2020 Honda Fit Debuts in US—It’s a 2019 Model

When Honda unveiled the 2020 Fit/Jazz during the Tokyo Motor Show last October, it was easily one of the most talked about reveals at the event, what with its completely new look and powertrain.

As the first of the vehicle’s fourth generation, the new car boasted smart redesigns, powerful tech, and a core hybrid system that relies more on electricity than fuel for power. A February release was announced.

Apparently, this announcement doesn’t cover the US, as the North American car market will have to make do with the vehicle’s 2019 version for the 2020 model year.

But before you feel bad for the US, know that the Philippines will likely suffer the same fate, as Japan and the Netherlands appear to be the only markets announced for the latest model.

Honda America provides the following statement in its press release:

“The 2020 Honda Fit arrives in showrooms Dec. 16 as the clear benchmark in the subcompact car category, with unparalleled versatility, premium feature content, fun-to-drive performance, and an available 6-speed manual transmission. Honda Sensing, standard on EX and EX-L trims, makes Fit one of the most affordable new cars to offer such a comprehensive package of safety and driver-assistive features.”

The Fit comes in four different trims—LX, Sport, EX and EX-L, with prices ranging from about USD 17,000 to USD 22,000 (approx. PHP 860,000 to PHP 1.1 million).

The North American 2020 fit lineup starts with the base LX, followed by the more aggressively styled Sport. Both are equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. The EX and EX-L trims come with continuously variable transmission (CVT), with the latter adding leather upholstery and other unique updates.

All four trims are powered by a 1.5-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine that outputs 130 hp and 155 Nm. For comparison, the local version, our very own 2019 Honda Jazz, produces 118 hp and 145 Nm.

All trims save for the base model include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility through a high-res 7-inch touchscreen.

The available Honda Sensing suite of safety features includes driver assistance systems such as auto high-beam headlamps, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

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