Top 10 Must-Have Honda Fit Performance Parts for Maximum Power

The Honda Fit (or Jazz) is the quintessential "slow car fast" hero. While it’s never going to be a drag strip king without a massive budget, you can transform it into a high-revving, corner-carving machine by focusing on breathing and efficiency.

Here are the top 10 performance parts to unlock the maximum potential of your L-series engine.

1. Cold Air Intake (CAI)

The stock airbox is designed for silence, not speed. A quality CAI from brands like Takeda or HPS moves the filter away from engine heat, allowing denser air into the intake manifold. Expect a crisper throttle response and a much better "VTEC crossover" sound. read more

2. Upgraded Intake Manifold

Specifically for the 2nd Gen (GE8), many owners swap in the Honda RB1 (Odyssey) or CR-Z intake manifold. This allows for higher air volume flow. If you have a 3rd Gen (GK5), look into porting your existing manifold to smooth out the airflow.

3. High-Flow Exhaust Manifold (Headers)

The factory catalytic converter is the biggest bottleneck in the Fit’s exhaust system. A catless or high-flow header allows exhaust gases to exit the cylinder head faster.

Note: This is usually the single best "bolt-on" for actual horsepower gains, but check your local emissions laws first!

4. B-Pipe and Cat-Back Exhaust

To complement the headers, a larger diameter mid-pipe (B-pipe) and a free-flowing muffler (like the Spoon Sports N1 or HKS Silent Hi-Power) reduce backpressure. This helps the engine maintain power in the higher RPM range.

5. Lightweight Crank Pulley

The L-series engine doesn't have a ton of torque to spare. A lightweight aluminum pulley (like those from Non-Stop Tuning) reduces parasitic drag on the engine. It doesn't "add" horsepower, but it allows the engine to rev up much faster.

6. ECU Re-Flash / Tuning

Without a tune, your car won't fully "know" how to use all that extra air from your intake and exhaust. Using a KTuner or Hondata system allows you to:

• Adjust fuel maps.
• Lower the VTEC engagement point.
• Increase the rev limit safely.

7. Lightweight Flywheel

If you have a manual transmission, a lightweight flywheel is a game-changer. By reducing the rotational mass attached to the crankshaft, you get near-instantaneous throttle blips and faster acceleration through the lower gears.

8. Larger Throttle Body

Borrowing a throttle body from a larger Honda engine (like the Civic's K-series) allows more air to enter the plenum. This is best paired with the intake manifold upgrade mentioned above to avoid "necking down" the airflow.

9. High-Performance Spark Plugs

When you start pushing more air and fuel, you need a consistent spark. Upgrading to NGK Iridium IX plugs ensures that you aren't dealing with spark blowout or inconsistent combustion at high RPMs.

10. Short Final Drive Gears

Since "maximum power" on a Fit is still relatively modest, the best way to feel faster is to change the gearing. A shorter final drive kit makes every gear "shorter," keeping you in the power band longer and significantly improving 0–60 mph times.

Summary Table: Effort vs. Impact

Part	Difficulty	Power Impact
ECU Tune	Easy (Plug-in)	High (Optimizes everything)
Headers	Moderate	High (Best flow mod)
Intake	Easy	Low/Moderate
Lightweight Pulley	Moderate	Low (Better response)
Final Drive	Hard (Internal)	Very High (Acceleration)

Would you like me to look up specific part numbers or compatible brands for your specific year and generation of Honda Fit?