Honda Fit

– Santa Clarita, California

“It’s the most ‘quintessentially Honda’ Honda we make.” The company’s executives and product planners know their beloved Fit is a shining star in the subcompact class, a car revered for its excellence in functionality and practicality. None of that is lost in this 2018 model year update, a mid-cycle refresh for the third-generation Fit that’s been on sale since 2014. A handful of updates only strengthen the appeal of Honda’s all-star small car. It’s even a little better to drive, too.

That last part is of special interest to me – I love the first- and second-generation Fit because of their crisp steering and handling characteristics. The 2015-17 Fit isn’t quite as plucky by comparison, but Honda is addressing that with new steering and suspension bits for the 2018 model. More body reinforcements make the updated Fit stiffer and stronger. New shocks not only improve ride comfort, but give the car a bit more confidence while cornering. Finally, the internal parts in the steering setup are more rigid, allowing for better feedback and clearer communication between the front wheels and the driver’s hands.

The HFP pack just gives the new Fit a bit more of that verve I miss from its predecessors.

Beyond that, there’s a new Honda Factory Performance kit for the Fit, which further enhances the suspension tuning. HFP cars have a 10-millimeter lower ride height, and improved spring rates – 103 percent stiffer up front, 149 percent at the rear. There...