2018 Honda Fit Sport

Good things come in small packages

7 Exterior
6 Interior
9 Fuel Economy
6 Performance
9 Value
7.4

The age-old question of whether size matters is relative when it comes to cars. If you’re a daily commuter living in an urban jungle and looking for an economic car to get you from point A to point B, Honda has just the car for you. The 2018 Honda Fit Sport is indeed fit in more ways than one. As in, you can fit three passengers, your gym bag or a box or two; it will fit in that “compact” space in your office parking garage; and let’s not forget that the car’s fuel economy will fit anyone’s budget.

For 2018 Honda brought the Sport trim back into the Fit lineup. What that means is slight tweakage to the drivetrain, steering and suspension. Other noticeable upgrades include thicker glass and additional sound insulation. While the 2018 Honda Fit Sport was ditched three years ago in lieu of EX and EX-L trims, the latest Sport trim is smack in the middle of these two in terms of features.  

We took out a tester to see whether there’s something to rave about in this little package and are here to report that weren’t disappointed.

EXTERIOR

The word “bold” may be overused to describe cars, but here, it actually … wait for it … fits (pun partially intended). In the front, rear and on the sides, the 2018 Honda Fit Sport has underbody spoilers to make sure that the car pops out upon first glance. The high degree of finesse in the Fit Sport is accented with the appealing 16-inch black alloy wheels and a chrome exhaust tip.  

There’s no mistaking the Fit as anything but a hatchback, but it’s design is surely borrowed from Honda’s minivans. In the front, the Fit doesn’t have much of a hood at all as the windshield is sleekly integrated here. The large tail lights are well-positioned in the rear, giving the car a shapely look.  

INTERIOR

Tech-oriented drivers will adore the 2018 Honda Fit Sport. The car comes with a no-frills 6-speaker audio system, CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The HondaLink app is, for lack of better description, a marvel. Forgot where you parked? The app will direct you to the spot. Roadside assistance, maintenance appointments and even a personal concierge are a push of a button away with the app. You can check your fuel levels and start your car remotely. There’s even a Stolen Vehicle Locator to help you track your Honda in the unfortunate event that it’s stolen.  

Throughout our test drive, our phones and iPads remained charged thanks to the USB and 12-volt power outlets conveniently located in the center console.

The car amazingly can accommodate five people and that’s incredible for a hatchback of this size (and value). The leather-trimmed seats and the leather-finish detail on the shift knob and steering wheel are a nice touch of luxury. Meanwhile, steering wheel-mounted controls enable the driver to do just about everything — control audio, phone, voice command and cruise control — without taking the eyes off the road.

FUEL ECONOMY

This is the part where the Fit Sport can do some bragging. Few of its rivals come close to notching the gas mileage that this hatchback gets. With a base 6-speed manual shifter, the Sport comes in at 29 mpg city, 36 highway and 31 combined.

PERFORMANCE

With a 1.5-liter inline-4 generating 130 hp and 114 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2018 Honda Fit Sport is a low-key kind of automobile. It caters to urbanites with a sleek and aggressive aesthetic and rides smoothly on the streets. But, take it for a spin on a highway and its performance flaws will start to show. For all the tuned suspension that can conquer potholes, the Fit is just too sluggish at higher speeds.

So, the fun-looking exterior does in fact betray the amount of fun had while driving. If your purpose is to get around nonchalantly and safely, Fit will do just fine. Just temper your expectations beyond that.  

CONCLUSION

With a base price of $17,500, no featured options, and destination and handling fees added in, the 2018 Honda Fit Sport is a very affordable $18,390. It’s a dependable starter hatchback that caters to drivers who are looking for value out of an already economic mode of transportation.

What we liked: The Sport’s fuel efficiency is about as enticing as the price. It’s exterior is appealing to the eyes and interior is well-designed and spacious enough to accommodate five people.

What we didn’t like: This is a hatchback and as such, it lacks speed. At higher speeds, the car’s steering is also a bit clunky.

Competition

It’s a crowded field out there for the 2018 Honda Fit Sport. Both Japanese and domestic automakers have a pony in this race, and the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and even the Kia Rio offer stiff competition. Also in the race are the Chevrolet Sonic and Ford Fiesta.

Slight differences can make a big impact, such as the case with the Yaris’ now-standard emergency braking system. Meanwhile, from a purely price standpoint, the Versa starts at just over $12,000 and the Rio’s MSRP is just under $14,000. However, out of all these cars, only the Yaris (30 mpg city/36 mpg highway) can match the 2018 Honda Fit Sport.


Photo Credit: Honda

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