I love my '93 Civic hatchback and it has been, hands down, the best car I have ever owned. Always starts, never has trouble in the snow, still gets over 40mpg, and looks half it's age (which is better than I can say for me). I think the biggest issue I have ever had with it was changing the muffler. It has outlasted the other cars I've owned, granted they weren't Honda's, and has easily outlasted than my marriage! But, after 13 years, I'm thinking it may be time to get Fit. I did a comparison of my '93 Hatchback DX to the 2007 Fit Sport (specs from Honda Preview.com) and they are eerily similar:

Civic Hatchback DX vs. 2007 Fit Sport

• 1.5L 102HP InLine v4 VS. 1.5L 109HP VTEC v4
• Torque: 102@5500rpm VS. 105@4800
• Horsepower: 102 VS. 109
• Turning Diameter (ft.): 32.2 VS. 35.6
• Wheels: 13" VS. 15"
• Headroom (in. front/rear): 38.6/36.6 VS. 40.6/38.6
• Legroom (in. front/rear): 42.5/30.5 VS. 41.9/33.7
• Shoulder Room (in. front/rear): 53.4/52.10 VS. 52.8/50.6
• Hiproom (in. front/rear): 49.8/44.6 VS. 51.2/51.0
• Seating Capacity: 5 VS. 5
• Wheelbase (in.): 101.3 VS. 96.5
• Length (in.): 160.2 VS. 157.4
• Height (in.): 50.7 VS. 60
• Width (in.) 66.9 VS. 66.2
• Weight (lbs. - manual transmition): 2178 VS. 2471
• Fuel Economy (mpg US): 34/40 VS. 33/38
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.9 VS. 10.83

I assume the VTEC engine in the FIT is much better than the InLine v4 in my '93 civic. Does anyone have experience with the VTEC which will be in the fit? I'm a little disappointed in the fuel tank capacity shrinking by a full gallon and the 300 extra pounds added to the Fit but the Fit seems to be back to the old Civic size before Honda and everyone else super-sized their models. I'm looking forward to taking it out for a test drive.

 

Nice comparison!! Ya, the Fit looks real interesting and I for one can't wait to see this thing close up. The civic hatches from back in the day were good little cars...hopefully the Fit proves to be as good.

 

I am thinking the same thing as you. I have a 92 Civic Hatchback...most reliable thing ever. I want a Fit as my next car, but I'll wait until my current car falls apart (with all the rust, it probably won't be too long!).


The main things I wish I had on my 92 (and on a Fit) would be a sunroof/moonroof, and rear disc brakes. The Fit 4-door body is great, as now I have kids.

I did a comparison of numbers just like you. I can't wait to test drive one.

 

1992 Honda Civic VX vs. 2007 Honda Fit
Honda should bring back the Civic VX or make a Fit VX for those that want real fuel economy.

15 years ago the 1992 Honda Civic VX 5 speed got 47 mpg city / 56 mpg highway in US Miles Per Gallon. It was one of Honda's most reliable cars as well as one of their best fuel efficient cars.

1.5L 92HP InLine v4 VS. 1.5L 109HP VTEC v4
Torque: 97@5500rpm VS. 105@4800
Horsepower: 92 VS. 109
Turning Diameter (ft.): 32.2 VS. 35.6
Wheels: 13" VS. 15"
Headroom (in. front/rear): 38.6/36.6 VS. 40.6/38.6
Legroom (in. front/rear): 42.5/30.5 VS. 41.9/33.7
Shoulder Room (in. front/rear): 53.4/52.10 VS. 52.8/50.6
Hiproom (in. front/rear): 49.8/44.6 VS. 51.2/51.0
Seating Capacity: 5 VS. 5
Wheelbase (in.): 101.3 VS. 96.5
Length (in.): 160.2 VS. 157.4
Height (in.): 50.7 VS. 60
Width (in.) 66.9 VS. 66.2
Weight (lbs. - manual transmition): 2178 VS. 2471
Fuel Economy (mpg US): 47/56 VS. 33/38
Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.9 VS. 10.83

 

I did a little bit more work and tried to setup a side-by-side comparison of the Fit to similar cars which someone looking at purchasing a Fit may be interested in. For historical sake, the 1993 Civic DX and the 1992 Civic VX (thanks to bsgump) were also included. I'll continue to update this as more details arrive or if someone wants other cars added:

Feel free to click on the Fit Comparison Chart to view it. It is in PDF format so if you do not have a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat, you may download one for free here.

 

FYI, the Civic VX and the DX do not weigh the same. The VX weighs less. Unfortunately I don't how the exact numbers.

 

You are absolutely correct. My mistake. The VX was 2094 vs. 2178 for the DX. Also, the VX was a bit taller. The chart has been updated.

 

Biggest advantage I see with the Fit when compared to older civics is the safety advantage. Front, side, and side curtain airbags as well as EBD and ABS. Also, a more modern frame that will fare considerably better in collisions.

 

Very nice chart, orbes.
Some engines you have listed as V4s though. They're all I4s.

 

The VX & DX Civics were very much ahead of their time for emissions but they certainly don't exceed the 2010 standards like the Fit.

 

Thanks for the correction vkeks05. This chart seems to have helped a few people I know who are looking at each of these similar cars in the coming months. I'd be happy to add other models if people want. Just let me know the make/model/year.

Yea, the Fit definitely offers much better emissions and safety features than the VX & DX Civics of the past. Does anyone have an opinion of the older v4 Inline engine vs. the VTEC which will be in the Fit? I don't have experience with the VTEC, just the iVTEC. I assume it is a decent engine as all Honda engines seem to be?

 

The Fits SOHC VTEC is VTEC-E so pretty much the same as the HX Civic mechanism and intake side only. The Fit is however an L-Series not D-Series motor and brings with it not just a far more compact design but the basis for a whole swag of future engines from the new platform. Its lighter, features piston skirts which are coated with 'pulverized molydebnum' as on the 'real' Type R DC2 Integras B18C engine, full stainless steel exhaust, EGR and an oblique flow convertor cat. Amazingly the L15A VTEC has comparable power to the D15B with its 3 stage VTEC.

Excellent article on the engine can be found here
http://asia.vtec.net/Series/FitJazz/lseries/index.html


Graph shows that both the i-dsi and the VTEC L-Series engines are just as fuel efficent as the lean burn D-Series motors.

No raw figures do justice to the real world drivability of the L15A VTEC as implimented in the Fit. Just as with many Honda bikes that appear to lose to the competition on paper with figures they consistently win on the track because of vastly superior usable power.