The subcompact Honda Fit gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2018 that brings updated styling, a new Sport trim, an improved infotainment system and, for the first time, can be optioned with the Honda Sensing active safety suite of features.
While other manufacturers are reaching upmarket with their subcompacts, Honda has resisted that urge, instead keeping the Fit true to its roots as a cleverly designed city car that boasts an interior more spacious and practical than a car its size has any right to. So while the Fit will, well, fit more stuff than many of physically larger competitors and has a light and tossable driving feel, it feels out of its element in highway driving, particularly over longer distances.
Seemingly aware of that common criticism, for 2018 Honda says it packed in more sound insulation and new transmission and steering mounts to improve refinement, while new suspension dampers promise a smoother ride.
Most notable among the updates is that the Honda Sensing package is standard in all cars with the automatic transmission, which unfortunately means that stickshift drivers can't have adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning and lane keeping assist and departure warning.
The Sport trim is all about appearances, bringing with it tasteful body add-ons, orange pinstriping, black 16-inch wheels and a black interior with orange stitching.
The Fit sticks with its 1.5L four-cylinder engine and its 130 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque which, as alluded to above, can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic.
Fit trim levels include DX, LX, Sport, EX and EX-L Navi.
Standard kit includes a backup camera, 15-inch steel wheels with covers, power windows, locks and heated side mirrors and Bluetooth.
LX models gain heated front seats, cruise control, multi-angle backup camera and an upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
Sport models add leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, six-speaker stereo, 16-inch alloy wheels and the aforementioned exterior trim enhancements.
The move up to EX trim brings passive keyless entry, silver alloy wheels, sunroof, variable intermittent wipers, auto on/off headlights and the LaneWatch blind spot display.
Finally, EX-L Navi gets automatic climate control, navigation and display audio, leather-trimmed seats, HD and satellite radio and mirror-mounted turn signal repeaters.
