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Toronto, ON -- The Honda Fit has been a class leader since its arrival in 2007 in nearly ever aspect except for the most important: sales.
In every comparison test I've conducted in which the Fit participated, it almost inevitably always came out on top. The subcompact Honda hatchback is a brilliant product, but there was this one impossible-to-overcome, looming issue: pricing.
With the rolling out of the all-new 2015 Fit, Honda has further dressed up what was already a highly competent car, but this time around they've addressed what needed to be addressed: value.
What is a Honda Fit?
The Fit is Honda's entry-level small car. Now in its 3rd generation, the car has been fully revised and sports an all-new platform that will be shared with the upcoming HR-V. It will be built at the Celaya, Mexico plant.
In North America, the Fit is currently offered only as a hatchback while other markets will be entitled to a 4-door sedan. The principal reason for this decision is to avoid cannibalizing Civic sedan sales. The new 2015 Fit will arrive in showrooms on September 19th, 2014.
2015 Honda Fit Price and Specs
As part of the #Fitwhatever social media approach to launching the new Fit, Honda revised the entire pricing structure of the car in order to make it better “fit” into most budgets and thus driveways or garages.
The base price of the 2015 Fit is $14,495, marginally less than the 2014 and the new car packs a wallop of standard kit including a reverse camera, heated front seats, a 6-speed manual transmission, and more. The story is much the same throughout all trims where value increases exponentially, while pricing does not. A top-line EX-L Navi will set you back $22,595.
The all-new 1.5L 4-cylinder engine uses a new block, double-overhead camshafts, and direct injection. Output is rated at 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. The optional ‘box is now a CVT, “up” from the previous 5-speed auto.
Driving the 2015 Honda Fit
The most notable change in the way the Fit drives has to do with ride quality. The new chassis is lighter and stiffer, conferring to the car a touch more upscale ride also thanks in part to the longer wheelbase.
The Fit feels at home in town, as a small car should, but just as comfortable on the highway at speed. Some of the traversed country roads were less than ideal, however, the Fit never lost its composure.
I managed to spend more time at the wheel of a manual car (thank you Honda!) and was more than satisfied with the mill's increased output and torque. The Fit pulls nicely ahead with reasonable gusto albeit with a fair amount of powertrain NVH.
My singular complaint pertaining with the drive is clutch operation. The new car's pedal travel is longer and the pick-up or friction point is higher up. I've driven a 2014 5-speed Fit on a number of occasions and find it far easier to operate. Synchronizing clutch and throttle requires more effort in the '15 than the '14. Perhaps more wheel time would have quelled this issue.
Otherwise, steering is light, brakes are on par with the car's vocation and, once more, driving the 2015 Fit is fun.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Honda Fit
The new 2015 Honda Fit has shrunk in overall length but grown in character and overall presence thanks to its crossfade monoform exterior design. The new Fit's bulkier -- or is that beefier? -- than the first two generations of the car. This was done to reverse the otherwise feminine lines of the older cars.
The final result is hit or miss, depending on whether subtle lines are your thing. In order to appeal to a wider and preferably younger audience, the Fit's body panels are a little swollen with mixed results. The higher the trim, the more appealing thanks to available 16” alloy wheels and fog lights.
Where the Fit truly shines and has done so for the last 8 years is in the cabin department. The Fit's rear bench seat arrangements, interior volume, and general ergonomics are second to none. There's, in fact, no comparing Honda's incredible Magic Seat set-up that allows for countless possible configurations to store tall or long objects. The secret lies in the fact that the gas tank is located in the centre of the car's chassis. Brilliant.
Seats are comfortable and sufficiently supportive. The previous Fit offered a few extra stowage spots up front, but overall there's room for everything -- or just about.
Comparing the 2015 Honda Fit
The 1st gen Fit peaked sales-wise in 2008 with about 15,000 deliveries. Since then, sales have hovered just under 10k per year. The new car, along with its increased value and pricing packages, should help Honda attain its 14k-unit goal for the next year.
The subcompact car market includes the likes of the Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Spark/Sonic, Nissan Micra/Versa Note duos, and Toyota Yaris to name a few. At the moment, Nissan's putting up an impressive fight in this segment and they should genuinely be considered.
