My xD and Fit are both manual, probably worth mentioning. Frankly, I think the xD's shifter is better than the Fit's. The Fit's is shorter-throw and snappier (especially considering I have a T1R short-throw shifter, but the stock shifter is still shorter than xD's stock) but the xD's seems smoother and it's also nice to not have that goofy 2nd-gear gate that Honda always seems to have. Maybe I need a heavier knob in the Fit...

 

I'm suspicious how the Federal Governments MPG's tests are be flawed. I would think there AT and MT tests are done under similar conditions so the AT v. MT results are apples to apples.

But it looks like Consumer Reports gives the Fit MT better MPG than the AT.

But CR also gives the edge to the XD in MPG.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/most-fuelefficient-cars/overview/index.htm


JZ - Sorry what is the Honda "2nd-gear gate".

 

On both my old 2002 Civic and my 2009 Fit the gate for 2nd gear (where the shifter feels like it clicks into place) is always weird, like it feels like it has engaged and then pops out to neutral, or stays in place but needs to be pulled back farther. That never happens on the xD.

 

I'd vote xD... The seats feel more supportive to my gangly legs, and there seems to be a smidge more legroom.. That said, your best bet is to go to both lots, and spend about a half an hour sitting in each one. You'll annoy the salesmen. Such is the price when you're going to pay 5 figures for a car. They'll get over it.

 

I have a 2009 Fit manual. Girlfriend has a 2010 Scion XD manual. I can't stand to drive the XD as the front seats are so close together and the door armrests are digging into your side. Seats are HARD and uncomfortable as hell,and legroom and head room suck in the XD. XD dash is just plain fugley,and looks like they threw some of some other cars dash components on it . She struggles to get 32mpg,and I routinely get 38- 40mpg same driving conditions. Girlfriend drove my Fit and says it's more fun to drive,faster,roomier,and better looking. When I hauled home a recliner for her in my Fit that wouldn't even come close to fitting in her XD,she said she should have listened to me and bought a Fit. Scion salesman told her the XD is a chick car,and she would look good in it,she bought,women. Not saying the XD is a bad, unreliable car,just not designed near as well thought out as the Fit. After driving her XD I wouldn't even consider one.

PaFitter

 

I wanted an xB, but they stopped making them. The xD seemed more like an "edgy" Corolla. I was a Toyota guy and the Fit is my first Honda automobile. Had a CT-70 and CB-175 decades ago. Scion is now more about style over substance, but still with Toyota rock-solid reliability. The Fit seems more genuine, form follows function. My recommendation is extended test drives in both. The xD is probably a better highway and Fit a better city car. Since I've never owned a four-cylinder automatic, my viewpoint is based on MT versions.