2018 Honda Fit Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2018 Honda Fit manages to pack a lot of great things into one small package. While many of the mechanical features carry over unchanged from the 2017 Fit, some upgrades have been made to safety and infotainment features. This vehicle is an all-around fun daily driver and makes squeezing into tight parking spaces simple. In fact, all of its shortcomings (which aren't many) are relatively minor complaints compared to the issues found on many of the Fit's competitors.

What's New for 2018?

Since the Fit is built on Honda's new global platform, you can expect to see a slightly longer wheelbase (but not by much) and a small increase in width. Also, there is an exciting new mid-line Sport trim. Honda has added a bulk of new driver assists and safety features. The 2018 Honda Fit also has much better insulation than the outgoing model and has a more refined suspension.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Honda Fit – The Pros

1. Surprisingly Spacious Cabin

Judging by its exterior, you might not think the Fit has a lot of interior space. However, this would be a misjudgment, as the 2018 Honda Fit has an unexpectedly spacious cabin. There is plenty of legroom in the back, so long-legged adults won't feel too crammed-in.

2. Honda Sensing Suite

The Honda Sensing Suite is one of the biggest reasons to invest in a Honda, as it takes driver assistance and safety features above and beyond what can be found in other automakers' vehicles. Included in the Honda Sensing Suite are automatic high beams and a lane departure warning system.

3. Superb Fuel Economy

As is typical of almost any Honda vehicle, the 2018 Honda Fit provides better fuel economy than its competitors. Since the engines Honda uses on the Fit are on the small side, they tend to sip very generously from the gas. The EPA has rated the Fit at 31 mpg combined (29 city and 36 highway mpg) on the base powertrain.

4. Plentiful Cargo Space

Another delightful surprise that can be found in the 2018 Honda Fit is the amount of cargo space available. Cargo space can be maximized thanks to the highly-adjustable Magic Seats. In total, the Fit has a cargo space of 52.7 cubic feet.

5. Lightweight Design

The Honda Fit has a lightweight design that allows it to handle highways and main roads without feeling bulky. At its heaviest (on the EX-L trim), the Fit is 2,648 pounds.

6. Many Additional Features on the EX and EX-L

The higher-level trims (the EX and EX-L) come fitted with a number of additional features, including LaneWatch and the Honda Sensing Suite. On the EX-L, you get leather upholstery instead of the standard cloth, as well as a heated front seat and heated mirrors, which make driving in colder climates much more bearable.

7. Smooth Steering

Honda has stepped up its game this year and created a much more responsive and fluid steering system. The steering feels light and makes it easy to get this vehicle through crowded parking lots and streets.

8. Precision Handling

Adjustments to the Fit's handling have made it incredibly smooth and stable regardless of what speed the vehicle is going. The Fit's fine-tuned suspension gives the handling a good amount of responsiveness, even while changing direction.

9. Climate Control is Easy to Use

The climate control knob is located on the center stack and is easy to locate. Climate control is only manually adjustable, so you won't have to figure out any automatic settings. The climate control in the vehicle does a great job of keeping the cabin cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

10. Return of the Volume Knob

The volume knob seems like a silly thing to be joyful over, but it was sorely missed by Honda drivers after Honda decided to make it into a slider. The slider was a bit obnoxious and confusing for some drivers, so this small alteration for 2018 really makes a big impact and shows that Honda is listening to its customers.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Honda Fit – The Cons

1. Not Much Head Room in the Rear Seats

Unfortunately, one of the things Honda still needs to improve on the Fit is the amount of headroom available. Taller passengers will find themselves needing to slouch or shrink down a little in their seats in order to feel like they have sufficient headroom, at least while sitting in the rear seat. There is enough headroom up front.

2. Blind Spot Monitoring Isn't Available

If you were hoping to get blind spot monitoring at least as an optional add-on, you might have to consider another vehicle. While LaneWatch is an alternative, it would make sense to add blind spot monitoring across the lineup. There is a blind spot warning system that is available on the larger Honda vehicles (such as the Odyssey and CR-V).

3. Slightly Subpar Brakes

The brakes on the 2018 Hona Fit aren't terrible, but the pedal feels soft. This might be too soft for some drivers. However, the brakes hold up well in stop-and-go traffic and are able to stop at a safe emergency braking distance.

4. Minor Amounts of Wind and Road Noise at Highway Speeds

Although this is a minor complaint, there is a little bit of wind and road noise that gets into the cabin when the vehicle is driven at higher speeds. However, on main roads, you will not notice much noise at all since the interior is somewhat well-insulated. It could just use slightly more insulation.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2018 Honda Fit vs. 2018 Toyota Yaris iA

The 2018 Toyota Yaris iA is by far the Fit's main competitor for the year. The Yaris iA is competitively priced and is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. Its fuel economy is slightly better than the Fit's, but the Yaris iA lacks the driver-friendly interior of the Fit.

2018 Honda Fit vs. 2018 Chevy Bolt

The 2018 Chevy Bolt is another top contender this year, especially since it runs on electric. Since it is an electric vehicle, it will cost more than the Fit. However, it is an alternative that many drivers are considering making the switch to in order to avoid getting gouged at the gas pump.

Conclusion

The 2018 Honda Fit is a spunky little vehicle with a lot to offer. Its interior is well-thought-out and user-friendly, and it is very engaging on busy main roads. Its pitfalls are minor and won't be big issues for many drivers. Overall, the Fit is one of the best-performing small vehicles on the road.