Topic: First Drive: 2015 Honda Fit

[Autos_Editor]

Better, not bigger.

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[JohnnyMac]

Really like this vehicle in the base and mid level trims but once you start getting higher up the food ladder I think I'd be looking at better offerings out there, specifically the new VW Golf.  But if you want a car that has a lot of options for cargo, while offering the foot print of a compact car, great fuel economy, class leading passanger space, and reliability, then the Fit is ideal for you.  But if you're a bit more picky on appointments and refinement then you may want to pay a bit more and get something like a VW Golf or Mazda 3.

[JohnM]

"there were 11 of us in total, and we could have fit more"

Give me the Swedish Womens Soccer team and I could probably pack 20 of us in there.

Cheers,
John M.

[quadzilla]

Really like this vehicle in the base and mid level trims but once you start getting higher up the food ladder I think I'd be looking at better offerings out there, specifically the new VW Golf.  But if you want a car that has a lot of options for cargo, while offering the foot print of a compact car, great fuel economy, class leading passanger space, and reliability, then the Fit is ideal for you.  But if you're a bit more picky on appointments and refinement then you may want to pay a bit more and get something like a VW Golf or Mazda 3.

I guess great means something different to you than it does to me.

7.0/5.7/6.4 L/100 k city/highway/combined (CVT) and 8.1/6.4/7.3 (manual)

For such little power I would be expecting better.

[JohnM]

"100 km/h has the engine turning at around 3,000 rpm, 120 km/h about 3,800 rpm."

That can't be right.  These are 1974 Fiat 128 figures.  Completely unacceptable and no reason for them given increased torque and CVT.

What's up?

Cheers,
John M.

[JacobBlack]

I guess great means something different to you than it does to me.

7.0/5.7/6.4 L/100 k city/highway/combined (CVT) and 8.1/6.4/7.3 (manual)

For such little power I would be expecting better.

I'm reluctant to disagree with a forum post because I cop smites everytime I do, but I think these are great figures.
Don't forget, these are five-cycle figures, don't fall into the two-cycle vs five-cycle trap. Like we said in the story, the only rigs better are the 123 hp Ford Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost and the 74 hp Mistubishi Mirage.
We were unanimously impressed by the figure on the event, and I was doubly impressed when we ended the day of combined driving on 5.7.

[JacobBlack]

"100 km/h has the engine turning at around 3,000 rpm, 120 km/h about 3,800 rpm."

That can't be right.  These are 1974 Fiat 128 figures.  Completely unacceptable and no reason for them given increased torque and CVT.

What's up?

Cheers,
John M.

Ha! I should point out these cruising speeds were in the manual (I'll clarify that in the article). Also these little Hondas are notoriously high-revving. This is no different. Smooth and quiet though, just a big rev number.

[quadzilla]

I guess great means something different to you than it does to me.

7.0/5.7/6.4 L/100 k city/highway/combined (CVT) and 8.1/6.4/7.3 (manual)

For such little power I would be expecting better.

I'm reluctant to disagree with a forum post because I cop smites everytime I do, but I think these are great figures.
Don't forget, these are five-cycle figures, don't fall into the two-cycle vs five-cycle trap. Like we said in the story, the only rigs better are the 123 hp Ford Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost and the 74 hp Mistubishi Mirage.
We were unanimously impressed by the figure on the event, and I was doubly impressed when we ended the day of combined driving on 5.7.

Don't worry I'm not five and don't play the smite game.

I guess I have higher dreams of cars that have only 120hp should be easily getting sub 5's hwy in today's world.  I will gladly take a 1L penalty to have 50% or more power.

[Rupert]

   Nice big speedo on centre of wheel; I like that with smaller tach. to side. No messing with numeral style with highway cruising speed at top with vertical needle...like. Small things but meaningful if lived with for a while. Not a flat floor with seats folded down but as good as you can get with a car...seat backs are horizontal with a small step to rear...like. I can't remember if the article mentioned hard seat back. Anyway a lot to like.
   I think that the windshield slope is a bit much...requiring quarter windows. I know that wind resistance is a factor ...how much would be lost by bringing the roof a bit further forward. Still a nice interesting vehicle and roomy and frugal. It still hangs in the 1 1/2 L. class...great. Perhaps the space utility champion.
   130hp is impressive from a 1 1/2 litre. non turbo. It seems to me that 1.8 litres were getting that only recently.

[pcsp]

Sad to see the Fit move back towards the pack losing 10-15% of its cargo capability. I guess the millions of consumers clammering for that sloped roofline got their way. Lack of air on the DX model is inexcusable. Again, I guess things like heated mirrors, Bluetooth, LED screen are considered more important.

On a less cynical note,  the author stated "With Sport mode engaged, you can access seven simulated gears via the paddle shifters but if you’re going to go to all that bother, you may as well save $1,300 and buy the manual." If the simulation is done properly, then having the ability to choose, and maintain, an appropriate RPM and utilize engine braking should not be "a bother". Full auto is always available, but for those who want, and need, an automatic, it's a great feature.

Also, Honda seems to have failed, like Toyota with the Corolla, to banish the bogeyman of high revving by adding a 6th gear. 3000 at 100 km/h is totally unacceptable. Deal breaker for me.

[JohnnyMac]

Don't worry I'm not five and don't play the smite game.

