It might seem only a short time since Honda introduced the Fit. Yet the company is now introducing a second edition. Truth be known, the previous Fit had been on the market for several years before it arrived in the U.S. market. This time Americans do not have to wait as long to get a new version as the all-new Fit goes on sale in the summer of 2008 as a 2009 model.

Those who thought the previous Fit, known in many parts of the world as the Jazz, was perhaps too small will not be disappointed as the new Fit is a tad larger. This should fit the bill for many who really need a smaller car but perhaps don't want one. How's that for an oxymoron?

Overall, the look of the 2009 Honda Fit is similar to that of the previous model, but it has a much more heavily raked windshield that's located five inches farther forward. Apart from giving the car a more sporty look, it also makes for a much more spacious feel inside.

The 2009 Fit has a wheelbase that's two inches longer than that of the previous model. The new Fit gets an upgraded 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces about 10 percent more horsepower. It's comes with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission; the Sport model's automatic comes with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.