Honda has officially unveiled the all-new 2009 Honda Fit for the US market that has already been on sale in Japan since the end of last year.
The all-new Fit features new styling inside and out that doesn't stray too far from the last-generation. It also features a new 1.5L i-VTEC engine that can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Fit Sport also features steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters if you opt for the automatic. Larger 15" wheels are standard and the Fit Sport features 16" alloy wheels.
Inside Honda is making its Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System an option on the Fit Sport. Fit Sport models aslo feature a USB audio interface1 that is compatible with the current iPods and other USB storage devices. Honda has also revised the rear Magic Seat to make it more user friendly.
The all-new 2009 Honda Fit will be available this fall.
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All-New 2009 Honda Fit is Going to Make its US Debut In New York
PRESS RELEASE:
03/19/2008 - NEW YORK: The all-new 2009 Honda Fit, set to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, is making its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Fit promises to further its leadership in the subcompact segment with top-of-class feature content, including an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™; improved interior functionality, including one-motion dive-down rear seats; enhanced sporty demeanor through improved suspension, steering and body rigidity; and high levels of standard safety equipment, including Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.
"Critics and customers alike have voted the Fit among the best small vehicles on the road," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "This new Fit raises the bar even further, taking what was already great about the Fit, making it even better and throwing in a healthy dose of refinement."
Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior provides surprisingly large passenger and class-leading cargo space to maximize comfort and utility. At the foundation is an improved rear Magic Seat®, now featuring one-motion dive-down functionality, which allows the rear seat to fold flat with the front seats in the rearmost slide position and without removing the rear head restraints. The seats offer multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations (tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition to the standard five-passenger mode. Additionally, a new hidden storage bin under the driver's side rear seat provides a place to store small items.
Adding further refinement, Fit Sport offers an available factory-installed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. All Fit Sport models feature a USB audio interface1 compatible with current generation iPods® and many USB storage devices.
"The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that's a class above," said Colliver. "Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise."
Fun to Drive
The Fit features a new 1.5-literi-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic transmission, which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Fit Sport. The new engine is designed to offer the best balance of fuel economy and power. Larger 15-inch and 16-inch (Fit Sport) wheels hint at enhancements to the Fit's suspension, steering and body rigidity, which are intended to produce sportier handling without sacrificing comfort.
Top-of-Class Standard Safety Equipment
The 2009 Fit adds Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology, available Vehicle Stability Assist ™ (VSA®) and active head restraints, to a top-of-class list of standard safety features. With Fit's adoption of ACE, more than 94 percent of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. will include the innovative body structure. When introduced to the 2009 Fit, VSA will be available in the lineup of every model Honda sells in the United States. Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all Fit models. All seating positions have three-point seat belts. Additionally, front and rear visibility is improved.
Standard active safety equipment includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with ventilated discs in the front and drums in the back, and electronic brake distribution (EBD).
More detailed information about the 2009 Honda Fit will be released closer to the vehicle launch in the fall.
Additional media information and high-resolution photography is available at www.hondanews.com.
1USB audio interface is used for direct connection to, and control of a variety of digital audio players such as iPods(1) and other USB devices(2) that contain MP3, WMA, or AAC music files(3). (1) Fifth generation or later iPod, nano, iPod Classic, iTouch, or iPhone. (2) Some USB devices such as those with security software may not work. (3) Except for Digital Rights-protected files.
Comments (12)
how much do these things actually weight?
Posted by SVT | March 20, 2008 12:15 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 12:15
I can't tell any difference between this, and the car that is currently on sale.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | March 20, 2008 1:11 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 13:11
@Cheap Car Lover:
Couldn't have said it better myself...
Posted by Mazda6 Guy | March 20, 2008 2:06 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 14:06
Why would you see a change in a car that needed only small improvements? Looks are not important in this kind of vehicle, although I would not mind having this parked outside my house.
Posted by DrFruit | March 20, 2008 2:40 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 14:40
The main difference is a small hp bump in the engine and slightly more aerodynamic body lines. All in all, the Fit is "the" go to car in the B-class segment.
Posted by longdxcommuter | March 20, 2008 3:47 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 15:47
"Why would you see a change in a car that needed only small improvements?"
