Results and rankings for the 2012 Subcompact Shootout

 

Nice to see that despite it's "design age" the Fit is still beating the B-segment competition in so many big magazine comparos... Before buying our Fit we actually test drove pretty much all the cars listed in this article and came to similar conclusions.

 

I like that they are praising the automatic that everyone with a 5speed tears apart on here.

 

To each, their own. my sister bought a '12 sport in automatic. i drove it around and didnt care much for it. i hate the lag between when you paddle shift and when the car decides to actually shift. sometimes its only a second or two, but when you're on the highway, it makes a difference.

thats why i got a '12 sport in manual. no real regrets yet, but then again, i knew i wouldn't regret my purchase because driving my dad'a '08 sport manual always brought a smile to my face...

my personal opinion is that the autotragic transmission sucks all the fun out of driving it. My sister loves hers, its just not for me. we have very different driving styles.

 

Even for its dated design, the fit still looks the best out of all the cars they tested IMO.

 

Not everyone. I am quite happy with mine, and I typically dig manuals. It would be more engaging, but the automatic really is pretty solid, IMO.

 

I had use manual to different vehicle for about 15 years and now automatic on Fit base. Auto bring convenience for traffic jammed or slow freeway moving, the manual wear me out with traffic like in Houston. I agreed manual bring the fun of speeding but not in busy city.

 

I live in the middle of nowhere, pretty much, but freeway trips around here have a lot of terrain changes, and it gets annoying having to downshift for even the slightest of hills.

 

They reviewed the base and not the sport.

Does the base even have paddle shifting?

I test drove a paddle shift before the manual and I must say that I still fell in love with the car. You don't lose any enjoyment. You do gain a special something with the clutch and stick that makes it a Car&Driver 10 best for multiple years.

I hope the next gen doesn't screw it up.
I'm looking at you Honda Civic.

 

What is the issue with the new civic?

 

I think in the end, what the Fit really needs is an updated drivetrain.

Hopefully, very soon the Fit will get the Earth Dreams Technology drivetrain with an updated L15 engine rated at circa 125-130 bhp and the new CVT automatic. That right there will be faster acceleration and also better fuel economy, too.

 

Better Economy with the CVT, Yes, Faster Acceleration... likely not. The CVT often zaps more power from the engine than a normal Automatic let alone a manual transmission. We had an altima with CVT and the normal difference between auto & Manual was about .5 seconds in 0-60. With the CVT, it was more like 1-1.5s Different. The CVT was great for economy though which is where most companies are going, especially on economy cars.

An R18 mated to a 6sp manual would be my choice.

~SB

 

Well, other than the fact that the sedan's exterior design is reminiscent of a 2003 Toyota Camry, a design that was dated even back then... Nothing!

Meh... It's just really bland and far too safe for me. The last generation of Civics were stylistically daring when they first came out, and I guess we were all wrong to assume the same from the new ones.

 

It's been criticized for its exterior styling, interior finish, road noise, braking distance, handling, and maybe some other things as well.

In all those categories, it's rated worse than the Civic it replaces.