I never sit in the back, but did yesterday and noticed that when the headrests are in the down position, they aren't flush with the seat. They bump out a few inches. When I raise them, they fall into a more leaned back position, but when lowering them, the seat itself pushes them back out. I can't seem to figure it out. Can't believe this is normal? What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

 

That's normal. Maybe it's to encourage raising them to a comfortable, useful position instead of leaving them down.

Be careful when folding the seat backs flat that the headrests are retracted. They can rip the front-seat back pocket if extended.

 

I agree...there is no way an adult can sit comfortably in the back with the headrests down. When people sit in my rear, the headrests are always up.

 

The mounting arms of the headrest is curved. As it goes up, the curve moves it back slightly.

As it comes down, it pushes forward slightly, so that the front face can partially slide a little bit over the seat back... so that the top is mostly flush across, minimizing the obstruction to the view in the rear view mirror.

 

yup, that's how they are. You can't sit in the back seats comfortably without raising them.

 

This is the same design used in the 3rd row of our 2011 Honda Odyssey. This design allows the headreasts to remain on/in the seats when the seats are folded. Otherwise, you'd have to remove the headrests and find someplace to store them. It does, as we've all noticed, require you to raise the headrest to sit comfortably.

 

Thanks for the help. So I'm not overlooking some magic button...

I've never heard of a vehicle that you had to instruct passengers to raise the headrest so they can sit! I guess that's part of how they accomplish the "magic" folding seats.

 

Uh... i've yet to have to "instruct" anyone on how to sit, aside from my nephew, who likes to kick my seat.

it should become GLARINGLY OBVIOUS the moment they sit down, that they're not comfortable... and then adjust accordingly. The only thing my passengers do, is ask for permission to do so (as a courtesy).

 

My point was not that I had to "instruct"....it was that either way, there's a bump in the seat that makes it unusable without raising the headrest. Is there any other car on the market that you have to do something to a seat before sitting?

 

If you leave the headrests up, they don't have to do anything. Only if you fold and unfold the seats would you have to mess with it.

 

I'd leave them up, but it bugs my wife as a visability concern. Hey...we LOVE the car, so I'm happy to have such minor gripes.

 

I just rode in my friend's Mazda3 hatchback. It has a similar rear seat headrest design as the Fit. It lowers into the seat to increase visibility, and an adult needs to raise it, otherwise it will dig into their back.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/2011_m...rear_seats.jpg

 

I believe the term is First World Problems.

 

From my test-sitting experience, I don't think an adult of significant height can sit comfortably in the back with the headrests UP. I found that even in the raised position, the lower part of the headrest still pokes out in between my shoulder blades. Even pivoting the bottom part back as much as it will go, it still sticks out from a flush position with the rear seat back. This wouldn't be so bad if it supported your head. But at 6'1" and with a son and his friends already that height or soon to be, I can't imagine making someone sit back there.

The salesman tilted the rear seat back so my upper back didn't contact the upper part of the seat anymore. That helped, but I'm not sure it would be comfortable to "sit leaning forward" for long, and it also impinges on limited trunk space and the shape of the space available.

This is very disappointing to me as I was planning to get a new Fit and hand down my '08 Sport MT to my daughter. I can still do the latter, but I have definitely opened up my search for a new car again. It's not easy to find something fun, economical, and utilitarian for tall people - the Fit is great for headroom for tall drivers & passengers like me and my son, and his friends. But IMO this is a terrible design. All to save having to slide the front seats forward to lay the back flat? You still have to reach in and lower the headrests, so it saves just a bit of effort yet at the price of reasonable comfort. IMO. If you are in the back and under 5'7" you might not notice at all - or maybe, you could lay your back flat against the seat (like I wish I could) but it might still stick your head forward.

 

I only have to tell people about it the first time they sit back there. They will generally ask what is up with the seat and I tell them to put the headrest up. After that it is a non issue and one of the few cars that can fit real people in the back seat (way better than my 97 civic coupe, where you couldn't sit upright if you were over 5'6" or so).