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Honda Fit vs Honda Civic
Compare the Fit to the Civic. Which do you prefer?
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Civic hatch that is available in Europe has Magic Seats too.
The Civic hatch would complement the Fit very nicely in the Honda lineup.
It would also offer the features that I say are lacking in a Fit and then some. Like refrigerated glove box, dual zone airconditioning, push button start, aluminum drilled pedals, sunroof...and more.
Of course the US (if it did get the Civic 5 door) would probably only get 1 engine and a 5-speed manual.
I do like the interior of the Civic hatch and I would absolutely love to have a 2.2 iCTD.
I have to say that I am fairly impressed by the Fit, it has been winning comparisons in a few different car mags. Too bad we didn't get the CVT-7 or the iDSI engines.
(But if I do, I can always hand down my 2007 to the wife, and get myself a new one!)
I am also particularly happy I have the 1st generation Fit. It will be interesting to see how the 2nd generation will look, but I didn't want to take the chance.
FWIW, we've had our Mini for over 1 year now. Only "repair" required is a replace a burnt out interior dome light bulb! But of course, your mileage may vary.
That having been said, the Civic is the more "responsible" and certainly the more main-stream purchase.
Keep in mind the Scion xA (with a form-factor similar to the Fit) is NOT the success story of the Scion line - it's the quirky xB (box). The xA was expected to be 80% of sales, the xB 20%, and instead those numbers were reversed. Which points out that, traditionally, small conventional gas saving vehicles don't sell well (unless dirt cheap with an enormous dealer network, like the Chevy Aveo).
Since the Scion was introduced in 2004, we've had a real continuing gas crisis, but my guess is still that the Fit will be a low volume car for Honda compared to the Civic and Accord (even the Civic has been dropping off in sales prior to the '06 redesign). Honda's recent decision to re-allocate production from the Fit to the Civic for North America says a lot about their sales expectations for the Fit.
What are the advantages of the Civic over the Fit? It has better driver-side ergonomics (height-adjustable seat, telescopic steering wheel, arm rest, dead pedal). Anything else? The Fit seems more practical with its interior space and actually felt a bit roomier to me in the back seat for passengers. Yet the Civic is much more popular. Why? Is it style? I'm honestly curious because I'm considering both cars but don't understand what I'd be getting with the Civic over the Fit.
I would cross shop the Fit with the Matrix, not the Civic, esp in Canada where the Fit costs more. My girlfriend called the Fit a '3/4 Matrix' and I agree. Shame that the Fit's interior is not as solid, though.
The thing is, in every car line, a loaded x often starts to overlap with a base next-model-up. A loaded Civic similarly creeps into Accord territory. I don't know why this is an issue or why anyone would find it surprising.
Apart from that, there seems to be an assumption that the Civic is necessarily a better car; that apart from price, if people had their choice of a Fit or a Civic, they would choose the Civic. But each has advantages over the other and will be preferred by some people. The Civic certainly doesn't have near the cargo carrying capacity of the Fit, so the Fit would better fit my needs, regardless of price. (I suspect I'd also prefer driving the Fit, from what I've read.)
I just depends on what you value more -- a car with a little more edge and immediacy to its controls, or one that cossets and pampers you more and in so doing disconnects you more from the road. I guess which driving experience I prefer is obvious.
The other biggest difference between the Civic and Fit for me from the driver's seat is the commanding view out that the Fit provides. Here again, the Civic is like most mainstream cars in offering a less-than-expansive view out, relatively speaking; the Fit, on the other hand, offers truly exceptional visibility through the windshield and tall side windows. That, combined with the driving experience and the passenger room offered by its tall-body packaging, is what I liked most about the Fit. (Now, if only it had a sunroof! I've never owned a car without one, and I'd miss it -- but not as much as I'd miss it were it a different car with a less expansive greenhouse.)
To me it is not just about how much it can hold. I usually don't carry lots of bulky items. As has been mentioned before, one of the glaring omissions from Honda's NA line-up has been a hatchback. I for one only would purchase a sedan (or any "stepback" vehicle) if I really couldn't get a hatchback I wanted. Just personal taste. However, the Fit is just so much more versatile regardless of actual cargo capacity.
Regarding the interior room, the Fit and Civic have very similar figures. The difference is how the interior is executed. I feel somewhat cramped inside the Civic in terms of headroom and general space. The Fit feels open and airy and I prefer the higher, more upright seating position.
