2018 Honda Fit Brings A New Attitude

The 2018 model year brings significant updates to the third generation of the versatile 5-door subcompact Honda Fit including fresh sportier styling, a more dynamic and refined driving experience, new Sport trim, and substantially upgraded technology and premium features. In a first for Fit, the Honda Sensing^® suite of advanced safety and driver assistive technologies including Collision Mitigation Braking™ (CMBS™) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) is available on all Fit models and standard on EX and above trims. This makes Fit the most affordable car in America with such a robust offering of safety and driver-assistive features and the only vehicle within its segment to do so.

2018 Honda Fit Gets Fresh: New Styling, New Sport Trim, Added Tech and More Refinement Bring New Attitude (PRNewsfoto/American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Exterior and Interior
The 2018 Honda Fit features updated and sportier styling, including a lower and wider appearance thanks to new front and rear fascia, a more sophisticated two-piece chrome and piano black grille, and new wheel finishes. Overall length of the 2018 Fit increases to 161.4 inches (+1.4) for LX, EX and EX-L models while Sport’s unique aero kit adds an additional 0.4 inches (161.8).

For 2018, the Fit offers an expanded exterior color palette with two exciting new options – Helios Yellow and Orange Fury. Carryover colors include White Orchid Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Milano Red and Aegean Blue Metallic. EX and above trims also feature a new two-tone finish on the 16-inch alloy wheels with machined spokes and gloss-black inserts.

The new Fit Sport trim features an even more aggressive and sporty look with aero form features at the front, sides and rear, integrated fog lights, and a low and sharp front splitter highlighted in bright orange. An exclusive gloss-black finish on the 16-inch alloy wheels further adds to the sporty look. At the rear, a three-strake diffuser with bright orange upper trim line, chrome exhaust finisher and Sport badge complete the Fit Sport’s distinct exterior styling.

On the inside, the Fit Sport distinguishes itself with a black interior with unique cross-hatched fabric for the seats and door trim. The exterior’s orange accent theme continues inside with bright orange stitching on the seats, console-mounted armrest, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Features and Technology
For 2018, the Fit is offered in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, along with a new Sport trim positioned between LX and EX – each generously equipped. Standard features on all Fit models include rearview camera, tailgate spoiler, auto on-off headlights, LED brake lights, Bluetooth^® HandsFreeLink^® and a center storage console with armrest. All 2018 Fits feature a redesigned driver’s meter with a large analog speedometer and digital tachometer. Models equipped with HondaSensing^® receive a 4.2-inch Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Driver Information Interface (DII) color display offering additional selectable information including available turn-by-turn directions.

The Fit Sport builds off the LX with exclusive interior trim featuring black cross-hatched fabric and orange accent stitching, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on CVT models. In addition, the Sport model gains premium features found on EX trims including Honda’s 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, and a 180-watt six-speaker audio system.

The Fit EX includes Honda Sensing^® standard on both CVT and 6MT models. This marks the first application of Honda’s suite of advanced safety and driver assistive features to a model equipped with a manual transmission. The Fit EX also gains Honda LaneWatch™, XM Radio, variable intermittent wipers, Push Button Start, Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock^®, a one-touch power moonroof, and new sliding sunvisors.

The top trim Fit EX-L also includes Honda Sensing as well as leather-trimmed seats with 2-level heating for the front, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and available navigation with HD Traffic and HD Radio.

Powertrain and Chassis
The 2018 Fit continues to offer a lively and responsive engine mated to either a slick-shifting 6-speed manual, offering an engaging driving experience on LX, Sport and EX trims; or an efficient Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with G-Shift Control, available on all trims. The Fit’s 1.5L DOHC direct-injected 4-cylinder i-VTEC™ engine with Variable Cam Timing (VTC) delivers up to 130 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm and 114 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm (both SAE net). Through optimized emission control and a modified catalytic converter design, the 2018 Fit with CVT achieves the stringent SULEV-30 emission standards¹ (6MT achieves ULEV125) while still delivering the fun and efficient output for which Fit is well known.

Taking Fit’s top-of-segment premium driving feel one-step further, ride comfort and handling characteristics have been improved for 2018 thanks to retuned suspension dampers, a more rigid steering system and additional body reinforcements. In addition to comfort and dynamic improvements, Fit offers a quieter cabin rivaling the best in its class, with adjustments made to transmission and steering system mounting hardware, combined with the addition of acoustic glass windshield and improved insulation throughout the vehicle.

The Fit’s rigid body structure is paired with a sophisticated chassis to deliver sporty handling with a steering linearity that gives the driver a sense of oneness with the vehicle unmatched in the subcompact segment.

Fuel Economy
The 2018 Fit retains its outstanding EPA fuel-economy rating² of 29/36/31 (city/highway/combined) for the manual transmission models, 33/40/36 for the LX trim with CVT and 31/36/33 for the EX, EX-L and Sport trim with CVT. The 6MT optimizes close individual ratios to aid performance while offering a wide overall range to improve fuel efficiency. The CVT enhances engine responsiveness, providing quick and smooth acceleration while improving fuel efficiency with a wide ratio range and low internal friction.

Packaging
Inside the 2018 Honda Fit continues to wow with a rear hatch providing access to a remarkably spacious and accommodating cargo area. With a low load floor, four dedicated seat modes and dozens of configurations, the Fit is the epitome of functionality and utility. Fold the 2^nd-row Magic Seat^® forward and the Fit provides an enormous 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space—more than any of its key hatchback competitors. Other configurations accommodate long and tall items, or allow two people to relax with their feet up when the Fit is parked.

The 2018 Fit offers exceptional utility via its 60/40 (right/left), split 2^nd-row Magic Seat, enabling multiple-configurable seating and cargo-carrying options. In the standard seatback-up/seat bottom-down position, there is ample room for three passengers to sit comfortably. As the seatback is split 60/40, one or two passengers can still be accommodated while extending the cargo-carrying capacity by folding down one side or the other. And since the Fit’s rear seat offers exceptional legroom, the rear passenger area can also accommodate a good-sized pet kennel or crate. The Magic Seat can easily be folded into any of its positions with levers accessible from the rear of the car or the rear doors.

Safety Performance and Driver Assist Features
Honda Sensing^®, Honda’s suite of advanced safety and driver assistive features, is available on Fit LX and Sport (equipped CVT) and standard on all EX and EX-L trims. The Honda Sensing suite includes: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) incorporating Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) incorporating Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The 2018 Honda Fit also features a long list of standard active and passive safety features, including Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA™) with traction control, driver and passenger front and side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist and Honda’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. The Fit is designed to achieve a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). All models feature a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, while EX and higher trims have Honda LaneWatch™ as standard equipment.