2011 Honda Fit

The 2011 Honda Fit comes only a five-door hatchback and is Honda's lowest-priced car for the U.S. market. Although the Fit is also the smallest model in the Honda lineup, it's about the same length and width as the Honda Civic when it was last offered in the United States as a three-door hatchback (back in 2000). However, the five-door Fit is significantly roomier inside due to its tall, upright body style.
Key Takeaway
The 2011 Honda Fit is like a mini-minivan in some respects, with an incredibly space-efficient design; yet it's peppy, frugal, and fun to drive.

Even at first glance, it's easy to pick out the 2011 Honda Fit as prioritizing function over form. It's difficult to make a super-practical, small, tall hatchback like the 2011 Fit look even vaguely sexy, and to those who value style, the tall proportions arguably make it look like a scaled-down minivan in some respects. Inside, the rakish windshield leaves a vast expanse of dashboard ahead of the driver, lending an airier feel than some other small cars. The swoopy, two-tiered instrument panel employs textured and matte-metallic plastic surfaces, along with upholstery and trim that are simple but sturdy.

The 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the 2011 Honda Fit doesn't move it quickly in any case, but it's relatively fun to drive with the manual gearbox. A five-speed automatic is also offered and comes with paddle-shifters in Fit Sport trims. While the Fit might not be astonishingly fast, its handling and maneuverability is impressive. The Fit has a very responsive, tossable feel that makes it feel almost sports-car nimble yet also adequately refined and settled for highway cruising. Relative to other cars its size, the Fit feels remarkably comfortable at 80 mph.

The 2011 Honda Fit will likely have you stepping back out and doing a double-take the first time you get inside. More than almost any other vehicle's design, the Fit makes the most out of a small space, for both passengers and cargo. Honda actually allowed enough headroom and legroom for two adults—or three kids—in back, and the so-called Magic Seat folds flat by lifting a single lever and pushing the seatback forward, with no need to remove rear headrests in the process. The driving position affords a good view outward, and the steering wheel telescopes on all models.