2012 Honda Fit

[sciphi]

Honda makes some minor aesthetic detail adjustments to the Fit, calls it an update. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/16/honda-details-updates-to-2012-fit-hatchback/#continued

My take: It's no different from our 09 Fit except for some minor piddly interior stuff and some now-mandated safety stuff.

Move along folks, there's nothing to see here...

 

[addyguy]

Honda seems to be on a really strong 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' kick for 2012.

 

[Artem]

Honda likes to milk its models until they are WAAAAAAY behind the competition AND THEN they step it up a notch.

Booo!

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Artem
Honda likes to milk its models until they are WAAAAAAY behind the competition AND THEN they step it up a notch.

Booo!


The Fit was groundbreaking when it was introduced to North America in MY 2007, and again in MY 2009. Now about 4 years later, it's rapidly going to midpack. The competition's gotten that much better that quickly. Another 10 hp and 20 ft/lbs along with 30 city/38 mpg highway would make the Fit class-leading again.

 

[Spazdog]

It wasn't that long ago that other manufacturers had to wonder what was coming out of Honda.

In the '70s, Honda passed the upcoming emission standards with a Chevrolet Caprice without a catalytic converter.

In the '80s, Honda introduced it's Acura marque. The car magazines proclaimed, "Honda Builds a Better BMW." Honda further rubbed it in by gradually improving the Rover marque to the point where they eventually had a 4 or 5 door with a proper English interior without most of the English electrical problems and a Japanese powertrain. BMW noticed. They bought Rover and eventually lost $6 billion on the boondoggle.

Then there was the NSX. Put supercar manufacturers on notice that parts aren't supposed to fall off.

The Civic eventually became the car that other cars in the segment were judged by. Ditto the Accord.

Then? Nothing. Torque vectoring AWD is the last thing I can think of that was of any significance.

Like the other posters said, It looks a lot like they are just phoning it in.

Their hybrids neither perform better nor do they get better mpg than anyone else's. Usually worse. This is really frustrating when you think that they had several cars into the 50s or even 60mpg before they even had a hybrid that could be driven on electric alone.

I don't really see the Civic being the car that others in the class are judged by anymore. Maybe Hyundai? Maybe the Americans. Very few are making fun of Ford and GM's entries in that class. (Chrysler? yeah. The Caliber may be practical but it is as ugly as a Pontiac Aztek and has an interior made out of Tupperware)

It's hard to say where Honda's going. The Fit is still on my short list for car replacement. But I would like to see something really good from Honda.

 

[sciphi]

I was looking at a Fit for a new car. But the lackluster MPG was a big deal-killer. Ours is averaging 32 mpg being driven aggressively. I can't beat 40 while throwing some basic hypermiling tricks at it.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: sciphi

The Fit was groundbreaking when it was introduced to North America in MY 2007, and again in MY 2009...

the rest of the world has had it (Jazz) since 2001

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
I was looking at a Fit for a new car. But the lackluster MPG was a big deal-killer. Ours is averaging 32 mpg being driven aggressively. I can't beat 40 while throwing some basic hypermiling tricks at it.


That's odd because I'm having no trouble getting well over 40 MPG in my Civic even without doing any hypermiling tricks. Just driving on the highway and setting the cruise control and that's it, I can get 45 MPG with the cruise set at 100km/h and 52 MPG with the cruise set to 80km/h. And everyone knows that cruise control really isn't the best way to get the best MPG (since it's too aggressive with the throttle when climbing even the slightest inclines), so I know I could better those numbers by letting my own right foot be it's own cruise control. So I would expect the Fit to get the same or better mileage than the Civic.

 

[IndyIan]

I think there's something to be said for not totally redesigning a car every 4 years. Refining for reliability isn't a bad thing IMHO. Sure a DI small turbo 4 cyl or a dual clutch automatic sounds great on paper but 8-10 years from now? Probably a 2012 Fit will have double the resale value of a Cruze or a Fiesta, maybe not double, but atleast the same.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: sciphi
I was looking at a Fit for a new car. But the lackluster MPG was a big deal-killer. Ours is averaging 32 mpg being driven aggressively. I can't beat 40 while throwing some basic hypermiling tricks at it.


