A trend towards smaller, fuel-efficient cars is in vogue with motorists as fuel prices approach $4 a gallon. Good things can come in small packages, though. Honda's Fit, a popular vehicle in Asia and Europe, is catching on with Americans. Parts & People tested the 2007 Fit Sport version with surprising results. For a vehicle that falls in the subcompact category, the Honda Fit is shockingly spacious on the inside. In fact, passenger volume measures 90.1 cubic feet, nearly the size of the Honda Accord Coupe. The deep trunk is also spacious, with 21.3 cubic feet, thanks to a fuel tank located under the car near the center of the vehicle.
What Fit owners give up in horsepower they gain in fuel efficiency, achieving 33 MPG in city driving and 38 MPG on the highway. This fuel efficiency is accomplished with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) engine that puts out 109 HP at 5,800 RPM and 105 lb.-ft. of torque. The tested version came equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission, a first for the Fit worldwide.
The transmission's lockup clutch control also improves the Fit's fuel economy by operating in all gears, compared to conventional transmissions that operate torque converter lockup in only a few gears, company officials said.
The engine's drive-by-wire throttle system adds to its efficiency by precisely delivering the appropriate amount of fuel quickly, officials said. Unlike a mechanical throttle control, which relies on a cable linking the accelerator pedal to the throttle, drive-by-wire measures the engine's fuel needs electronically, and the vehicle's computer instantly determines the optimal throttle opening for that unique driving situation. 
To further reduce fuel consumption and to increase a tight steering feel, the Fit uses an Electric Power Steering system, similar to that used in the 2006 Civic Si and Civic Hybrid, officials said. The electric steering gear box eliminates the constant load on the engine from a hydraulic pump found in traditional systems, the release states. The Fit's electric steering gear box uses a high-output brushless motor instead of the pump.
All this advanced technology remains relatively unnoticed to the everyday driver; what is noticeable is the Fit's size compared to other vehicles on the road.
It took a while to get used to the Fit while driving on the highway, given its small stature and weak acceleration. Drivers shouldn't be concerned though, since the Fit recently earned a five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
There are not too many bells and whistles on the Fit, but it did come equipped with stylish 15-inch alloy wheels and a bright red paint job. Rolling in at $15,970, this vehicle is sure to be a hit on U.S. soil.
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