If you hadn’t noticed, Canada likes its small cars. It only makes sense that with higher gas prices and less average disposable

The Fit is the ultimate in subcompact efficiency. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

income than our friends to the south we need to minimize initial purchase and running costs, and a subcompact is the best way to do that. But which subcompact is best? As usual, it comes down to which one is best for your specific needs, and for many Honda has the perfect Fit.

The Fit gets its name for its ability to fit a shockingly large amount of cargo behind its first row and the unusual flexibility of its second-row Magic Seats. Fold them flat and they seem to disappear into the floor creating a tall and wide loading area that can gobble up an unfathomable 1,622 litres (57.2 cubic feet) of gear. Compare that to a Toyota Yaris hatchback at 728 litres (25.7 cubic feet) maximum, Mazda2 at 787 litres (27.7 cubic feet), a Ford Fiesta hatchback at 965 litres (34.1 cubic feet), Chevy Aveo hatchback at 1,053 litres (37.2 cubic feet), Scion xD at 1,011 litres (35.7 cubic feet), Kia Rio hatchback at 1,405 litres (49.6 cubic feet), or even a Nissan Versa hatchback at 1,427 litres (50.4 cubic feet), and it’s easy to see how the Fit fits well into an active lifestyle. Even with the 60/40-split

Nearly flat backside makes for tall roof all the way back, optimizing passenger and cargo space. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

rear seatbacks upright there’s 585 litres (20.6 cubic feet) available, and if that was the end of the Fit’s cargo hauling story it would be good enough for many reading this review.

The “Magic” part of the rear seats isn’t only how far they fold into the floor, but rather how the bottom cushions flip up vertically against the seatbacks to create another loading option for taller, awkwardly shaped items like bicycles. It’s a simple solution and it’s a mystery why competitors haven’t copied it, but as it is Honda continues forward with the most flexible seating system in the subcompact B-segment.

If it were all about toting gear then we’d be done here and I’d go enjoy a cold one and watch the game, but there’s a great deal more to the Fit than its namesake attribute.

A nicely laid out, well-made interior. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

First and foremost it’s pretty fun to drive. Honda has equipped its entry-level model with one of the zippiest engines in the class, sporting 117-horsepower and mated to a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearbox. I had the latter, and it operates about as smoothly as I could have hoped for in this class, plus it benefits from one more gear than the majority of its rivals offer, improving performance and fuel economy.

To that end my automatic-equipped Fit does marginally better on the highway with an estimated rating of 5.4 L/100km compared to the manual’s 5.7. Both are rated at 7.1 L/100km in the city. My real-world calculations saw mileage in the 7.5 to 8.5 range after a week of city/highway driving, which is closer to the U.S. EPA estimates,

Rear seating area is the ultimate in flexibility. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

and to be clear I certainly didn’t drive it hard, as maximizing fuel economy is a priority in my life just like it probably is in yours. In the end, the Fit’s fuel economy is about average for the class.

Honda gave me my Fit tester in Sport trim, and I was grateful because it’s the only model to get traction and stability control. All Fits, including the base DX and second-level LX, get ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution, and as is the norm in this class discs are only available up front with the rear getting drums. Nothing really wrong with that, as they work well enough and are cheaper to maintain.

The Sport also replaces the stock 15-inch wheels with larger 16-inch alloy rims on meatier 185/55R16 all-season rubber, and the difference can be felt when the road starts to wind. It’s not a slot car, but the

Low and spacious, the Fit cargo area is best in class by a long shot. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Fit Sport is quite tossable in the twisties, and plenty of fun when you spool up the little 1.5-litre energizer under the hood.

The Fit Sport’s audio system has some gusto too, as it gets a total of six speakers and comes with an all-important USB connector for smart phone users. Plug it in and everything works easily through an intelligent audio interface featuring a big rotating “do-all” knob that’s intuitive enough to use without taking your eyes off the road. An auxiliary input sits on the radio face if your device works differently, and there’s a slot for a CD plus AM/FM bands if you like getting your tunes (or talk) the old fashioned way.

It’s easy to get comfortable in the Fit. The seats are large and supportive, with height adjustment

The Fit Sport is a fun car to drive. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

for shorter drivers, and the steering column tilts and telescopes for optimal positioning. That all comes as part of the base DX which also includes power windows, power mirrors, intermittent wipers, etcera, and starts at a mere $14,480 for the manual and $15,780 for the automatic. If you want such nicities as air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control and four speakers, not to mention body-colour side mirrors, door handles, a roofline spoiler and alloy wheels, you’ll need to buck up for the LX at $16,880 for the manual and $18,080 for the autobox. The Sport starts at 18,780 for the manual and $19,980 for the auto, and beyond what I’ve already mentioned includes chrome headlight bezels, fog lamps, an underbody spoiler kit, chrome exhaust finisher, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, security system, etc.

There are a number of new B-segment entries that are giving the Fit a run for its money and longstanding rivals still put up a good fight, but if you live the kind of lifestyle that includes carrying around a lot of stuff you can’t go wrong with Honda’s little hatchback. There’s really nothing in the subcompact class that comes close to the Fit’s rear-seat flexibility and capacity.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint