Why Honda Stopped Making the Honda Fit

Honda ended U.S. production and sales of the Honda Fit after the 2020 model year primarily because American buyers shifted toward small crossovers, the car’s profit margins were thin, and Honda chose to allocate North American manufacturing and marketing resources to the higher-demand HR-V. The Fit continues in other regions under the Fit/Jazz nameplate, but Honda determined the business case no longer worked for the U.S. market.

What Changed in the U.S. Market

Through the late 2010s, American consumers increasingly favored crossovers and SUVs over subcompact hatchbacks. Even as the Fit remained respected for space efficiency and reliability, its sales softened while small crossovers, including Honda’s own HR-V, surged. That dynamic made it harder to justify maintaining a distinct, low-margin subcompact hatchback in Honda’s U.S. lineup.

Business and Manufacturing Factors

Overlap With the HR-V

The Fit and HR-V appealed to similar entry-level buyers, but the HR-V carried stronger demand and better economics. With consumers moving up to small crossovers, Honda concentrated U.S. efforts on the HR-V, which offers higher transaction prices and margins.

Cost to Federalize the Next-Gen Fit

Honda launched a new, fourth-generation Fit (sold as the Jazz in Europe) overseas starting in 2019–2020. Bringing that model to the U.S. would have required certification, retooling, marketing, and dealer support costs that were hard to recoup in a shrinking segment. Honda and industry reports at the time pointed to the unfavorable business case of federalizing the new Fit for America.

Plant Allocation and Pandemic Timing

North American Fits were built in Celaya, Mexico, which also builds the HR-V. As HR-V demand rose—and with COVID-19 disruptions adding pressure—Honda prioritized capacity for higher-volume, higher-margin models. The Fit’s U.S. run ended with the 2020 model year, and production capacity shifted to meet crossover demand.

Where the Fit Still Lives On

The Fit remains part of Honda’s global portfolio. It continues in Japan (including as an e:HEV hybrid) and Europe (as the Jazz), while some Southeast Asian markets pivoted to the City Hatchback as the subcompact hatch offering. In short, Honda didn’t kill the Fit worldwide; it exited select markets where the numbers no longer worked.

Key Reasons at a Glance

The following points summarize the main drivers behind Honda’s decision to discontinue the Fit in the U.S. after 2020:

• Consumer shift from subcompact cars to small crossovers and SUVs
• Stronger demand and better margins for the HR-V versus the Fit
• High costs to certify and market the fourth-generation Fit for U.S. regulations
• Manufacturing optimization at the Celaya, Mexico plant favoring higher-volume models
• Pandemic-era production and demand pressures accelerating the shift

Taken together, these factors made the Fit’s U.S. business case untenable compared with channeling resources into the HR-V and other core models.

Timeline Highlights

Here is a brief chronology to contextualize the Fit’s U.S. phaseout:

1. 2014–2015: Honda ramps up Celaya, Mexico production of the Fit for North America; HR-V joins the line.
2. Late 2010s: U.S. demand for subcompact cars declines as small crossovers gain share.
3. 2019–2020: New fourth-gen Fit debuts overseas; Honda decides not to bring it to the U.S.
4. 2020: Honda confirms the Fit will end in the U.S. after the 2020 model year; production capacity pivots toward HR-V.
5. 2022–2023: Honda doubles down on the HR-V for the U.S., launching the next-generation model.

The sequence underscores how shifting buyer preferences and manufacturing strategy converged on a crossover-first approach in North America.

What It Means for Shoppers

The Fit remains a strong used-car choice, prized for interior packaging, reliability, and efficiency. For new-vehicle alternatives in the U.S., buyers typically cross-shop the Honda HR-V, the Honda Civic Hatchback, and other small crossovers. Availability of new Fits depends on market; in the U.S., new inventory ended with the 2020 model year.

Summary

Honda discontinued the Fit in the U.S. after 2020 because subcompact hatchbacks lost ground to crossovers, the HR-V offered better market demand and profitability, and the costs to adapt the latest Fit for U.S. regulations weren’t justified. The Fit/Jazz continues abroad, but in the U.S., Honda redirected its focus to the HR-V and other higher-volume models aligned with buyer preferences.

Are Honda Fits coming back?

