2009 Honda Fit
Littlest Honda a perfect fit for the times
Tue, Feb 17th 2009
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 4 door, hatchback, 2wd |
| msrp | $14,750 |
| trans | manual |
| gas mi. | 27mpg/33mpg |
| rating |  |
When Honda brought out the Fit in 2006 the world was a different place. Gas prices hadn't gone crazy, the economy wasn't on the skids and most everyone's idea of the perfect car for dogs was an SUV, midsized or better.
Even with all that, the introduction of the Fit to the North American market (it was already a hit elsewhere) made a splash: We chose it as the best small car for dogs in our first DogCars.com Best in Show awards (the overall winner that year was another Honda, the Element).
Gas has gone up and back down since, and the economy … well, we know where that's gone. That makes the new 2009 edition of Honda's little hatchback an even better fit than before.
It's about as perfect a little car as can be imagined, especially for dog-owners. The space inside is so large compared to the tiny size of the vehicle that you start to wonder if the Fit is really a circus car, the kind that an endless number of clowns can fit into and come out of.
You wouldn't want to cram that many dogs inside, but you could manage a couple of big ones with comfort and ease, especially since the Fit's seats fold flat and low to the floorboards.
The car sits low on the ground as well, making it easy to get dogs in and out. It's a sporty drive, especially with a stick shift, easy to park and as fuel-efficient as it gets for a non-hybrid, 27 city, 33 highway, with a nifty mpg gauge to help you get even more mileage from a gallon of gas. With a starting price under $15,000, it's hard to imagine a better Fit for the times.
-- Gina Spadafori
Carguy Comments: The Fit comes in two versions: the Fit and Fit Sport. The base Fit is priced from $14,750 for the 5-speed manual model and tops out at $18,960 for the fully-loaded Fit Sport with navigation system. All models get 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. For 2009, the Fit features a new, more powerful 117-horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine. The subcompact Fit offers surprisingly spacious passenger volume of 90.8 cubic feet and a rear cargo volume of 20.6 cubic feet.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Barking Lot Banter: The smallest pup in Honda’s dog-friendly lineup offers more than expected from a sub-compact car. With spacious interior, great fuel mileage and a bargain starting price, it’s a perfect Fit for challenging times.
Comments
I have two 90lb Labs. One is quite old and arthritic. When the back seats are flipped up, he can walk straight in to the car without any jumping or lifting (which preserves my back and his dignity). My other Lab rides in the back hatch. Both dogs are really comfortable and safe because they don’t have to perch on seats where they might fall off if I brake suddenly.
2010-02-16 10:12:02
We were at the mall one day and saw a Honda Fit on display and were surprised by the amount of room in the back with the seats folded down. We immediately thought, “We could get both of our dogs back there!” We ended up buying one and it’s perfect for our huge Leonberger and our large Bernese Mountain Dog. We even have room for groceries. It’s the perfect little dog car that’s not so little.
2010-01-16 13:16:43
I just got my 2010 Fit Sport Automatic and loving it! One of the most impressive features that got me was the deceiving car space. Judging from the exterior, it would be hard to believe you could fit all sorts of stuff in this car but I did. I was able to fit an XL Vari-Kennel Traditional Crate for my active 72 lb Golden Retriever male. The back seats fold flat! And for regular commuting trips, the dog loves the backseat – plenty of room for him to sit (great headroom) and lie down comfortably (even with his RuffRider Roadie Elite Safety Car Harness). Make sure you get a cool car seat protector, especially if you know you will have a dog that loves to swim!
2009-11-23 10:44:36
Awesome car for our two small dogs. They are comfortable and they can see out the window, which they couldn’t do in our old Element.
Dogcars.com should have two awards: Dog Car of the Year for Big Dogs and Dog Car of the Year for Small Dogs.
We liked the Fit so well that we bought two (2008 and 2009 models). It’s our Dog Car of the Year every year.
2009-10-21 17:45:49
Fantastic dog friendly car. Our 60lbs. Siberian Husky goes in and out with ease. The rear seats are folded down to give him the maximum room. I bought this car (‘09 Fit Sport with Nav) specifically with him in mind. Our 2006 TL is a great car, but definitely not meant for pets. The Fit is a lot of car for the money and was glad I chose this over the Element. I have no need for an SUV, but plenty of need for a hatchback. Not to mention we are averaging almost 40mpg in mixed driving, plenty of air bags and room, cheap to operate/maintain. It’s hard to beat this car for the price.
2009-09-28 04:52:37
We have a Honda Fit and specifically selected it for its suitability in transporting our dogs (we have 4 Vizslas). As there are only 2 adults in our family, this car was perfect. We sit in great comfort in the front, have super vision all round and the ginger pack cuddle up together in the back. They have an amazing amount of space to move about in and the fact that the seats fold down flat makes this possible. It’s truly a mini minivan! Smart, spacious, economical and reliable – we love it!
2009-08-22 22:28:02
A lot of car for the money and a lot of space for such a small car. Seats fold flat which gives a lot of rear space for my border collie. Best of all is the gas mileage, I am averaging 41.5 mpg in the last week, admittedly driving it easy to maximize mileage. However, I have never gotten anywhere as low as the EPA ratings even when I push it, usually I average 35-40 mpg in normal driving with a mix of city and highway. Fun to drive and serves it’s purpose well as my dog car!
2009-08-02 21:05:34
This is a great car because of it’s versatility and space for a subcompact. I take my two kids to school every day and then it’s on to the beach to exercise my two dogs. The magic seats fold in amazing ways and there is plenty of room for the 5 of us. Easy to park and great on gas. Good ride for around town hauling.
2009-07-29 15:07:14
I was so delighted to see this review after reading the BARk magazine article you were mentioned in. We chose our Fit Sport specifically for all the room that our labrador can have in it. The back seats that flip up and lock in are perfect for when she’s dirty and doesn’t want to be all the way in the back cargo area We can fit a bike, the dog, luggage and three people into this car and we’re all comfortable! So happy with the Fit!
2009-07-13 22:36:15
At one time I considered getting a Fit. But after being rear-ended on an interstate in a Civic with my dog in the back seat, there’s no way I’d buy a Fit. My dog would have been killed if I’d been driving a Fit the day that Bozo hit me. There’s just not enough space in the back.
2009-07-07 10:45:58
The dogs and I love all things about this car. Granted, I have small dogs, but it serves our purposes well.
2009-05-26 03:04:21
I had to replace my 2000 VW new beetle TDI, when I realized my growing standard poodle pup wouldn’t ride comfortably in the back. Gas mileage was important, as well as affordability. The 2010 Fit is perfect. My Spoo can walk right in and stand up or lay down with the rear seats flat.
I also have 2 Border terriers. When we go to performance events, I put the terriers crates back to back with the doors each opening out the rear passenger doors. That leaves room for another midsized crate with a side door to open toward the Fit’s hatch, or I can put a large dog bed for the big guy there, and have plenty of space for him. When the temperature is mild it is really easy to stage right out of the car!
2010-05-30 19:08:05