2008 Honda Fit in Chicago

The Honda Fit is the smallest and most economical car from a company known for building small, economical cars. The Fit is essentially a modern interpretation of the CVCC, the car that popularized Honda in the United States when it became the first car to meet the strict regulations of the Clean Air Act (regulations that several automakers said couldn't be met). Over the years, the CVCC Civic grew larger and more sophisticated, leaving room for a new subcompact car in Honda's lineup. Debuting in 2006 as a 2007 model, the four-door Fit hatchback is rated at 28/34 mpg by the EPA (with a manual transmission) and is incredibly roomy, given its compact dimensions. Although it is due for a redesign on 2009, the current Honda Fit is still one of the most popular subcompacts on the market. With prices starting at $14,620 for a manual-transmissioned model (the uplevel Fit Sport starts at $15,940), the Honda Fit isn't the cheapest small car available, but high resale values largely negate the price premium.

STYLING

Like most cars in the subcompact category, the Fit is more about functionality and packaging than about styling--which is not to say that the Fit is unattractive (well, actually, we HAVE heard some people mention its slightly awkward dimensions). The Fit's sharply sloping roofline makes the front end look a little stubby, but from the driver's seat, that sloped front end greatly enhances visibility. And the upswept line at the rear window (similar to that on the Honda CR-V), is a good example of a familial design cue. The Fit Sport adds a rear spoiler, a body-colored underbody kit, fog lights, and 15-inch alloy wheels, all of which enhance the Fit's appearance.... Read full article