2011 Honda Fit

The Honda Fit is the reviewer favorite among hatchback economy cars because of its commendable cargo volume, versatile interior, superior reliability and fun-to-drive nature. Given all of its strong suits, the $15,100 starting price makes it one of the best car-per-dollar values around. The new 2011 Ford Fiesta (Base MSRP: $13,320 to $17,120) is a similar offering with good ride quality and higher gas mileage, but it has interior space. The highly rated Volkswagen Golf (Base MSRP: $17,995 to $19,755) is a good choice, but it is more expensive.

The Honda Fit remains largely unchanged for the 2011 model year, but it does gain some new standard equipment in the form of stability control, an iPod/USB interface for the stereo, cruise control and keyless entry. For complete information on this model, also consult our detailed report on the 2009 Honda Fit and the brief update posted for the 2010 Honda Fit.

A 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine carries over from last year and delivers good fuel economy. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Fit will achieve 27 to 31 mpg city, 33 to 37 mpg highway, and 30 to 31 mpg combined, depending on which transmission the car is equipped with. The Honda Fit can come with a Sport five-speed automatic, a normal five-speed automatic, or a five-speed manual transmission, listed in order of ascending fuel efficiency. The 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI (Base MSRP: $23,225 to $23,885) runs on diesel fuel and is the best-reviewed nonhybrid hatchback in terms of fuel efficiency, but it is significantly more expensive.

Front airbags, side airbags, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and stability control are all standard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Honda Fit the highest rating of Good in front-, side- and rear-accident occupant protection. The Fit gets a lower rating of Acceptable from the IIHS for rollover-crash protection; this prevents the Fit from being named a Top Safety Pick. These ratings (as with all the IIHS ratings) are indicative of the results from crashing into a similar sized vehicle. When the Honda Fit is crashed into a Honda Accord in a simulated head-on collision, IIHS says the Fit provides disappointing crash protection because of its smaller relative size.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has only tested the 2011 Honda Fit for rollover resistance, for which it receives a 4-star rating out of a possible 5.

While the 2011 Fit is an impressive package for the money, there are decent hatchbacks for lower prices, such as the 2011 Nissan Versa (Base MSRP: $9,990 to $17,190) and 2011 Toyota Yaris (Base MSRP: $12,995 to $13,715). The base Honda Fit starts at $15,100 and peaks at $16,860 for the Fit Sport.