Thoughts on Honda Fit vs Toyota Matrix
Clarification: Which years/generation are you comparing against?
2nd gen
Both are good, the Matrix will probably outlast Fit.
I have an 07 Matrix with manual transmission, and the car has been awesome. I've driven it 11 years and haven't had any major issues. Clutch went out at 105,000 miles, which is fairly expected. Has been a good car. I do like the Fit as well though. When I test drove a Fit, I thought the seats were uncomfortable. Matrix seats are great in my opinion.
Ya I agree! I've only sat in a fit for a little bit and have test driven many Matrix's and the seats are super comfy. Compared to my current car a mini Cooper
Have a Matrix, have driven friend's Fits. If you want an automatic, go Matrix (but only the 1.8, not the 2.4 liter) - better trans, a little more power in the engine to handle it. If you want a manual, either one is fine. Since you're buying a used car, the condition is MUCH more important than the brand for a Toyota vs Honda discussion.
Since you have a Matrix. And I need a automatic for my wife. How long do the auto trans typically last??
Agree with all of the above. All in all, Toyotas of this era seem to have a lot less issues that don't keep the car from running but can be annoying, like paint, AC issues, etc.
Also, I believe that some Matrix models may have that 2az-fe engine that may have oil burning issues, so just make sure to check out what kind of engine it has. Also, too, check the carfax, obviously. I recently bought a car that had about 20k more miles on it because the carfax showed that it had it's oil changed religiously every 5k miles and regular air filter changes, etc vs the same car that was actually the same model and very similar price but the owner didn't know how often they had changed it and the few oil changes on car fax were flirting with every 10k and i even saw one at 15k!
Just something else to think about
Are the ac compressors known for leaking??
also, don't forget to check to see if the engine has a timing belt or timing chain. I think the vast, vast majority toyotas having chains so nothing to worry about but some hondas still use belts, which need to be changed out and can be costly.
I think hondas tend to have more issues with their AC systems and their automatic transmissions. I don't think AT issues are that big of an issue with the Fits because the cars are smaller so less strain on the AT and Hondas AT are better than they used to be. As for their AC units, they do well overall but they seem to have a lot more issues vs something like a Toyota. Again, most Hondas will do fine with their AC, but I know anecdoctally from friends and family and I think SK has mentioned this before that the AC systems in Hondas aren't as good as with Toyotas. Just something else to think about
I like the Matrix better, but the Fit is a very good car. To me, it is just styling preference.
