It’s not easy to make a short, tall 4-door sedan appear sleek. Yet the designers of the Civic did a darn good job. It enjoys a smooth and tasteful look while at the same time giving you admirable interior room. Rear seat legroom is commendable for a car this size.

The instruments are situated differently in that the speedometer is above and forward of the tachometer, just under the windshield. I like it, both stylistically and for the fact that you don’t have to move your eyes down much from the view ahead to check your speed.

Opting for maximum fuel economy, the Civic Hybrid makes a few compromises in the deal. The tires are narrower, higher profile, and have a bit harder compound for lower rolling resistance compared to the tires on the LX and EX. This translates into somewhat reduced cornering ability. These tires squeal early when pushed harder to warn of impending loss of traction. The wheels are almost like a closed disc, probably lowering wind resistance. But the narrow space between spokes is annoying when trying to check the air pressure. Larger fingers have a truly difficult time getting in to unscrew the valve stem cap. An extra half-inch there would be much appreciated.

In normal driving the CVT transmission does a great job, increasing revs going uphill to let the engine make good power, and dropping engine RPM way down when cruising on level or downhill sections to give maximum economy. The 1.3L 110-horsepower 4-cylinder engine combined with the 20-horsepower electric motor gives you sprightly acceleration and should satisfy most buyers.

For even greater practicality, enter the Fit 4-door hatchback, in base or Sport trim. Now in its second year, the Fit offers a lot to like at a reasonable price. Fold the rear seats down and you have a substantial cube-shaped cargo area, with a flat floor. You can also fold the rear seat bottoms up, creating a nice storage area behind the front seats. Handy for carrying bags of groceries. Front seats are comfortable while rear seats are flat and “serviceable.” You sit rather low in front, and the driver’s seat really needs a height adjuster.

Even at its low price it come with front airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Admirable.

The Fit is fun to drive, super easy to park, with surprisingly good cornering ability. It also has a comfortable ride for its small size. You have a choice of 5-speed stick or 5-speed automatic. Its 1.5L 109-horsepower engine won’t win many speed contests, but it’s peppy enough—and to keep you on its good side it returns exemplary fuel economy.

The Fit is indeed a good fit for those wanting a cute looking well designed combination of frugality, fun, and practicality.
The Civic Hybrid stickers at $22,600. Add $1,750 for navigation. It is EPA rated at 40-city, 45-highway mpg. I got a commendable 42.7 mpg. The Fit stickers in the $14,000 to $17,000 range depending on options. It is EPA rated at 27-city, 34-highway mpg. Mine returned a very good 31 mpg.

Honda has earned a solid reputation for building cars that are reliable and economical to operate. With the Civic Hybrid and Fit, Honda delivers on its promise. Visit Honda.com.