Ok, just when I was settling on buying an '09 Fit Sport now I see that Honda is releasing a Fit Hybrid in Fall of 2010 that would get close to 50 mpg and cost between $16,000 - $20,000. It's supposed to be a 1.3 L engine.

2011 Honda Fit Hybrid Coming in 2010 | Cost, MPG, Launch

I know nothing about hybrids.

Can anybody help weigh in on whether or not it's a good idea to hold off another year (whimper) to get a Fit Hybrid?

 

Well, you already have a good car, so you shouldn't be in a hurry either way... it's not like you've got a car to use for the C4C program and need to act now. At very least you might as well wait for the 2010 fits.. then if there are no real changes in the model you might be able to pick up a 2009 fit at a deep discount..

That being said, I think many people are expecting Honda to not import the Fit Hybrid to the US. I'm a bit skeptical myself. How much will adding Hybrid systems add to the cost? Already the Insight is only a few thou more than a Sport Navi Fit, and is similar in a number of ways.

 

The Fall 2010 release date is as far as I've seen for Japan. US release may not come so quick. I *believe* I read Honda will import the Fit Hybrid, but I don't recall where anymore.

 

as jbooth said, 2010 is for Japan. I dont think there are any official plans to bring it to the US. Especially since the Insight was just released.

 

With the MPG the Fit gets, it would be a long time before you paid off the premium for a Hybrid. Another thought where are they going to put the battery pack? There is no wasted space on a Fit. The batteries will take up some of the interior room.

 

Everything I've seen says the Fit Hybrid is for JDM only, not for US. But if you're really hot for a hybrid, why not try the Insight?

(Incidentally, I'd rather have one well-engineered, appropriately-sized engine than the complexity of a hybrid powertrain, but that's just my preference.)

 

I'm not very attracted to the Insight. Further consideration makes me not really interested in a hybrid right now even if they are coming to the US in a year or two.