What’s under the hood

A small 1.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine equipped with VTEC variable valve timing delivers 109 horsepower to the 2007 Honda Fit’s front wheels. That figure falls right in line with the Aveo (103), Yaris (106) and Rio (110). However, the Nissan Versa’s larger 1.8-liter engine yields 120 hp, clearly establishing itself as the grunt master among its competitors.

Honda offers both a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic transmission. Even cooler are the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that operate the automatic gearbox on Fit Sport models. Five gears in an automatic is an achievement in the econo-class, as the competitors make due with four. However, Nissan offers both a six-speed manual and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the Versa

Electric power steering, front disc/rear drum brakes with ABS, drive-by-wire throttle input, a rear torsion beam suspension, and an independent front suspension all arrive as expected. It’s too bad four-wheel-disc brakes are not standard, but at least the ABS supplements every 2007 Honda Fit.