The Honda Fit compact took over the title of the nation's best-selling car in fiscal 2002, muscling aside the Toyota Corolla, which held the position for two straight years, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Friday.

It is the first time a Honda Motor Co. model has taken the top position in new car sales on a fiscal year basis. The Fit was launched in Japan in June 2001.

The Corolla had been absent from the top spot only three times in its distinguished history. It was second to the Nissan Bluebird in 1968, the Nissan Sunny in 1986 and the Toyota Vitz in 1999, according to the association.

Honda sold 261,420 Fits in fiscal 2002, which ended March 31, up from 159,149 the year before. Toyota Motor Corp. sold 229,802 Corollas in fiscal 2002, down 0.8 percent from the previous year.

Honda and Toyota competed fiercely for the top position last year. The Fit became the best selling car in calendar 2002, a position the Corolla had held in an iron grip for 33 years.

The Nissan March came in third place in fiscal 2002, selling 158,651 units, followed by the Toyota ist with 139,592 and the Toyota Noah with 96,312.

For just March, sales of the Fit jumped 30.5 percent from the same month last year to 32,429. Sales of the Corolla rose 3.8 percent to 28,981, the association said.

Sales of the March stood at 21,868 units, followed by the Nissan Cube at 19,542 and the Toyota Wish at 18,255.