One friend took out the rear-seat head rest while driving so he could get a better view out the rear window. Another friend ripped through the gears of the automatic transmission to test the car’s sportiness. And a lot of other friends still didn’t recognize The Fit.

The subcompact is in its second year in the United States and eighth worldwide since its debut in 2001 in Asia. By either name, Honda’s entry-level vehicle in 2008 is much the same as it was last year. Which is to say: For about half the average price of the “average” new car in this country, Fit owners benefit from one of the most economical, efficiently constructed and versatile vehicles available.

My recent weekly test drive was the 2008 Fit Sport. There’s also a base model. Both styles include 1.5-liter, 16-valve, 109-horsepower, 4-cylinder engines. The base edition includes 14-inch wheels, electric-assist power steering, two-speed front wipers and a rear wiper, air conditioning, power windows and locks and an AM/FM radio with CD player.

The Sport model features 15-inch alloy wheels with wider tires, additional body styling, keyless entry, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an upgraded MP3-compatible audio system with an auxiliary jack.

The Fit's interior is efficiency defined. The five-speed manual shifter is nicely positioned and there are small, manual-shift steering wheel paddles. The controls and dials are handsome, if simple, logically configured and offer nice ease-of-use characteristics. The Fit has two front-seat cupholders and individual door-panel rear seat cupholders.

The 60-40 split rear seat features multiple configurations, including one position that
configures either side or both bottom seat sections flush against the seat back seats. The result: a cavernous cargo area. Honda calls the feature a "Magic Seat." The Fit also has a spacious trunk with a wide, level and easy access entry.

There are a few shortcomings. The front-passenger visor does not have a mirror and there's a conspicuous absence of a front-seat console storage compartment. The carpet, side-paneling and console material isn't as nice as the Accord or Civic, but it's far from cheap.

The best part of the Fit is its surprisingly nice drive. With its 109-horsepower engine, the car isn't about to establish any speed records. Yet, since it's lightweight and efficiently constructed, the Fit moves around pretty nicely, with 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Cornering and maneuvering is confident and at all speeds, although the Fit can’t boast of a quiet disposition.

The Fit is nearly 20 inches shorter than the Civic and it has nearly the same interior space as the Accord. Of course, there are differences between the Fit and other Honda sedans. But as Honda's smallest vehicle, the Fit has a long list of standard features and unique offerings. It's particularly impressive considering that with every available option included the Fit costs less than $16,000.

There's just not much to criticize about the Fit. Honda has a longstanding, stellar reputation throughout its line. And as the newcomer, the Fit fits in well.

Safety Features — Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock brakes, tire-pressure monitor.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 33 mpg (city), 38 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 6 years/60,000 miles, Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.

Base Price — $16,070.00