Honda has refreshed the fourth generation Fit in Japan seven years after its debut and four years after the previous facelift

by Thanos Pappas

The Honda Fit vanished from America six years ago, but the practical hatchback lives on elsewhere in its newer fourth-generation form. Honda has now facelifted it in Japan, marking 25 years of the nameplate since the original showed up in 2001. The subcompact stays instantly recognizable while adding a revised trim structure and more standard kit.

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The updated range spans the entry-level X, the mid-range Z, the sporty RS, and the rugged Crosstar. The Chinese-spec model got a redesigned face, but the Japanese Fit carries on with the same exterior it wore after the 2022 facelift, so nothing changes on the outside here.

Honda

The bigger story is the Z trim, which takes over from the previous mid-range Home. It borrows the deeper front and rear bumpers from the RS, though finished with matte black accents rather than the flashier trim. It still rolls on the 15-inch wheels from the base car and skips the RS spoiler, side skirts, larger tailpipe, and lowered suspension, running a softer setup instead. The cabin adds a leather three-spoke steering wheel, heated seats, and special windshield glass for better thermal insulation.

Moving up the ladder, the RS flagship inherits the premium touches of the old Luxe trim and now comes only with the e:HEV powertrain. The sporty bodykit with the gloss black accents stays, while the five-spoke 16-inch alloys wear a slightly different finish. The RS-specific suspension tuned for sharper handling also carries over, though it arrives without any actual performance upgrades over the rest of the range.

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Inside, the Fit RS gets black pillars and headlining, plus suede and leather upholstery with red contrast stitching and stainless steel pedals. Standard equipment runs to a 9-inch infotainment screen, wireless charging, a heated steering wheel, the Multi-View Camera System, and Blind Spot Information.

The Crosstar is also exclusively available in e:HEV form, with optional 4WD capability to match its crossover-style bodykit and lifted stance. For this update, it gains a standard heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and upgraded thermal-insulated glass. Of course, all trims of the Fit retain the signature Magic Seats that make it easier to carry larger items.

The Mechanicals Stay Put

Underneath, the Fit stays largely as it was. The X and Z trims come with both gasoline and hybrid setups in FWD and 4WD, and the non-electrified 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder makes 116 hp (87 kW / 118 PS) and 142 Nm (104.7 lb-ft), tied exclusively to a CVT. The e:HEV models sit across the lineup and keep the dual-motor self-charging hybrid setup good for a combined 121 hp (90 kW / 123 PS) and 253 Nm (187 lb-ft), with the RS the only version denied 4WD.

What It Costs

The updated Honda Fit range opens for orders through Japanese dealers on July 10. Pricing starts at ¥1,806,200 ($11,100) for the entry-level FWD gasoline X trim, while the newly added Z trim asks ¥2,145,000 ($13,200).

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Over on the hybrid side, the e:HEV X begins at ¥2,238,500 ($13,800). The sporty e:HEV RS runs ¥2,899,600 ($17,900), and the priciest member of the family is the rugged e:HEV Crosstar 4WD at ¥2,955,700 ($18,200). Honda has sold more than 3.25 million Fits in Japan since 2001, making it one of the brand’s best-known names in the region.