Honda Fit vs Nissan Note Comparison

The Honda Fit and Nissan Note are five-door five-seat compact hatchbacks built by Japanese automotive conglomerates Honda and Nissan. They were unveiled in 2001 and 2004 and are currently in their fourth and third generation respectively.
These two hatchbacks are highly revered due to their versatility, practicality, efficiency, and hybrid technology. Here we do a side-by-side comparison to share knowledge with our readers, and followers that will guide them in making informed decisions when they decide to buy one of these. Please follow through.

Best Suited for

Honda Fit

• Suppose you desire a practical and versatile cabin. In that case, the Fit is a car for you, thanks to its flexible rear (Magic Seat) seat which can be configured in various ways to accommodate different purposes.
• The Fit is a good choice for new drivers due to its practicality and reliability.
•  Spacious cabin. If you want a spacious cabin in a small car, the Fit is unmatched in its class.
• The Fit is a good car for those who want a car with low running costs. It’s extremely efficient, and the hybrid models are even better.

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Nissan Note

• The Nissan Note is a good family car, it’s comfortable and has a large boot with a rear fore, and aft sliding bench seat that can be adjusted to increase boot space or passenger legroom.
• The Note is a good car for new drivers as it is easy to drive, and has good road manners.
• The Note has small efficient engines and added a hybrid plant to the lineup making it an enticing choice for those looking to keep daily running costs low, and reduce their carbon footprint.

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Honda Fit vs Nissan Note Side-by-Side Comparison

	Honda Fit	Nissan Note
Generations	Four Generations	Three Generations
Production Year	2001 - Present	2004 - Present
Engine Performance	90 hp - 130 hp	78 hp 118 hp
Fuel Consumption	15 - 27 km/L	14 – 26 km/L
Drivetrain	FWD and AWD	FWD and e-Power AWD
Key Features	DVD/CD Player, Reverse Camera, Power Windows, Keyless Entry, A/C, Power Steering, ABS, Airbag	A/C, Power Steering, Push Start, Keyless Entry, Airbag, DVD/CD Player, Reverse Camera,
Seating Capacity	Five Seats	Five Seats

Honda Fit Price

Honda Fit 2015	US$ 2,690 – US$16,720
Honda Fit 2016	US$ 3,520 – US$10,000
Honda Fit 2017	US$ 4,000 – US$16,710

Nissan Note Price

Nissan Note 2014	US$ 1,280 -, US$10,700
Nissan Note 2015	US$ 1,620 – US$12,160
Nissan Note 2016	US$ 2,250 – US$15,060

(*Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD pricings as of December 2024.)

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Exterior

Honda Fit

• The Honda Fit is small, its dimensions are 4110 mm long, 1752 mm wide, and a height of 1565 mm. Its compact nature makes it an ideal vehicle for urban use as it can easily maneuver, and park in tight spaces.
• The front fascia features a small simple grille with an ‘H’ chrome Honda emblem flanked by expressive LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a simple low-lying bumper, collectively giving the car a minimalistic and functional style.
• On the sides, prominent creases run the length of the car with aerodynamic body-colored wing mirrors fixed on the doors and 15-inch alloy wheels.
• At the rear, it features a tall tailgate with a spoiler atop, a large window glass that provides excellent rearward visibility, and simple but modern LED taillights, all contribute to giving the Fit a sporty hatchback look.

Nissan Note

• The Nissan Note is a subcompact hatchback, its dimensions are 4045 long, 1695 mm wide, and 1525 mm tall. Its small footprint makes it ideal for urban use.
• The Note’s front fascia features Nissan’s signature “V-motion” grille with a Nissan logo, flanked by LED headlights and DRLs giving the car a premium and modern look.
• The side profile of the Note is clean and simple, with nice curves. Other features include large window glasses, body-colored door handles and wing mirrors, and 15-inch steel wheels with caps or alloys.
• At the rear, it features a high-set tailgate with a spoiler atop. The LED taillights are wide aligning with the car’s modern and premium look.

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Interior

Honda Fit

• The Fit has five comfortable and supportive seats with enough leg, knee, and foot room. The front seats are height adjustable for added convenience.
• The latest Honda Fit features a user-friendly 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a rear type-C charger, and navigation.
• Interior storage in the Fit includes a glove box, jacket seat pockets, door pockets, cupholders, and a deep center console bin.
• The Fit has a superior lead in cargo capacity in the subcompact car category. The Magic Seat feature is truly magic. The rear seats can fold flat to unleash 1492 liters (52.7 cubic feet) of cargo space. Additionally, the Magic Seat function allows the bottom cushions of the rear seats to be flipped up, creating room for carrying taller items while still accommodating rear passengers.

Nissan Note

• The Note is a compact car, but its cabin is surprisingly spacious, especially for the front seats. The adjustable driver’s seat has plenty of headroom and legroom. The rear seats are spacious enough to accommodate two adults or three children comfortably.
• The Note is fitted with a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto for seamless smartphone connectivity.
• Storage options include cupholders, door pockets, an optional foldable central armrest with storage underneath, and jacket seat pockets.
• The Note has enormous cargo capacity, quite generous for a subcompact hatchback. With the seats in place, the capacity is about 300 liters, which can be further extended with the rear seats folded flat.

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Fuel Consumption & Engine

Honda Fit

The Honda Fit has utilized several engines in its four generations, here we take a look at some of them.

