In the United States, Honda introduced a CVT in the Fit for the 2010 model year. Worldwide, availability varies by generation and market, with several regions adopting CVT during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
What the CVT change means for the Fit
CVT stands for continuously variable transmission, a design aimed at improving fuel economy and smoothness by eliminating fixed gear ratios. For the Fit, adopting CVT reflected Honda’s broader push toward Earth Dreams and more efficient powertrains across its lineup. Availability has depended on the market, engine options, and the generation of the car.
Milestones by generation
Below is a generation-by-generation snapshot of when CVT appeared in the Fit/Jazz across major markets.
- First generation (2001–2008): The Fit offered manual transmission and conventional automatics in some markets; a CVT was not commonly available.
- Second generation (2008–2013): CVT began to appear in multiple markets during this era. In the United States, the 2010 model year marked the introduction of the CVT as the automatic option for the Fit.
- Third generation (2013–2019): CVT became more widespread as the standard automatic in many regions, while a manual option continued on certain trims or markets.
- Fourth generation (2020–present): The Fit/Jazz continued to rely on CVT in most markets, with Honda refining the Earth Dreams CVT for efficiency and performance.
Concluding: The move to CVT for the Fit largely took hold in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with the 2010 US model year often cited as the turning point in North America. Across other regions, timing varied by generation and market.
Global market variations
Because Honda distributes the Fit (Jazz) under different names and through different regions, the exact year CVT arrived can differ. The following outlines broad trends by market.
- United States and Canada: CVT was introduced with the 2010 Fit in the US, becoming the common automatic option in subsequent years.
- Europe and Australia: CVT availability appeared around the late 2000s to early 2010s, depending on engine choice and trim level.
- Japan and other Asian markets: CVT presence began in the late 2000s for several Jazz/Fit variants, with ongoing refinements in later generations.
Concluding: Market timing varied, but by the mid-2010s the CVT had become the typical automatic transmission in most Fit/Jazz variants worldwide.
Summary
Honda first put a CVT in the Fit in the United States with the 2010 model year. Across the globe, the adoption followed at different times depending on generation and market, but by the mid-2010s CVT had become the prevalent automatic transmission for most Fit/Jazz models.