The Finalists - 2009 Honda Fit - 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year

2009 Honda Fit

What They Did Right: Overachieving handling response, packaging versatility, powertrain polish, clown-car cabin capacity.

Room For Improvement: Seems overly narrow given breadth of U.S. roads, fuel econ and price. Good but not great.

Open the dictionary to "right car for the times," and you're likely to see a photo of the all-new Honda Fit subcompact. Version 1 (2006 in the U.S.) of Honda's cheeky five-seater quickly began selling far beyond its projected rate of 50,000 units per year. With the new, Generation II model, Honda may well move nearly twice that many.

The Fit is a ball to drive. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder, breathing via VTEC, spins to its 6600-rpm power peak (117 horses) like a puppy on the loose, urging the Fit from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds. Sports-car thrust it isn't, but the Fit is so happy at its work you almost don't care. The five-speed manual (a five-speed auto with paddles is optional) works better than units in cars costing far more; it flicks through its gates with a light touch. Clutch takeup is syrup-smooth.

You won't mistake the Fit for a Porsche, but on the twisty stuff you won't feel let down, either. The diminutive, 16-inch 185/55 tires hang on with 0.81 g of grip-nipping on the new Mazda6 GT and the Audi A4-and steering forces build up nicely through the wheel. Stopping is the Fit's weakest performance parameter; the brakes need 138 feet for 60-to-0-mph stops.

Fuel economy is down a bit from the previous model but still checks in at 27/33 mpg city/highway. Not bad considering there's room for four adults (even five for short trips) plus "magic" rear seats that effortlessly fold down-creating a huge flat cargo floor (and nearly 60 cubic feet of room).

At $18,580 for the Sport edition (with nav), this diminutive Honda shames larger econocars (we won't mention names, but they rhyme with "Corolla" and "Vibe") costing more and delivering poorer economy. It'll fit easily on any shopper's shortest list.
- Arthur St. Antoine