2008 Honda Fit Overview Change Vehicle

This 2008 Honda Fit review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2008 Fit, and includes Honda Fit safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

A tire pressure monitor is now standard on all Fits, and two new colors are available for 2008: Tidewater Blue Metallic and Blackberry Pearl.

Every 2008 Honda Fit comes standard with power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, air conditioning, a CD player, and 14-inch wheels. A 60/40-split rear Magic Seat is also standard, equipped with a bottom cushion that folds up to carry tall items and a seatback that folds down to maximize cargo carrying capacity.

The Honda Fit Sport adds bigger 15-inch alloy wheels with wider and lower profile tires, and looks like it might go faster thanks to a standard body kit, rear roof spoiler and front fog lights. The Fit Sport also has remote keyless entry, cruise control, a security system, and a better sound system with more speakers and an auxiliary audio input jack.

Honda dealers can install numerous options for the Fit, such as ambient cabin lighting, an iPod connection, and a bunch of stuff from the Honda Factory Performance (HFP) catalog.

With just 109 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque delivered by its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the Honda Fit doesn’t sound like it’s very fit at all. However, the car weighs just 2,500 pounds, and feels lively enough. A five-speed manual gearbox drives the front wheels, and the Fit is available with an optional five-speed automatic transmission. On Fit Sport models, this transmission includes paddle shifters for changing gears manually.

Not surprisingly, the 2008 Honda Fit gets good gas mileage. Expect 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway* with the manual gearbox, and if you go with the automatic transmission you’ll see a drop of 1 mpg* in the city. The Fit Sport with the automatic and the paddle shifters is rated 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway*.

* For 2008, the EPA modified the way it calculates fuel economy ratings in an effort to generate estimates that more accurately reflect what consumers actually get when they drive their cars. In most cases, the new calculations are lower than in previous years.

For 2008, a standard tire pressure monitoring system joins standard Honda Fit safety features like dual front airbags, dual front-seat side-impact airbags, and dual side curtain airbags. The Fit’s standard antilock brakes include electronic brake-force distribution.

Crash-test scores are impressive, but it is critical to remember that the results are only valid when compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests, the Fit receives 5-Star ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact collision, and for the driver in a side-impact crash. Side impact protection for the rear passenger rates 3 Stars according to the NHTSA, and the Fit’s rollover resistance is rated 4 Stars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also finds the 2008 Fit to be safe, and the car gets the highest rating of Good for its performance in the offset frontal and side-impact tests. Rear impact injury prevention is rated Poor by the IIHS.

There’s no arguing the Honda Fit’s track record for dependability, either. According to J.D. Power and Associates, the 2008 Fit was the highest ranked car in its class for initial quality and for vehicle dependability, winning awards for both categories. Consumer Reports agrees, giving the Fit its highest rating for reliability.

If you’re OK with the Honda Fit’s light 2,500-lb. curb weight and how that could impact safety in the event of a collision with a larger vehicle, then you’re going to love the Honda Fit. This spunky little car is roomy, fuel-efficient, and bulletproof when it comes to reliability. Plus, if you get the Sport version, the car is even fun to drive. Vehix recommends the Fit if you’re shopping in the sub-compact class.

By Christian Wardlaw