Because the headline says its all-new? Then you look at it, and it's mostly-not-new? This class of car is not my cup of tea, but nobody here said the lack of changes was a bad thing. The headline just makes it sound like they posted the wrong pictures on accident, that's all they were saying.
Posted by Alexvrb | March 20, 2008 7:47 PM
Posted on March 20, 2008 19:47
Honey, I shrunk the minivan!
Posted by SEALBoy | March 21, 2008 9:35 AM
Posted on March 21, 2008 09:35
The current Fit you have in the States is a car from the past. It'a 2001 design. When it was launched in USA in the 2006, the rest of the worl was already expecting the second generation to come.
The new one is better in every aspect. Sharper handling, better performance and fuel consumption, more space, more versatility, better noise isolation and a far better body structure which allows a firmer ride with higher body rigidity. It's a far better buy than the current one, for the same price.
Posted by Vento | March 21, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted on March 21, 2008 10:47
I own a 2008 Fit. Hard to imagine an improvement in the handling, rigidity and space. The car turns on a dime, is rock solid and has as much interior room as the larger Civic. Definitely high points of the 2008 model in addition to gas mileage. No over or under steer in the 2008, immediately impressive. Like I said, hard to imagine improvements in these areas ... I'll have to test drive one. I'm not sure that making the ride more firm is an improvement, honestly. The 2008 is about as firm a ride as I would like. As an owner of a 2008, I can see the differences in the design for the 2009 although to the casual observer they may not seem significant. I think it is an improvement. Better noise isolation is nice; the 2008 isn't terrible but could use improvement. The navigation system and the addition of the AAC format are nice improvements. Visibility in the 2008 is already very good; sounds like they are moving it from very good to great. "All-new" is indeed interesting since this model has been available in Japan and Europe for some time ... of course, everybody keeps asking me about my "new-fangled' car ... a car available in most of the world since 2001.
Posted by SomeGuy | April 6, 2008 1:23 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 01:23
The guy pointing out that it is a shrunken minivan isn't far off the mark. I own a 2008 Fit and a Chrysler Town & Country. Aside from looks (I'm sure the basis of that remark), from a practicality standpoint the Fit most definitely strikes me as a mini minivan. Although my minivan is for the wife and kids and has been invaluable to us, I personally wouldn't want one for my own use but the practicality of the Fit is outstanding in my opinion. The 2009 styling does seem to borrow from a minivan, moreso than the 2007-8.
A few very minor complaints about my 2008 Fit that I hope they've resolved: 1) The tire pressure sensor isn't accurate in sub-freezing temps; confirmed with an old-fashioned tire guage, 2) the floor covering is subpar; while I don't expect high quality carpet in this class of vehicle (the other standard features are more important to me), mats are an option in US Honda dealerships and the floor covering is not firmly attached to the floor in some corner spots. You may be able to get them to throw mats into the deal but that depends ... some dealerships allow very little negotiating on these high demand vehicles, 3) the interior comes only in black with the seats only in black fabric; looks great but I've found that it requires constant maintenance because every piece of lint, hair, dust and dirt is visible on it. Lint especially seems to cling onto the fabric like a magnet. Perhaps not so much of a complaint as it is hard to argue with the interior styling on this class of vehicle; let's just call it something that annoys me because I like to keep my car spotless, 4) the display on the console (for the radio) can be difficult to read when the sun hits it, even with the brightness on max, 5) the interior door handles in the back are too flimsy ... my petite 6 year old daughter pulled on it at one point not realizing that I had the child safety latch on and could only be opened from the outside ... and I could swear she was this close >< to breaking it off.
.... and 6) could I have less headroom, fewer standard features and crappier handling? ... just kidding.
Posted by SomeGuy | April 6, 2008 2:48 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 02:48
I like the changes.. it always looked too narrow before.. i think they also smoothed out that sharp edge down the side.. more room inside is always a plus, tho if there's something i don't like is that they drew the a pillars forward 5 inches.. looks like that awful plymouth van that looked like the space shuttle. It also obscures some of your vision while driving.
Posted by Llazy1 | May 3, 2008 4:30 PM
Posted on May 3, 2008 16:30
If only they'd improved the mileage to what my 95 honda vx gets.. 44-56 mpg. Then I'd be spending.
Mileage in the 30's just isn't good enough when buying a new car.
Posted by Llazy1 | May 3, 2008 4:32 PM
Posted on May 3, 2008 16:32