I guess I have higher dreams of cars that have only 120hp should be easily getting sub 5's hwy in today's world.  I will gladly take a 1L penalty to have 50% or more power.
[/quote]

Well this Fit has 130hp and 50% more power would be 195hp.  What vehicle(s) are you referring to that has only a 1L penalty?  Especially when real world driving yeilded 5.7 L/100km.

[JohnnyMac]

Sad to see the Fit move back towards the pack losing 10-15% of its cargo capability. I guess the millions of consumers clammering for that sloped roofline got their way. Lack of air on the DX model is inexcusable. Again, I guess things like heated mirrors, Bluetooth, LED screen are considered more important.

On a less cynical note,  the author stated "With Sport mode engaged, you can access seven simulated gears via the paddle shifters but if you’re going to go to all that bother, you may as well save $1,300 and buy the manual." If the simulation is done properly, then having the ability to choose, and maintain, an appropriate RPM and utilize engine braking should not be "a bother". Full auto is always available, but for those who want, and need, an automatic, it's a great feature.

Also, Honda seems to have failed, like Toyota with the Corolla, to banish the bogeyman of high revving by adding a 6th gear. 3000 at 100 km/h is totally unacceptable. Deal breaker for me.

Don't be sad, they just moved that space into the passanger area.  I think they did this because people said they wanted a bit more space for passangers and are willing to give up a small amount of cargo with the seats up to achieve this.  That cargo space is still there if you are willing to fold down the seats and configure properly.

[pcsp]

That often is a good trade-off, but  total cargo volume has decreased from 1,622 L to 1,492 L.

[Solstice2006]

Sad to see the Fit move back towards the pack losing 10-15% of its cargo capability. I guess the millions of consumers clammering for that sloped roofline got their way. Lack of air on the DX model is inexcusable. Again, I guess things like heated mirrors, Bluetooth, LED screen are considered more important.

On a less cynical note,  the author stated "With Sport mode engaged, you can access seven simulated gears via the paddle shifters but if you’re going to go to all that bother, you may as well save $1,300 and buy the manual." If the simulation is done properly, then having the ability to choose, and maintain, an appropriate RPM and utilize engine braking should not be "a bother". Full auto is always available, but for those who want, and need, an automatic, it's a great feature.

Also, Honda seems to have failed, like Toyota with the Corolla, to banish the bogeyman of high revving by adding a 6th gear. 3000 at 100 km/h is totally unacceptable. Deal breaker for me.

Have to agree here.  There is over $3000 gap from DX to LX. For those who just want air conditioning, and don't care about the other things on the LX trim.  It's a big price to pay if you want air.  A convenience package that includes cruise for $1500 on the DX trim would be nice. 

[aquadorhj]

Don't worry I'm not five and don't play the smite game.

I guess I have higher dreams of cars that have only 120hp should be easily getting sub 5's hwy in today's world.  I will gladly take a 1L penalty to have 50% or more power.

Well this Fit has 130hp and 50% more power would be 195hp.  What vehicle(s) are you referring to that has only a 1L penalty?  Especially when real world driving yeilded 5.7 L/100km.
[/quote]

MK4 Jetta 1.8T i had achieved it's best highway of 5.5L/100km   one winter.    has 180HP. and 180ft.lbs.    that's fairly close... and i think the new MK7 golfs with 1.8T will be quite close.

[JacobBlack]

MK4 Jetta 1.8T i had achieved it's best highway of 5.5L/100km   one winter.    has 180HP. and 180ft.lbs.    that's fairly close... and i think the new MK7 golfs with 1.8T will be quite close.

I see a flaw in your argument.
Or, to put it a less obnoxious way, 5.5 highway is about what this had.

[dkaz]

5.7 L/100km is 41 (US) MPG which exceeds that 40 MPG figure customers these days are looking for.

And remember with the new rating, you don't need to drive like your grandma to achieve, just your aunt. 70mph (112km/h) with the A/C running on flat terrain with no wind.

[WRX_Pilot]

Lots of big pluses, but a few glaring issues make me go hmmm.  Like the infotainment, haptic feedback buttons, and 3800rpm on the manual.  And why hard door armrests, but soft padding on the dash where I'll never touch?  I blame the dash-strokers...

Still definitely worth a test drive.  Even though I'm a manual guy, I'd be tempted by the CVT for the mileage and the more relaxed cruising.

[JacobBlack]

This is the video of us cramming 11 people into it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGq5UugWgmA&feature=youtu.be

[dkaz]

I'm reading about this short 6th gear. General notes:

MotorTrend:
-At 4600 RPM at 6th gear, you're doing 94mph (150 km/h).
-Nice to be able to go up an incline without having to downshift.

Car and Driver:
-Engine turns at about 3600 RPM at 75mph (120km/h). The Chevy Sonic in comparison turns at 2300 rpm.

The Truth About Cars:
-There's an engine buzz at 77mph. The buzz goes away at 68mph (109km/h)

Autoblog:
-Sixth gear uses the same ratio as fifth gear in the old car

Given the Fit is meant to be a city car, maybe it's not so much an issue. My 91 Corolla and 07 Mazda 5 did 120km/h at about 3450 rpm and with those cars, road noise is more apparent than engine noise. In the 08 Corolla, 3000 rpm, my current Mazda 3 just under 2700 rpm. The Ford Focus I believe is 3200 rpm.