That's odd because I'm having no trouble getting well over 40 MPG in my Civic even without doing any hypermiling tricks. Just driving on the highway and setting the cruise control and that's it, I can get 45 MPG with the cruise set at 100km/h and 52 MPG with the cruise set to 80km/h. And everyone knows that cruise control really isn't the best way to get the best MPG (since it's too aggressive with the throttle when climbing even the slightest inclines), so I know I could better those numbers by letting my own right foot be it's own cruise control. So I would expect the Fit to get the same or better mileage than the Civic.


The Civic weighs just a little bit more while it has another 20 hp and 20 ft/lbs on the Fit. The little engine in the Fit just doesn't haul it along that well at highway speeds since it's a tiny engine trying to push a brick through the air. I bet your Civic has far less frontal area than the Fit.

The AT in our Fit is also seemingly designed to shift at everything, so it keeps revving the engine to the sky for every tiny hill. It's a Honda so it lives to rev, but that's still not good for fuel economy. Words can't convey how much I can't stand the AT in that car. From what I've heard the MT versions do much better in the fuel economy department, but finding a MT Fit Sport is a long shot by me.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
It's hard to say where Honda's going. The Fit is still on my short list for car replacement. But I would like to see something really good from Honda.


I view Honda as having very solid entries in most market niches. I don't think they have any losers in their line-up, but they don't have any real stand-outs either.

It could be said that Honda is more conservative today, and I think you can say that about the entire mainstream automotive industry. You don't have many of the hot-hatch SIs anymore, or MR2s, or turbo Trans Ams. But I still think Honda has some out-of-the-box offerings. The Fit broke new ground in the United States, and that was just 4 years ago. The Fit is still the sub-compact against which other entries are judged (at least in mainstream media). The CR-Z is a rather funky little car, with a sporty flavor on a hybrid powertrain. It's not the most efficient hybrid out there, but that's not the intent of the car either.

But the most important metric to me is owner satisfaction. The more I drive either of mine, the more I like them. Honda has traditionally had a fun-to-drive-yet-efficient-to-own persona that I've only recently come to appreciate. I like the willingnesss of Honda's engines to rev, and their transmissions to hold a lower gear. I like the playfulness of the chassis and the blend of handling/comfort. Things like this don't grab front-page headlines, but do generate ownership satisfaction and repeat customers.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: sciphi
I was looking at a Fit for a new car. But the lackluster MPG was a big deal-killer. Ours is averaging 32 mpg being driven aggressively. I can't beat 40 while throwing some basic hypermiling tricks at it.


That's odd because I'm having no trouble getting well over 40 MPG in my Civic even without doing any hypermiling tricks. Just driving on the highway and setting the cruise control and that's it, I can get 45 MPG with the cruise set at 100km/h and 52 MPG with the cruise set to 80km/h. And everyone knows that cruise control really isn't the best way to get the best MPG (since it's too aggressive with the throttle when climbing even the slightest inclines), so I know I could better those numbers by letting my own right foot be it's own cruise control. So I would expect the Fit to get the same or better mileage than the Civic.


That is why I went with a Civic over a Fit (Fit was originally my first choice) The MPG difference is nil and the Fit is smaller and has less oomph, so the sacrifice in comfort in the car only to have a big hatch is just not worth it when 95% of the time I am in my car by myself. My Civic gets excellent mileage and has enough power (not much) I can pass on the highway if needed. I wanted to like the Fit but the ONLY attraction to it is the big hatch.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
But the most important metric to me is owner satisfaction. The more I drive either of mine, the more I like them. Honda has traditionally had a fun-to-drive-yet-efficient-to-own persona that I've only recently come to appreciate. I like the willingnesss of Honda's engines to rev, and their transmissions to hold a lower gear. I like the playfulness of the chassis and the blend of handling/comfort. Things like this don't grab front-page headlines, but do generate ownership satisfaction and repeat customers.


Agree with this for sure. I just like the feel of a Honda more than say a Toyota, and you are probably right as to why. I really can't fault my Civic at all for what it is.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
It's hard to say where Honda's going. The Fit is still on my short list for car replacement. But I would like to see something really good from Honda.


