high performance summer tire instead of an all-season tire can provide better grip, traction, and handling. Popular summer tire choices include the Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Continental ExtremeContact Sport, and Yokohama Advan Sport.
Brakes
One popular upgrade for the Honda Fit is improving the braking performance. The stock brakes can start to fade and lose effectiveness during repeated hard braking or track use. Upgrading to slotted and cross-drilled brake rotors provides better heat dissipation and brake pad grip. Products like the Fastbrakes 11″ big brake kit include cross-drilled rotors to handle the heat of performance driving.
Along with slotted/cross drilled rotors, higher performance brake pads can greatly improve braking. Pads like those in the Fastbrakes kit are designed for track use with maximum friction and heat resistance. Be aware high-friction pads will trade some longevity and low dust for performance. Other manufacturers like Wilwood also offer upgraded brake kits for the Fit.
Engine Mods
One of the most popular ways to increase horsepower and torque on the Honda Fit is through engine modifications. Upgrading key components like the intake, exhaust, ECU, and adding a turbocharger can provide significant power gains on the Fit’s 1.5L and 1.3L engines.
Installing a cold air intake kit with a larger diameter smooth pipe and high-flow filter allows more air into the engine, resulting in better throttle response and top-end power. Popular options include injen, aFe, and Takeda intakes (1).
Replacing the restrictive factory exhaust with a cat-back or axle-back system reduces backpressure. Stainless steel exhausts from Tanabe, Invidia, and HKS help optimize airflow while adding an aggressive exhaust note (2).
An ECU tune optimizes the engine management system for more power by adjusting the air/fuel ratio, ignition timing, rev limit, and other parameters. Hondata and Ktuner are popular ECU tuning solutions for the Fit.
For maximum power gains, adding a turbocharger system forces more air into the engine for significant horsepower increases. Turbo kits are available from HKS, Greddy, and others for boosted performance on the Fit.
Body Kits
One of the most popular ways to customize the look of a Honda Fit is by installing a body kit. Body kits can dramatically alter the exterior styling of a car by adding new front lips, side skirts, and rear diffusers. According to Vertex Body Kits, some popular body kit options for the Honda Fit include:
Front lips – Front lips, also called front splitters or spoilers, attach to the bottom front bumper and create a more aggressive, lowered appearance. For the Honda Fit, Vertex offers the ISM Front Half Spoiler which extends the front bumper for a sportier look.
Side skirts – Side skirts are panels that run along the bottom edges of the doors and side rockers. They make the car look lower and can add a streamlined appearance. Vertex sells the Honda Fit ISM Side Skirt to continue the body kit’s styling along the car’s profile.
Rear diffusers – Diffusers mount to the rear bumper and help improve aerodynamics while giving a performance flair. The Vertex Honda Fit ISM Rear Half Diffuser accentuates the rear and adds fins for increased stability at speed.
In addition to aftermarket companies, enthusiasts can find OEM and used body kits for the Honda Fit on sites like eBay. With the right combination of parts, Fits can adopt an entirely new look and transform into head-turning custom cars.
Interior Upgrades
One of the easiest ways to customize the interior of your Honda Fit is by upgrading components like the shift knob, pedals, and gauges. Aftermarket shift knobs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials allowing you to find something that matches your style. Weighted shift knobs can provide a more substantial feel while shifter extensions give you more room to work with. Popular brands for Honda Fit shift knobs include Pioneer, GlowShift, and NRG Innovations.
Aluminum and stainless steel pedals dress up your footwell for a sportier look. Companies like AEM and Razo make direct replacement pedals specifically for the Fit. Aftermarket gauges from AutoMeter, Innovate Motorsports, and others let you monitor engine parameters not normally shown like oil pressure, air/fuel ratio, or intake air temps. Mounting gauges in A-pillar pods or the lower dash area keeps vital info visible.
Exterior Accessories
Customizing the exterior of your Honda Fit can help make it stand out on the road. Adding roof racks, hood vents, and vinyl wraps are some popular ways to customize the exterior.
Roof racks like those offered by Yakima and Thule allow you to mount cargo carriers and other accessories for extra storage capacity and versatility on road trips or outdoor adventures. A roof-mounted cargo box can provide secure storage for luggage and gear.[1] A bike rack can let you transport bicycles, while kayak and surfboard attachments make it easy to carry recreational equipment.
Vent shades and hood vents enhance both style and performance. Vent shades keep sun glare out while allowing fresh air in, and hood vents like those from Aerofunction and OBX Racing Sports improve engine cooling and heat dissipation under the hood.[2]
Vinyl wraps allow you to transform the Fit’s exterior color and graphics. A full car wrap gives the effect of a brand new paint job. Partial wraps can creatively accentuate certain elements like racing stripes. Custom vinyl graphics and decals let you decorate the car with unique designs.
[1] https://www.carid.com/honda-fit-exterior-accessories/
[2] https://www.ebay.com/b/Exterior-Parts-for-Honda-Fit/33637/bn_23710260
Conclusion
The Honda Fit, while a practical and fuel-efficient car straight from the factory, also has great potential for customization. With some simple mods like lowering springs, alloy wheels, and tires, you can give your Fit an aggressive stance. More ambitious owners can upgrade their engine internals and turbochargers to wake up the performance. For those who want a show car, the Fit takes well to wide body kits and flashy exterior accessories. Inside, you can swap out the factory seats and upholstery for a more customized look.
In summary, popular customization options for the Honda Fit include:
- Suspension lowering kits
- Aftermarket wheels and tires
- Big brake kits
- Cold air intakes and exhausts
- Engine internals and forced induction
- Body kits
- Custom interior trim and seats
- Exterior accessories like wings, splitters, graphics
With some creativity, you can modify your Honda Fit to match your personality and needs, whether that means enhancing the performance or just giving it your own unique style.