No, the Honda Fit was discontinued in the US after the 2020 model year, and it is not coming back to the North American market. While a new generation of the Honda Fit (Jazz) has been released in other global markets like Asia and Europe, and there are circulating rumors about a potential return to North America with a 2026 model, a return to the US market is not officially confirmed. The Honda HR-V crossover, which shares some similarities with the Fit, has become the primary model in the US instead.
 
This video explains the new model and its features: 43sPoloToYouTube · Jun 18, 2025
What happened to the Honda Fit?

• Discontinuation in the US: . Opens in new tabHonda decided to stop producing the Fit for the US market after the 2020 model year. 
• Shift to the HR-V: . Opens in new tabThe company shifted production to the more profitable HR-V crossover, which is built in the same factory in Mexico. 

What about the new Fit?

• Global Production: The Fit is still produced for other global markets and is known as the Honda Jazz in many places. 
• New Generation (Jazz): A completely redesigned, new generation of the Fit/Jazz has been released in other markets, featuring contemporary styling and technology. 

Is there any chance it will return to the US? 

• Rumors and Speculation: While there’s considerable online discussion and some YouTube content suggesting a potential “2026 Honda Fit” for the US, this is not an official announcement.
• Official Confirmation Needed: As of now, Honda has not confirmed any plans for the new Fit to return to the North American market.

Alternatives to the Honda Fit

• Pre-Owned Fit: You can still find used Honda Fit models available for purchase. 
• Honda HR-V: The Honda HR-V is a crossover that offers similar practicality and space to the Fit and is considered a great option in the US. 

Is there going to be a 2025 Honda Fit?

Yes, the 2025 Honda Fit was revealed for the Japanese market with a refreshed design, improved technology, and enhanced fuel efficiency, including a hybrid option, but the Fit has been discontinued in the U.S. market and a 2025 model is not expected to be released there. The new Fit for the Japanese market features a more mature and modern look with features like LED headlights and a sporty design, along with practical elements like the “Magic Seat” for versatile cargo. 
Key features of the international 2025 Honda Fit:

• Design: A more athletic and dynamic appearance with sharper angles, redesigned LED headlights, and a reshaped grill. 
• Powertrain: A 1.5-liter engine with options for a six-speed manual or CVT transmission, as well as a new hybrid variant for better fuel economy. 
• Technology: Includes Honda Sensing for driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. 
• Practicality: Features the versatile “Magic Seat” system, which allows for multiple configurations to maximize cargo space. 

Availability:

• The 2025 Honda Fit is currently available for the Japanese market. 
• There are no plans to release the 2025 model in the U.S., as the Fit was discontinued in North America years ago due to economic factors. 

Why did Honda discontinue the Fit?

Honda discontinued the Fit in North America for the 2021 model year due to declining sales and a shift in consumer preference towards crossover SUVs like the Honda HR-V, which offered more profit for Honda. The Fit’s production was replaced by increased HR-V output, as the crossover also appealed to buyers with its combination of space, tech, and ride quality. 
Key Reasons for Discontinuation

• Changing Market Trends: The automotive market saw a significant shift from small, subcompact cars to larger crossover SUVs. 
• Declining Sales: The Honda Fit experienced decreasing sales in the years leading up to its discontinuation, making it less profitable for the company. 
• Increased Profitability of HR-V: The Honda HR-V, a small SUV, could be produced at the same factory as the Fit but offered significantly higher profit margins per unit. 
• Strategic Decision to Pivot: Honda decided to increase production of the HR-V to capture a larger share of the growing crossover market and maximize profitability, effectively ending the Fit’s run in North America. 
• Lack of a Modern Redesign: A slow redesign process for the Fit in the North American market also contributed to its decline. 

What Replaced It

• While the Fit had a successor in other parts of the world (known as the Honda Jazz), the Honda HR-V became the de facto replacement for the Fit in North America. 
• The HR-V is a crossover SUV that offered a similar level of practicality and versatility as the Fit but in a different vehicle segment. 

What is the common problem with Honda Fit?

Some Honda Fit vehicles tend to develop driveability issues as early as 50,000 miles due to ignition coil failure. This is a widely reported problem for the 2007 to 2016 model years. Ignition coil failure typically causes issues like loss of power, engine stalling, and stuttering at high speeds.