The 2001 styling might apply for the outside (looks are subjective), but for the massive interior in a small exterior size and utilization of space the Fit wins by a landslide.
"For not much more money, you can get things like auto up/down windows, variable intermittent wipers, heated mirrors, outside and engine temp gauge, locking glove box, locking gas door."
I don't know how the Civic is equipped in Canada, but you would need the EX for the variable intermittent wipers and outside temperature gauge in the US. Unless I am just not seeing it on the specifications page, the US Civic doesn't even come with heated mirrors.
The MSRP of US$13,850 for the Fit and US$16,710 for the Civic LX is $2860. Hardly what I would call "not much money". Also, don't forget that the Fit is positioned below the Civic, so naturally some amenities in the Civic will be left out of the Fit.
Only gripe is that the Fit does not have any height adjustments nor center arm rest, which I really like. No dead pedal either, but thats not a deal breaker. Will wait another 5 months or so and see what the competition has to offer in the newer Corolla for 08, coming out in 07, the new Versa, and newer XA scion, or what ever replacement they will have.
Dealer offered about $17,000 for my civic so thats a no go for right now, but boy oh boy, I wished I had waited.
Also, don't forget all Civics have the 140hp engine with i-Vtec.
Thanks. :shades:
The most impressive thing, however, is the back seat. I always do a test where I put the front seat where I like it (for most cars, including the Fit, this means back all the way) and then get in the back seat. The Fit was amazing. I was quite comfortable sitting in the back. My legs didn't touch the back of the seat, and there was lots of room for my feet under the front seat. It felt roomier and more comfortable than the Civic and most midsized sedans I've tried.
Hmmm...I didn't know there were that many differences regarding packaging between US and Canadian market cars. The Canadian base model Fit (the DX) is indeed spartan, but the US base model (equivalent to LX) is fairly close to a US Civic LX.
I totally agree - I was surprised when a couple of people mentioned sitting higher in their Fit. My first impression was how low it was to the ground - but I haven't driven anything but a Wrangler in several years so anything lower than a fairly tall SUV feels low!
I'm not sure how the Civic LX can even compare to the Fit. It may get 1 mpg more and have a little more hp, but the Fit delivers a far more usable package with fun sporty performance and handling than the civic, but buy what makes you happy. The Civic sedan and coupe are people movers and nothing more. The Fit is a people, lama, and cargo mover. It will be a far better choice for many than the Civic.
The Civic Si is a different story, but can't certainly be compared to the Fit.
There's a reason the Fit is the most popular car in the world, and people develop special relationships with them. The regular Civic is just....well a Civic, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it certainly doesn't evoke enthusiasm. The Fit does.
real world numbers for the civic seem to be all over the place. Some sedan owners getting well into the twenties. A very wide range depending on driver and conditions, very few at 40. The civic wieghs more with more power. It's a dumb sedan that is, well, boring.
The Fit Sport has a better stereo, auxillary input, alloy wheels, far more headroom, and far more cargo room.
The Civic has a little more legroom, a nicer interior, and more power.
The Civic EX has the options the Fit Sport has and more, but it also runs about $2500-3000 more. No wonder.
Civic EX > Fit Sport> Civic LX in my opinion.
"more power" comparisons can be misleading, if it's just numbers on paper... because power isn't just a matter of horsepower, but weight, gearing, etc. So if by "more power" you expect it to feel peppier, you really need to drive them to see. Sometimes even comparing 0-60 doesn't tell you what "feels" quicker.
Compared to bland mini-minvan looking Fit?
No one can win that one. And neither is likely to find its way into the Museum of Modern Art.
I like to see utility in design, so the Fit looks beautiful to me. When I first looked at it I discounted the fit because it struck me like you say a mini mini van.
The shape of the Aveo and matrix are very similar to the fit. In person I just don't find them as appealing as the Fit. I guess it is the whole package of the Fit, it gives me that 'oh wow' feeling. happy motoring
So, how do you like the Pontiac Aztec? Apparently you can go camping too in the friggin' thing. :P
>>Compared to bland mini-minvan looking Fit?
Having seen one in real-life, I'd never compare it to a mini-minivan, bland or otherwise. Credit to Honda for keeping the lines ever so slightly sleek, and the hood low. It honestly looks nothing like a minivan IRL.
However, you could make a case for it somewhat resembling a Toyota Matrix, which isn't that much prettier than a minivan.