Honda enjoys steady sales from two of its more diminutive five-door offerings: its CR-V leads the way in an intensely competitive compact crossover segment selling more than 300,000 units in the 2013 calendar year while the even littler Fit remains an innovative crowd pleaser thanks to impressive gas mileage and multi-configurable interior design.
As compact crossovers including CR-V and Toyota's RAV4 added girth and horsepower during the past decade, a new generation of high-quality five-door subcompacts have dug in, with less overall weight and highway fuel economy estimates approaching the 40-miles per gallon target. In Honda Fit's case, that target gets surpassed.
A popular choice among younger, first-time new-car buyers, subcompacts serve as a gateway vehicle into a manufacturer's vehicle portfolio. A pleasurable overall experience helps cement brand loyalty, the thinking goes.
This growing entry level battle has led to the introduction of a new segment of micro cars, urban-type transports measuring smaller than subcompacts. Prime examples include Chevrolet's Spark, Scion's iQ and Mitsubishi's newly introduced three-cylinder Mirage.
The 2015 model year marks the introduction of the third-generation Fit, first introduced in 2006 as a 2007 model year product. Assembly takes place at an all-new facility in Celaya Mexico currently dedicated to subcompact vehicle production. Previously, production took place in Honda's home market of Japan.
Honda, eager to showcase the Gen Three newbie, jumped from a 2013 second-generation effort right into 2015, completely by-passing the 2014 model year. The 2013 calendar year saw Fit reach 53,513 U.S. sales, a steady 8.4 percent increase from the year prior.
As with the first two generational encounters, a five-door hatchback design remains the sole body style; no four-door sedan is available. Side belt lines start high near the rear hatch door, traveling downward in line with strap-like door handles before curving down towards front wheel wells. A body-colored roof spoiler comes standard in all 2015 trim levels. Narrower, band-like headlights flank a revised grille.
It's small, sharply sloped hood compliments the large, slanted front window all in concert with the "A" pillar angle while creating a deep dashboard top region inside. The vehicle's somewhat polarizing wedge-like design carries over from Gen Two and shadows a similar silhouette from the Nissan's recently introduced five-door hatchback version of its sub-compact Versa sedan, marketed as the Versa Note. Tall tail light structures now frame the hatch door which manually lifts up from the bottom as one unit.
American Honda Vice President John Mendel, introducing the all-new Fit at the Detroit Auto Show this past January, described it as a 'packaging marvel,' shedding 57 pounds with a 1.5-inch shorter length, while adding five more inches of rear leg room.
Generation two featured a 1.5-liter four cylinder engine cranking out 117 horsepower. While the 1.5-liter displacement returns, horsepower jumps 13 for a 130 total thanks to new direct-injection technology. It's the sole engine under hood of all 2015 Fit trims: LX, EX, EX-L and EX-L with in-dash navigation. Think of "L" suffixed offerings with 'leatherette' surfaces on the steering wheel, shift knob and seats. In 2015, the "L" trim add heated front bucket seats.
Pricing starts at $15,525 for a base LX with six-speed manual transmission (an upgrade from the previous five-speed manual). Six-speed manual also comes standard in EX. New in 2015; a fuel-squeezing continuously variable transmission (CVT) replacing a five-speed automatic. Continuously variable transmission comes standard in EX-L and EX-L with navigation while an $800 option in LX and EX trims.
Our tester, a 2015 EX-L with navigation included a starting price of $20,800. With a $790 destination charge, the bottom line ended at $21,590. Nissan's 2015 Versa Note starts at $14,180 with five-speed manual transmission.
Fuel economy varies depending upon the transmission selected. Because of CVT's fuel-efficient nature, it bests traditional manual transmissions. Base LX trims with optional CVT remains the fuel leader at 33 mpg city and 41 highway, beating the six-speed manual in each category. Our EX-L with navigation and standard CVT averaged 32 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. The relatively small 10.6-gallon tank utilizes regular, 87-octane fuel.
Honda drops an all-electric plug-in version of Fit in 2015 after targeting specific U.S. markets since 2013. The Fit EV was best suited for and primarily sold in coastal, temperate markets providing optimal conditions to reach the promoted 76 mile range between plug-in sessions. Chicagoland never entered into Fit EV's short-term marketing plans. The limited-production Fit EV included a substantially higher starting price than the already fuel-efficient gas-exclusive version, although lease rates dropped significantly from its initial launch date.
When prone, back seat riders enjoy ample leg with average head room. A snappy feat of engineering not only allows seat backs to fold flat with a 60/40 split onto cushions, but cushion bottoms also flip up against backrests, creating a large storage girth accessible from the rear side doors.
All trims come with a multi-function screen with standard back-up camera feed and touch-type audio commands. Below three, relatively large, tactile rotating dials control fan speed, direction and temperature. Push-button start, once the domain of luxury brands, are available in subcompact Fit EX and EX-L trims. A single dash-bound cup holder, left of the steering column, compliments two side-by-side beverage holders in between manually sliding front bucket seats.
A handsome, colorful instrument panel consists of three deep-set, independent circular gauges with a prominent center speedometer flanked by right-side animated bar-fuel and temperature gauges and a left-side tachometer. Underneath reside portable electronic plug in ports with another set found inside the arm rest.
The fuel tank release lever resides above the trunk release lever along the driver's side foot well wall. The flat, center multi-function touch screen (seven inches in EX models) includes the available navigation feed and primary audio controls. Unlike ventilation functions below, twist dials remain out of the picture; making illuminated, secondary steering wheel controls a go-to option when summoning volume or station preset controls.
The left side-view mirror includes a low-tech, high-impact design with a beveled vertical outside edge mirror (expanded view) eyeing objects hanging around the blind spot. In addition, all EX variants include a turn signal stalk end push button, activating/deactivating a right-side-mirror-mounted camera feed (lane watch) providing a four-color broadcast via the multi-function center screen of passenger side blind spot activities. This screen feed may be programed to appear each time a right turn is summoned via the stalk.
While engine and road noise is apparent inside the cabin, don't consider it a deal breaker in subcompacts like Fit. Wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) increases by 1.2 inches in 2015 resulting for a smoother riding experience. Overall, visual road perception remains excellent. Assisting are A-pillar base corners with clear, tri-angle see-through glass. Fit provides great value on several fronts and worthy of serious consideration.
The third-generation Fit was an early qualifier for Honda's new 24 hour roadside assistance coverage for 2015 models. Services include battery jumping, assist with flat-tire trauma with provided spare or in-vehicle tire repair kit, $100 towards emergency lockout service and two gallons of fuel delivery for those stranded and in need. Coverage extends for three years or 36,000 miles.
At a Glance
2015 Honda FitPrice as tested: $21,590
Wheelbase: 99.6 inches
Length: 160 inches
Width: 67 inches
Engine: Inline 1.5-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 130
Curb weight: 2,573 pounds
City/Highway economy: 32/38
Assembly: Celaya, Mexico