For those who don't know, the 2007 Honda Fit/Jazz (currently sold in many other markets around the world) is slated to take the place of the Civic as the entry level model of Honda's U.S. fleet sometime next year (since the Civic has become more of a "baby Accord" instead of an economy car).

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=445345

You can see TOV Asia's in-depth review of the Asian Honda Fit here:

http://asia.vtec.net/Reviews/JazzVtec/

 

Maybe honda will hybridize it and not tell anyone so they can keep the competition off gaurd.

 

Hi Eskrimast1:

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/...pic.php?t=3927

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-messa...ge%5fid=445171

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes

 

It's about the size of my 1974 Civic, which got 45-50mpg!

I can't believe that 31 years later, Honda offers a subcompact with worse fuel economy. I'd figure xcel would have said the Fit should approach what a non-hybrid Insight should get. I hope the article is wrong.

 

Hi Delta_Flyer:

___I was hoping to see the 1.3 DSi or tall geared 1.5 L VTEC and at least 50 on the highway? I am really ticked about this mistake Honda made. First the AH w/ the V6, the Ridgeline RL - RTL at $28 - $32K +, and now the Fit with a paltry 37 out on the highway? The wheels are falling off at Honda in some of their product lines and I do not know why?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes

 

That really stinks.... the new Civic gets 30/40 mpg. I think they are trying to compete on cost, but haven't they spent 20 years to build the reputation of quality?

What is the point of this Honda Fit car? To compete in the cheap, crappy car segment?

 

As has been mentioned in fleeting a few times on this board, the point of the Fit/Jazz is to compete with the upcoming Toyota Yaris and the Nissan Versa, as well as a slew of cheap Korean subcompacts, including the Kia Spectra, Kia Rio, and Chevy Aveo.

The Korean subcompacts are cheap, but the mileage on those models is disappointing (the automatic Aveo gets 24/34- the same mileage as an Accord 4 cylinder?! the automatic Kia Rio is somewhat better with 29/38, but is still below the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic).

I think the hope was that the coming Japanese models would offer similar value to the Korean brands, but with added quality, safety, and increased gas mileage that one would expect from entry level economy cars. As xcel points out, the lower than expected fuel economy doesn't position Honda to pull away many would-be Aveo buyers with a 32/37 mileage rating.

Toyota's Yaris promises "up to 40MPG highway," better than the Fit, but that preliminary estimate disappoints me as well, since the Echo already received 39-41MPG highway and the Scion xA currently gets 38MPG highway.

http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/yaris.html

 

"Sporty, yet economical !!"

That has not really been said as far as I am aware, but I'll lay odds the marketing blurb will include it.

Japanese manufacturers still think a large segment of the young populace will not trade 25% performance for 25% improved FE. Unfortunately, I tend to agree. There is a silver lining though: at least the cars are small. If the US learns to imitate the Europeans in car buying habits, that is a step forward.

 

That auto box probably isn't helping much!


Don't despair just yet though...This is old news now but...

 

Well it's neither cheap nor crappy. It's expected to cost just as much as the lower-end Civics (which are not cheap either) and be at least of equal quality to the hot selling Scion xA/xB which are it's closest competitors. Honda has no other hatchback or wagons in it's US lineup. Well, the RSX, but that's not really the same thing.

I owned a 1988 Civic 2-door hatchback with a lightly modified B16A engine and limited slip. I would average around 30mpg in mixed condition driving and that had VERY short gearing (4000+rpm on the freeway) and 175hp or so. It's disapointing to hear this 105 horsepower car will barely get any better fuel economy. I honestly think Honda gave up their fuel efficiency philosophy and refocused on other things in the last couple years.