In every comparison test I've conducted in which the Fit participated, it almost inevitably always came out on top. The subcompact Honda hatchback is a brilliant product, but there was this one impossible-to-overcome, looming issue: pricing.
With the rolling out of the all-new 2015 Fit, Honda has further dressed up what was already a highly competent car, but this time around they've addressed what needed to be addressed: value.
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What is a Honda Fit?
The Fit is Honda's entry-level small car. Now in its 3rd generation, the car has been fully revised and sports an all-new platform that will be shared with the upcoming HR-V. It will be built at the Celaya, Mexico plant.
In North America, the Fit is currently offered only as a hatchback while other markets will be entitled to a 4-door sedan. The principal reason for this decision is to avoid cannibalizing Civic sedan sales. The new 2015 Fit will arrive in showrooms on September 19th, 2014.
2015 Honda Fit Price and Specs
As part of the #Fitwhatever social media approach to launching the new Fit, Honda revised the entire pricing structure of the car in order to make it better “fit” into most budgets and thus driveways or garages.
The base price of the 2015 Fit is $14,495, marginally less than the 2014 and the new car packs a wallop of standard kit including a reverse camera, heated front seats, a 6-speed manual transmission, and more. The story is much the same throughout all trims where value increases exponentially, while pricing does not. A top-line EX-L Navi will set you back $22,595.
The all-new 1.5L 4-cylinder engine uses a new block, double-overhead camshafts, and direct injection. Output is rated at 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. The optional ‘box is now a CVT, “up” from the previous 5-speed auto.
Driving the 2015 Honda Fit
The most notable change in the way the Fit drives has to do with ride quality. The new chassis is lighter and stiffer, conferring to the car a touch more upscale ride also thanks in part to the longer wheelbase.
The Fit feels at home in town, as a small car should, but just as comfortable on the highway at speed. Some of the traversed country roads were less than ideal, however, the Fit never lost its composure.
I managed to spend more time at the wheel of a manual car (thank you Honda!) and was more than satisfied with the mill's increased output and torque. The Fit pulls nicely ahead with reasonable gusto albeit with a fair amount of powertrain NVH.
My singular complaint pertaining with the drive is clutch operation. The new car's pedal travel is longer and the pick-up or friction point is higher up. I've driven a 2014 5-speed Fit on a number of occasions and find it far easier to operate. Synchronizing clutch and throttle requires more effort in the '15 than the '14. Perhaps more wheel time would have quelled this issue.
Otherwise, steering is light, brakes are on par with the car's vocation and, once more, driving the 2015 Fit is fun.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Honda Fit
The new 2015 Honda Fit has shrunk in overall length but grown in character and overall presence thanks to its crossfade monoform exterior design. The new Fit's bulkier -- or is that beefier? -- than the first two generations of the car. This was done to reverse the otherwise feminine lines of the older cars.
The final result is hit or miss, depending on whether subtle lines are your thing. In order to appeal to a wider and preferably younger audience, the Fit's body panels are a little swollen with mixed results. The higher the trim, the more appealing thanks to available 16” alloy wheels and fog lights.
Where the Fit truly shines and has done so for the last 8 years is in the cabin department. The Fit's rear bench seat arrangements, interior volume, and general ergonomics are second to none. There's, in fact, no comparing Honda's incredible Magic Seat set-up that allows for countless possible configurations to store tall or long objects. The secret lies in the fact that the gas tank is located in the centre of the car's chassis. Brilliant.
Seats are comfortable and sufficiently supportive. The previous Fit offered a few extra stowage spots up front, but overall there's room for everything -- or just about.
Comparing the 2015 Honda Fit
The 1st gen Fit peaked sales-wise in 2008 with about 15,000 deliveries. Since then, sales have hovered just under 10k per year. The new car, along with its increased value and pricing packages, should help Honda attain its 14k-unit goal for the next year.
The subcompact car market includes the likes of the Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Spark/Sonic, Nissan Micra/Versa Note duos, and Toyota Yaris to name a few. At the moment, Nissan's putting up an impressive fight in this segment and they should genuinely be considered.