Honda Fit Ground Clearance: What To Know

Published June 30, 2021
in Model Info and Features

Honda Fit by EurovisionNim — CC BY-SA 4.0

The Honda Fit is a practical and spacious subcompact car that performs pretty well for its size. It’s the go-to option when you need an affordable vehicle that can get you from point A to B. This is while enjoying unimaginable passenger space and great versatility.

One of the many features that people are interested in when it comes to hatchbacks is ground clearance. Most of the time, these vehicles don’t offer adequate ride height, especially in areas that experience a lot of snow.

Today, we’ll take a look at the Honda Fit ground clearance and compare it to similar models on the market. We will also provide information on some of the activities that you can do with the Honda Fit.

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Honda Fit Ground Clearance

The 2020 Honda Fit was the last model year to be sold in the United States. Honda cited a drop in sales by 19 percent. For 2020, the carmaker offered four trim levels—the EX, EX-L, LX, and Sport. All come with a ground clearance of 5.3 inches.

For the 2019 model year, Honda offered the same trim levels but with different ride heights. The LX, Sport, and EX-L came with a ground clearance of 4 inches. The EX sat at 5 inches, while the LX (1.5L 4cyl 6M) came with 5.3 inches.

The same applies to the 2018 model year. However, things change as you move back in time. Below is a breakdown of how the Honda Fit ground clearance has changed since the car debuted in 2001.

As seen above, the first and second generation models offered the highest ground clearance at 5.9 inches. This was then reduced to between 4.0 and 5.3 inches in the third-generation depending on the trim you picked. Honda then went for a consistent ride height of 5.3 inches in the fourth and last generation.

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How Does the Honda Fit Compare to its Competitors?

The models that compete with the Honda Fit in the hatchback segment include the Toyota Yaris, Fiat 500, Toyota Prius C, Ford Fiesta, Mini Cooper, Chevrolet Spark, Kia Rio Hatchback, Subaru Impreza Hatchback, Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Hyundai Veloster, and Mitsubishi Mirage.

Here’s how these compare to the Honda Fit ground clearance.

The Honda Fit offers more ground clearance when compared to the Fiat 500, Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Subaru Impreza Hatchback, and the Toyota Yaris. It becomes one of the better options if you’re considering ride height as a crucial factor in your choice.

The other models on our list ride higher. The difference depends on the car you pick. The Toyota Prius C and the Kia Rio Hatchback sit 0.2 inches higher. This difference isn’t likely to translate into any significant results when driving. The same may apply to the Hyundai Veloster and the Mini Cooper.

For more ground clearance that actually makes a significant difference, consider the Ford Fiesta, Mitsubishi Mirage, or the Chevrolet Spark. The Spark in particular offers industry-class ground clearance and is more likely to perform better on bumpy, snowy, or uneven roads.

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Activities that you can do with the Honda Fit

The Fit is equipped with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that churns out 128 horsepower in models fitted with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and 2 horses more in those equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. It gets to 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds no matter what transmission you get. This isn’t too bad for a hatchback, but neither is it great.

Here’s what the Honda Fit is built for.

#### City driving

The Fit is comfortable and agile enough for city driving. It performs well around corners and boasts excellent fuel economy ratings. It’s a useful daily driver that will do what you want in your day-to-day. However, reviewers do agree that it could use more power.

It also lacks the fun-to-drive quality that you’d find in a Mini Cooper. But, this isn’t what the Fit is built for. It meets the needs of those on the lookout for a fuel-efficient car that has smooth riding quality. It’s also one of the most versatile and practical small cars on the market.

#### Off road driving

The Honda Fit is also comfortable on rough roads. The manual transmission gets the most power from the engine when compared to the CVT. The ride quality when driving off-road is also quite satisfying.

If you’d like it to perform better, you can fit bigger tires like those installed in the LX trim. This allows the Fit to move gracefully and easily on most road imperfections. While the soft suspension may give it some body roll around corners, the Fit still manages to stay competent.

#### Transporting passengers and cargo

The Honda Fit provides more passenger and cargo space than you would think is possible. It has the ability to carry way more gear than is usual for its small size. The secret lies in its multi-way foldable back seats and its large cabin.

Critics agree that the Fit is one of the largest hatchbacks in its class. It offers more legroom than any of its direct competitors and nearly matches the space offered by some full-size sedans. The split bench can fold flat to form a continuous surface from the rear to the back of the front seats.

The bottom cushion can also be flipped up and put in a vertical position to allow wide and tall items to fit through the side doors. You get industry-leading configuration thanks to the adequate cargo volume.

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Conclusion

The Honda Fit ground clearance isn’t phenomenal. However, it’s not that bad either. It provides enough room for movement on slightly bumpy and rough roads. You may not be able to move over lots of snow or debris, however. The same applies for most of its direct competitors since cars in this segment aren’t usually built to ride that high. That said, the Fit wasn’t designed to be a rugged all-terrain vehicle—it’s meant to be a highly configurable, fuel-efficient, comfortable daily driver. As always, think about your lifestyle and needs, and choose from there.

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