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I was able to test drive a Fit today here in metro Detroit. It was a SSM AT (w/o nav). This car was available for sale, as it wasn't allocated to a customer. I have a white MT on order so I was just a tire kicker; nevertheless, I was curious to see the new Fit "live."
I must say that the car looks significantly more handsome and aggressive in person versus all the press photos. The front end doesn't look bad at all -- I was initially concerned about it having an overbearing snout. The car was still a bit dirty from shipping, but it still looked nice in the sun. The SSM looks lighter in the sun, but when the clouds rolled over it definitely looked more gray.
I was able to drive it about 4 miles; it was immediately evident that the chasis is more refined than the outgoing model. The 16" rims are a big improvement in terms of filling out the wheel wells, as well as handling characteristics. The engine still came accross as wanting a few extra HP, but it wasn't laboring (hoping the MT will be marginally better). The windshield is heavily raked and it's now about 5 inches farther forward. Personally, I think this gives the Fit a more sporty look, and it also creates a more spacious feeling inside.
The interior looked and felt more upscale as well. The seats felt more bolstered than the outgoing model, and the dead pedal is a much-needed addition. The 2nd row seats now fold flat without first removing the head restraints, making it much easier and faster for stowage configurations.
Some minor annoyances were the external air flow lever, which I think looked cheap and dated -- should be a push button like the JDM model. Lack of steering wheel radio controls is a bummer, though not a deal breaker by any means. The stock radio sounded reasonable, yet the on-off button was rather smallish and not initially intuitive. The USB interface, which is located in the upper glove box (if that's what it's called), is a nice feature and perhaps will mitigate the need for satellite radio (not sure why XM isn't optional as well, especially given the competition).
Overall, my ride was brief, but enlightening. I think the '09 is a nice evolution from the '08 in most areas, however, the fun-to-drive factor might have dropped a point or two. Very impressive package, especially when compared to the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, and Chevy Aveo (which, imho, doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath). It appears that Honda is trying to go more upscale in its positioning of the car, and by my measure, they've succeeded!
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