• The 1.3-liter (L13A) i-DSI 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 100 HP with a fuel consumption rating of 18.18 km/L.
• The 1.5-liter (L15A) i-VTEC 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 128 HP with a fuel consumption rating of 15 km/L.
• The 1.5-liter (LEB) DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder petrol paired with a motor hybrid produces 108 hp with a fuel consumption rating of 34 km/L

These engines send power to the wheels via a 5- or 6-speed automatic/manual, 7-speed DCT, CVT, or e-CVT transmission.

Nissan Note

The Nissan Note has utilized several engines in its three generations. Below we briefly review some of them.

• The 1.2-liter (HR12DE) 3-cylinder petrol engine produces 78 HP with its fuel consumption rated at 21 km/L.
• The 1.5-liter (HR15DE) 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 98 HP with its fuel consumption rated at 15 km/L
• The 1.6-liter (HR16DE) 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 118 HP with its fuel consumption rated at 11 km/L. 
• The 1.2-liter (HR12DE) 3-cylinder e-Power combined with an electric motor (series hybrid) produces 107 HP and has a fuel consumption rating of 31 km/L.
• The 1.2-liter (HR12DDR) 3-cylinder petrol engine produces 97 HP with its fuel consumption rated at 25.2 km/L
• The 1.2-liter (HR12DE-EM47) 3-cylinder e-Power produces 114 HP with its fuel consumption rated at 38.2 km/L

These engines transfer power to the wheels via a 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual single-speed constant ratio (e-Power), and Xtronic CVT transmission.

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Hybrids and Variants Comparison

The hybrid journey for Fit began in 2010 while the Note began in 2016, and both have evolved ever since. Below is a brief description of the power plants.

Honda Fit:

• The 2010 Fit Hybrid featured a 1.3-liter (LDA-MF6) I4 petrol engine, and electric motor, with an estimated fuel consumption of 30 km/L.
• A 1.5-liter (LEB) DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine paired with an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries charged by a regenerative braking system. This setup enables a significant EV-only range. This system has a fuel consumption of 31.4 km/L.
• A 1.5-liter (LEB-H5) DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine paired with a dual-motor i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) hybrid system. This system has a fuel consumption of 34 km/L.

Nissan Note:

• The 2016 Note series (e-Power) hybrid featured a 1.2-liter (HR12DE) I3 petrol engine paired with an electric traction motor, and a 1.5 kWh battery. The engine charges the battery, and powers the motor with the motor as the sole traction source. This system has a fuel consumption rating of 29.5 km/L.
• The 2020 Note series (e-Power) hybrid featured a 1.2-liter (HR12DE) I3 petrol engine paired with two electric traction motors and a 1.5 kWh battery. The second rear axle motor is only available on the e-Power AWD models.

Honda Fit RS

The Honda Fit RS is a sportier, performance-tuned version of the Honda Fit. The “RS” or “Rallye Sport”, is a higher trim model with more dynamic features, and a focus on performance compared to the basic Fit models. Key features on the RS include; a sportier design, performance enhancements with hybrid, and non-hybrids available, a unique interior, manual or CVT transmission, and a full suite of safety features.

Honda Fit Shuttle

The Honda Fit Shuttle is a subcompact crossover station wagon variant of the Honda Fit. The Fit Shuttle was introduced in 2011 as an alternative to the standard Fit hatchback, as a more practical, versatile, comfortable, and superior cargo area.

Nissan Note Nismo

The Nissan Note Nismo is a performance-tuned trim of the Nissan Note. The Nismo variant offers a sportier driving experience, better handling, and unique styling without drifting away from the core attributes of the standard Note. Key features include performance-tuned engines, sportier and more aggressive looks, aerodynamic body kits, Nismo badging, two-tone paints, larger alloy wheels, and more. It is available with a conventional or hybrid engine.

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Overview of the Latest Model

Honda Fit New Model (2024)

The 2024 Fit is now 4089 mm in length. It features a honeycomb plastic grille above the front bumper. Its headlights have received extra black eyeliner for a significant doe-eyed guise.

Inside, it feels airy and has good build quality. It looks or feels neat, and well put together, and the physical controls are responsive. New features include wireless charging, USB ports, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

There are several storage cubbies, and the touchscreen infotainment system hibernates until you prod it to activate it.

Underneath the hood is a 1.5-liter I4 petrol engine paired with an electric motor, and a six-step CVT transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The total system output is now 120 hp (up from 107 hp). Its electric-only range is 40km/h in ideal conditions.

Nissan Note New Model (2024)

The 2024 Note is 4045 mm long. It features a large Nissan V-motion grille that runs from the front bumper giving the car a refined and aggressive style. Its LED headlights are sharp and angular.

The interior design is straightforward and uncluttered, with good-quality materials. Its simple layout provides enough room for five, although tall people may feel a bit squeezed at the rear. New features include a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera. Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist and Safety Shield 360 are available.

Underneath the hood is a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine in conventional form or e-Power system paired with an electric motor. This hybrid setup results in excellent (27 km/L) fuel efficiency, especially in city driving.

Writer’s Perspective

Concerning functionality, practicality, versatility, efficiency, and durability The Honda Fit and Nissan Note are neck and neck, but the Fit gets a nod for that extra space and ‘Magic Seat’ that it has to offer. But this only makes sense to a person who might require these functions, otherwise even the Note ticks many boxes. Apart from that one may be swayed by brand loyalty/reputation.

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Final Verdict

The subcompact hatchback category is very competitive, with many capable contenders, and the Honda Fit and Nissan Note are one of those. These two are incredibly built with plenty of functionalities, and features that lure buyers not to overlook them. They are practical, versatile, spacious, efficient, and durable.
Opting to buy either one is a good investment, and you’ll surely not regret it.