2018 Honda Fit Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

One of the most popular subcompact vehicles on the market today, the Honda Fit is beloved by both owners and auto critics. That is not surprising, as the Fit offers a very large amount of interior space for a subcompact vehicle, but is still agile and responsive on the road and doesn’t take up too much space or use too much gas.

The Magic Seat system, that essentially allows drivers to completely customize the car’s interior for any kind of mix of seating and cargo duties, can make it even more useful to families than some larger cars. It may not be the fastest car on the market, but that’s not what counts in this particular segment.

The 2018 Honda Fit is the fourth model since the full redesign of the model in 2015. This year it gets its first major changes with the addition of new safety features, a tuned-up suspension for better performance, and a new Sport trim level. That brings the Fit to a total of four trim levels, making it a little more difficult to find the perfect one.

We decided to help our readers along by summarizing the key features of each trim level, pointing out the differences in equipment and the available options that each Honda Fit trim brings.

Compare the 2018 Fit LX vs Sport Trims. What is the difference?

The base LX trim level on the Honda Fit is decently equipped, especially when compared with some other cars in the subcompact segment, where the base models are truly bare. The Fit LX comes with power locks and windows, air conditioning, and cruise control, as well as a multi-view rear camera. It also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 5-inch infotainment screen with Bluetooth and USB support, and a four-speaker sound system.

A manual transmission is standard, but can be upgraded to a continuously variable transmission. With the optional CVT, the LX can also be upgraded with the Honda Sensing safety package, which includes adaptive cruise control, a collision mitigation braking system, a road departure mitigation system, and lane keep assist.

The Sport is a new model this year, designed to bridge the gap between the entry-level LX and the high-end EX models. It is also the model that adds a bit of edge to the rather tame exterior styling of the rest of the Fit line. The Fit Sport comes with a series of underbody spoilers in the front, rear, and sides. It also gets upgraded 16-inch alloy wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. 

Like the LX, the Sport comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission with an available CVT upgrade. The CVT models can be equipped with the same Honda Sensing suite as on the LX as well. Both the manual and the CVT Fit Sport can also be optioned with the Honda Factory Performance Package. The Performance Package adds a spoiler and a sport suspension to the car, as well as a number of appearance accents like a titanium shifter, sport pedals, and Honda Performance badging.

Despite its appearances, the Sport is not a much better performer than the regular Honda Fit. It is still a strong contender over the LX thanks to the updated infotainment system that it has, as well as the alloy wheels. Those drivers who want a bargain but still want to be able to use their smartphone apps on their phone will want the Sport, while those who don’t care about those connectivity features can save a $1,000 or so by choosing the LX.

The Honda Factory Performance Package is primarily a performance accessory, and can be easily skipped by almost everyone, but the Honda Sense is a worthwhile upgrade for either model, though it is only limited to automatic transmission.

Compare the 2018 Honda Fit Sport vs EX Trims. What is the difference?

The EX is the premium version of the Honda Fit, and it doesn't have any of the aggressive styling cues introduced by the Sport model. Instead, the EX adds a smart key with push-button start and walk-away auto locking, as well as satellite radio and a LaneWatch camera that displays a video feed from the car’s blind spot when the turn indicator is pressed.

In addition to that neat safety feature, the EX also includes the Honda Sensing set of safety equipment as standard. This comes with both the automatic and manual transmissions, making this the only model where it is possible to combine the Honda Sensing suite and the manual transmission. The Honda Factory Performance Package is also available on this model, and it is the sole available option outside of the optional automatic transmission. 

The Sport is a strange addition to the lineup, as it is actually more expensive than the EX is after adding the Honda Sensing package, and is more limited for the manual transmission models. So only those who are particularly invested in the unique styling of the Fit Sport are likely to choose it over the EX. The EX itself is also a very nice choice compared to the LX, as for just $2,000 it adds a significant amount of useful features. It may not be as friendly towards more budget buyers as the LX, but it is certainly worth the money. 

Compare the Fit EX vs EX-L Trims. What is the difference?

On almost all Honda models, the EX is a premium model that is followed by the EX-L, which is the same premium model but decked out in leather upholstery. The same is true of the Honda Fit EX-L. It incorporates all of the standard EX features, as well as adding leather seats and seat heating for the front row. The side mirrors are also heated, but besides those features, there is little else the EX-L adds over the EX. Unlike the other models, it is available only with the automatic transmission, and it can also be equipped with an optional navigation system. The Honda Factory Performance Package is also available on this model, just like on the EX and the Sport. 

A surprisingly few subcompact vehicles have a leather seat option on their specifications sheet, so the leather interior on the Fit EX-L is a pleasant surprise. It is also well priced, coming in at about $1,500 over the CVT version of the EX. For the leather and the added heated features, that is certainly a fair price, though it is not the best value of the various Fit models. Still, it offers a very good value especially when considering its $20,000 price point. Few cars are as nice as the Fit EX-L is within that price range.

Final Thoughts

Of the various 2018 Honda Fit configurations, all but one offer a good value, with the best option depending on the kind of vehicle the potential buyer is looking for.

The LX is a good budget vehicle, as it is still among the least expensive subcompacts while packing quite a bit of nice features, including the award-winning Magic Seat. The EX is a good upgrade option, as it adds a lot of features, including a more advanced infotainment system with highly-desirable smartphone integration features and a set of important active safety features. This is good for those who want more advanced technology than the base LX offers.

From there, the EX-L also adds heated leather seats and heated side mirrors for a fairly small price increase, making it a good top-end option for buyers looking for a bit more comfort. Only the Sport model does not really add much for its price point, but it is still a good choice for those who like its unique looks and a slightly sportier driving feel. It offers the least value of the four trim levels, but only due to the fact that the other three are such great options rather than through any deficiency of its own.

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