It’s funny when you watch all those SUV commercials on TV. They always try

Here's a new economy box that will get buyers of traditional compacts thinking. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

to sell you on the extreme outdoors adventure lifestyle, and how you need a big money-sucking truck to be able to do such exciting things. I find it odd, because when I head up to the ski mountain, bike trails, cliffs or beach; all I see are Civics, Corollas and Subarus. All the true outdoor enthusiasts make due with economy boxes. Sure there are some flashy new SUVs that come out, but the people getting out of these are the types that went out and bought up all the best equipment they could find to go boarding, climbing or surfing, probably only a couple of times a year. The lifers make due with cheaper alternatives so that they have the money to continue doing the sports they love. So mark my words, along with all the Hondas, Toyotas and Suzukis at adventure venues, the sight of Honda Fits will soon be as common.

Why will you be seeing Fits at these venues? Simple, it does

With its sporty little details, I think the Fit will soon become the new love of tuners everywhere. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

everything those other cars do, but better. Also, they're new and much more attractive then the aging rusters that are disintegrating away. Also, there's a reason why the Fit was named “Best new small car under $18,000” by AJAC.

With its older brother, the Civic, being the world’s most beloved modifier, the Fit will soon be just as popular. As the Fit is cheaper and has more potential, I believe that it will likely take over as Honda’s most modifiable car, not to say that there is anything wrong with the way the Fit looks from the factory. Finally a car company is allowing those with less financial backing to drive a subcompact car that looks good. The headlights appear as though they have been pulled from a Le Mans race prototype and stretch halfway up the length the front hood. The front of the car is extremely short, since it only has to hold a miniature 1.5L engine. Of course, there is already talk of the 2.0L four from an Acura RSX being shoe horned into this tight little area.

Front bumpers and lower valance are very attractive and sporty looking, with a little extra kit

Roof-mounted spoiler and bodykit take the edges off its boxy stature. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

being included on the Sport version that also adds of fog lights. The rear end sports a docile yet good looking roof spoiler, complementing the rest of the tail treatment nicely. Unlike other cars in its class, the designers didn’t go home after sculpting the front chin as it looks as good in the front as it does in the back.

Inside, the Fit sports a 60/40 split rear bench which Honda calls the Magic Seat. While the seats aren’t going to make things disappear anytime soon, they do fold in two different directions to give a variety of storage capabilities. When in standard seating position, rear passenger space is comfortable with decent foot space and a mass of headroom. The seat backs can be folded forward, folding flat with the rear storage floor giving an amazing 1,186 litres (41.9 cu-ft) of cargo capacity. If the cargo your carrying is tall, say like a bike, the lower section of the rear seats can also fold up to transform the rear seating area into one large cargo hold. Adjusting the seats is a simple operation and can be done with one hand.

There are two problems I have with the Fit's interior, however. The high “van-like”

Good visibility, but the seats are a bit too upright for my tastes. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

seating position is something I’ve never become accustomed too. It’s needed for the cars cab-forward design, and gives excellent vision, but I just don’t feel comfortable in this position, and don’t like pressing down on the pedals from above. I’d rather push them forward. Also, the split A-pillar makes vision difficult while cornering. It’s a problem most cars have today, but splitting the A-pillar to fit a small window in between only enhances this problem.

Other than these small problems, the interior is comfortable and the steering wheel gives good feedback. The front dash is made up of several cheap plastics, as one would expect in an economy box, however Honda has done a very good job making them look better than they are. I thought the black colouring in the Sport version I was testing was very attractive, however the grey colour of the lower DX and LX gives away the cheapness of the materials used. Operation of the audio system is simple, mind you, with a huge volume knob surrounded by accessory buttons. A 200-watt, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with WMA/MP3 compatibility and an auxiliary input jack to connect an iPod, finishes off the top of the dash.

One of the greatest attributes of the Fit is the excellent vision the driver gets, not only out the front,

Sport's stereo system includes an MP3 input socket, MP3/WMA-CD player, a six-disc stacker and 200 watts. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

but out the sides and back as well. Many new cars these days feature raised dashes, doors and rear ends, making vision a forgotten safety feature. In the Fit, the windows stretch much lower all around the car, giving a greenhouse feel and also contributing to the car's fun to drive nature.

Yes the Fit is a fun car to drive. Sure it only has a 109-hp 1.5L engine, but with V-TEC and paddle shifters, the little car that should be a sacrifice for A to B transportation becomes a nice little ride. Weighing in at a scant 1,162 kg (2,561 lbs), that 1.5L four-cylinder is much more potent with such little mass to pull on. Couple this with excellent vision and the car's tossabilty; I had quite a bit of fun ripping the little runt around the city.

Yes, I said paddle shifters! The sport edition test car I had the use of was equipped with a 5-speed automatic and steering wheel paddle shifters.

Who needs a van for van-like cargo capacity? Fit's seats fold flat with ease. (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

At first I thought they were quite useless, but once I got used to them they made the little Fit even more of a blast to drive. Shifts were surprisingly quick and made the car perform much better when driving became spirited. Well, to be honest, I found almost all the driving I did with the Fit spirited. However, a manual gearbox is always going to a better choice for pulling the most out of a small engine, but nevertheless I was quite surprised to see such a sophisticated system in this class of car.

To get the automatic-equipped car moving requires a heap of throttle, however, and usually a downshift. The cabin echoes with the high-pitched scream of V-TECH, but the Fit will go just the same. It’s not as smooth or quiet as an Accord or a similarly large car, but it does get the job done and therefore won’t embarrass.

The steering is also very sensitive, and in low-speed conditions is extremely

And it's economical to boot! (Photo: Budd Stanley, Canadian Auto Press)

responsive. Once at highway speeds, however, the chosen ratios make the Fit rather unstable in a straight line, as the car seems to wander in its lane. Mostly this is because of its size and tires; the car has been designed to be an urban warrior rather than a highway rocket. Tearing through the city is what the Fit does best. It’s so maneuverable and easy to park that I found it fun just to see what I could get away with in even the tightest of situations.

Then there is the added bonus of fuel economy. I drove the Fit for a week and it only cost me a mere $30 to top up the tank. And as you can tell, I wasn’t exactly watching my fuel conservation. It was like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders after driving so many petrol hungry SUVs, constantly monitoring my revs to eek the best fuel mileage. With the Fit I was stress free, and able to do what I wanted, when I wanted. Hmmm... doesn't that sound a lot more like the ultimate adventure machine than a big, brutish SUV? To some it will, and they'll be up the mountain this coming weekend with their skis, boards and ice picks, and in the summer with their tents, backpacks and hiking boots, ready to take on the challenges of nature.

Specifications (Fit Sport):

• Price Range (Fit Sport MSRP): $19,480 - $20,780
• Body Type: 5-door hatchback
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 109-hp, 105 lb-ft of torque, 1.5L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4
• Transmission: 5-spd auto w/paddle shifters (std. 5-spd manual)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum, ABS, EBD
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 3,999 / 1,682 / 1,524 / 2,450 mm (157.4 / 66.2 / 60.0 / 96.5 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,162 kg (2,561 lbs)
• Tires (Sport): 195/55 R15
• Cargo Volume (seats up/folded): 603 / 1186 L (21.3 / 41.9 cu-ft)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 7.3 / 5.8 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive; 60/100,000 powertrain
  
• Direct Competitors: Chevrolet Aveo5, Hyundai Accent5, Kia Rio5, MINI Cooper Classic, Pontiac Wave5 / Vibe, Suzuki Swift+, Toyota Yaris 5-Door / Matrix
  
• Web Site: www.honda.ca