I view Honda as having very solid entries in most market niches. I don't think they have any losers in their line-up, but they don't have any real stand-outs either.

It could be said that Honda is more conservative today, and I think you can say that about the entire mainstream automotive industry. You don't have many of the hot-hatch SIs anymore, or MR2s, or turbo Trans Ams. But I still think Honda has some out-of-the-box offerings. The Fit broke new ground in the United States, and that was just 4 years ago. The Fit is still the sub-compact against which other entries are judged (at least in mainstream media). The CR-Z is a rather funky little car, with a sporty flavor on a hybrid powertrain. It's not the most efficient hybrid out there, but that's not the intent of the car either.

But the most important metric to me is owner satisfaction. The more I drive either of mine, the more I like them. Honda has traditionally had a fun-to-drive-yet-efficient-to-own persona that I've only recently come to appreciate. I like the willingnesss of Honda's engines to rev, and their transmissions to hold a lower gear. I like the playfulness of the chassis and the blend of handling/comfort. Things like this don't grab front-page headlines, but do generate ownership satisfaction and repeat customers.



Agreed.

Honda's just kinda grow on you. It's not so much what they can do at the beginning. It's what they just keep on doing year after year.

 

[odie]

Have noticed that we can get in sooner ( usually same day ) to the HONDA service center than the SUBARU , CHEVY , service centers . Maybe that's a good thing , less trouble with HONDAs .

 

[odie]

We've hit a bit over 39 m.p.g. for the last 2 tanks in the '11 FIT w/ the 5 speed auto . That's nothing to complain about . Has less than 4,500 miles , so hopefully it'll get better .

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
It's hard to say where Honda's going. The Fit is still on my short list for car replacement. But I would like to see something really good from Honda.


I view Honda as having very solid entries in most market niches. I don't think they have any losers in their line-up, but they don't have any real stand-outs either.

It could be said that Honda is more conservative today, and I think you can say that about the entire mainstream automotive industry. You don't have many of the hot-hatch SIs anymore, or MR2s, or turbo Trans Ams. But I still think Honda has some out-of-the-box offerings. The Fit broke new ground in the United States, and that was just 4 years ago. The Fit is still the sub-compact against which other entries are judged (at least in mainstream media). The CR-Z is a rather funky little car, with a sporty flavor on a hybrid powertrain. It's not the most efficient hybrid out there, but that's not the intent of the car either.

But the most important metric to me is owner satisfaction. The more I drive either of mine, the more I like them. Honda has traditionally had a fun-to-drive-yet-efficient-to-own persona that I've only recently come to appreciate. I like the willingnesss of Honda's engines to rev, and their transmissions to hold a lower gear. I like the playfulness of the chassis and the blend of handling/comfort. Things like this don't grab front-page headlines, but do generate ownership satisfaction and repeat customers.


For now, the Fit is the benchmark.
Arguably, the Fiesta is better appointed, the Mazda2 is a better driver's car, the Versa is cheaper and the Yaris....well the Yaris makes people feel like they've bought a nice reliable Toyota. but no one matches the Fit's versatility yet. We'll have to see how the Sonic, Accent, and Rio5 do. But for now the Fit wins on versatility.

As far as fun to drive? Mazda wins in that category. 3 vs Civic. 6 vs Accord. CX-9 vs Pilot. MX-5 vs......oh yeah! Honda killed the S2000. They might have actually won that comparison.

 

[Dave Hess]

Does the 2012 Honda FIT use a timing belt or chain ?

I would like to drive one since I have a 5 speed 2007 Civic EX sedan just for comparison.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Does the 2012 Honda FIT use a timing belt or chain ?

I would like to drive one since I have a 5 speed 2007 Civic EX sedan just for comparison.



Chain.

 

[oilmaven]

The Fit is still the benchmark in it's class in a lot of areas (space efficiency, handling) but is falling behind in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and comfort. As stated in a recent small hatch comparo (MT I think...rated the Accent hatch first in the test) the Fit could use a 6th gear for highway cruising, a little more power, some additional sound deadening (like all Hondas) and a little better ride (without affecting the handling of course). You'd think Honda would be making some more significant changes to this car to keep it competitive (I've driven the Fit and it's a MUCH better drive than the new Accent in my opinion).