In this article:
Styling
Performance
Fuel Economy
Safety
Price
Competitors
Verdict
The Honda FIT as a whole has been a global success thanks to very clever design, use of space and surprisingly fun driving dynamics. Previously known in South Africa as the Honda Jazz, the FIT nameplate has been around since 2001. Now in its fourth generation, its blade has been honed with a recent facelift.
Related: First Drive: Bye-Bye Honda Jazz, Welcome Honda FIT!
We had the facelift FIT in e:HEV trim over the December holidays, which was perfect timing with the usual family gatherings where the FIT is destined to shine. The facelift sees a few improvements in the styling and power departments, but how did the FIT fair in its general use case?
Styling
The pre-facelift FIT e:HEV, in this scribe's view, was rather inconspicuous, with small front grilles and gentle styling cues. While good-looking, it didn't stand out a lot and was great if you wanted to patrol under the radar. Our first view of the facelift FIT was in Japan while prowling the Tokyo streets, and it caught our eye, albeit in RS trim. The facelift now has a more pronounced and sportier front fascia with a large air dam and front grille flanked by the LED/projector headlamp combo. The new front fascia is more eye-catching, and the dark satin bumper trim contrasts nicely against our test unit's paintwork.
The side fascia remains unchanged mainly but with a different style of diamond-cut 16-inch wheels. A side skirt of sorts and removal of the chrome trim would be welcomed here to compliment the other facelift changes and round off the look. The rear also gains a new sportier bumper, complete with a sculpted valance with a slot for the single exit exhaust. A chrome exhaust tailpiece would be welcomed here as well. Other than those, the rear of the FIT retains the leaf-shaped tail lights and subtle black spoiler. We quite like the changes made to the FIT and it received compliments from the curious public and family members seeing the new FIT for the first time and onwards.
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Space & Interior
Things are pretty much the same here as the pre-facelift FIT e:HEV. This isn't a bad thing, though, as the FIT's interior aces the premium quality feel and still retains the clever use of space. Although the compact looks of the exterior would lead you to think that the interior is small, this isn't the case. The interior of the FIT is spacious and naturally comes equipped with Honda's famous Magic Seat System. A system that allows the seats not only to fold down mostly flat but upright as well to carry taller items. It was this writer's first time using the system, and he's completely sold on it. Whether it was carrying bits and bobs for a project car, family suitcases and accoutrement for holiday suppers, the system made life a lot easier carrying items. With the rear seats upright, you have 298 litres of boot space to play with, and you have a maximum of 1199 litres to play with, depending on how you fold the seats. Now, the e:HEV's bootspace is a little less than the full ICE variants due to the hybrid components, but still, the FIT is massively versatile.
The quality of the interior fit and finish is certainly up there. There are no rattles, everything feels solid, and the switchgear from the HVAC controls to the infotainment operates with a satisfying tactile feel. The FIT's cabin has attention to detail, which you expect to see in luxury vehicles, but it doesn't punch above its weight. The e:HEV comes trimmed with leather on the seats, steering wheel and gearknob. The facelift FIT still retains the uniquely styled two-spoke steering wheel that suits the coffee table-like dashboard. In operation, it's a pleasure to be in the FIT and doesn't overstay its welcome on longer journeys. The everyday usability of this vehicle is solid.
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Comfort & Convenience
The facelift FIT e:HEV is unchanged mainly here, with the only new addition being a wireless phone charger. The FIT retains the 9-inch HMI touchscreen interface for your infotainment. The system is great to use, blends analogue and touch controls well, and the system doesn't lag. Unfortunately, since this writer is an Android user, Android Auto wasn't available wirelessly but is available for CarPlay users. The sound system works fine and is tonally balanced.
The everyday usability is still top of mind with this vehicle's convenience features. Overall NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) with this vehicle is minimal, which is also accentuated by the hybrid drivetrain. The engine can scream, but it's not grating to the ears. In contrast, when the vehicle is in EV mode, a soft tone plays at low speeds to warn pedestrians and animals that the car is in motion. The tone did garner some attention, leading to some curious conversations about the FIT.
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Performance
The FIT e:HEV utilises Honda's i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) hybrid system. The system combines a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine paired with two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery and a fixed ratio e-CVT 'gearbox' that basically functions as the power control unit. The facelift gains a powerbump of 10kW totalling the power to 90kW and 253Nm. Breaking it down, the petrol engine produces 78kW and 131Nm, and the electric motor produces 12kW and 122Nm. The FIT e:HEV is eager to pounce from a standstill and gets up to speed at a gingerly pace. Power delivery is great, but the system could be a bit more responsive in some highway situations. The engine does scream, but that's expected, considering vehicles with CVT 'gearboxes' tend to do that. We wonder what this latest e:HEV would be like with the previous generation's dual-clutch gearbox. Despite that, power feeding is smooth and not a single jerky movement was felt.
Handling-wise, the FIT's chassis has some character rather than riding like an uneventful cloud. Complimenting the smooth power delivery is a vehicle with an agile poise. Even rough road conditions didn't upset the FIT too much, and it was comfortable inside to boot. Steering is electronically assisted but not devoid of feel. The compact stature makes this vehicle nimble and the suspension tuning blends playful and comfortable characteristics well. Whether you're puttering about town or in twisty residential areas, the FIT is indeed a pleasant car to pilot.
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Fuel Economy
Claimed fuel consumption for the facelift FIT e:HEV is 3.7l /100km. We managed about 4.0l - 4.5l / 100km combined cycle over the December holidays.
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Safety
You'll find the following safety features in the FIT e:HEV
- ABS, EBD, HSA (Hill Start Assist)
- VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist)
- Brake Hold
- Rear view camera
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- Front, Side and Curtain Airbags
- Front and rear seatbelt warning reminders.
- ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors (Rear)
- Honda Sensing (Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Road Departure Mitigation.)
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Price
The facelift Honda FIT e:HEV purchase price comes with a 5-year/200 000km warranty, 3-year AA Roadside Assist and an 8-year /200 000km exclusive to the e:HEV, which covers the hybrid components. Optionally, you can have a 4-year/60 000km service plan
| Model | Price(incl. VAT) |
| Honda FIT e:HEV | from R544 900 |
*Pricing stated here was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.
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Competitors
- Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid
- MINI Cooper
- Haval Jolion HEV
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Verdict
The facelift Honda FIT e:HEV is a cracking vehicle, and our time with it was delightful. It also used next to no fuel during the 1000km we put on the vehicle. Many would be dismayed by the e:HEV's asking price due to the fact that its other hybrid competition for the price are bigger cars in size. However, this is one of those vehicles where once you drive it, you'll appreciate it so much more than what's on paper. It's not a perfect vehicle, but it performed for an everyday use case. It was a sad moment giving the keys back and seeing the FIT drive off into the distance, but the time with this vehicle was well spent. It's worth a test drive as it strikes the Goldilocks spot quite well; it's just right.
