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car review

2015 Honda Fit.Honda

Tech Specs

Base Price: $14,495, 6-speed manual DX; as tested,$22,295.

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder

Transmission/drive: CVT/6MT

Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): CVT LX: 7.0 city; 5.7 highway; 6.4 combined. CVT EX and EX-L Navi: 7.3 city; 6.1 highway; 6.8 combined. 6-speed manual DX, LX, EX, EX-L Navi: 8.1 city; 6.4 highway; 7.3 combined.

Alternatives: Nissan Versa Note, Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Sonic

PERFORMANCE

7.0: The sell is that the third-gen Fit's performance is improved, and while it is nicely responsive on the gas and brakes, the handling is slightly tentative; more precise control over the movement of the car would make a fun drive more relaxing.

LOOKS

8.0: The look is contemporary without being corny. Like other cars in its class (and the pace-setting Prius), the 2015 Fit looks something like an angry bee, which in car terms reads cute and on-trend. It also does that magic trick of appearing short and small, but feeling roomy inside.

INTERIOR8.0: Small cars can be claustrophobic experiences, but here the enormous windshield and generous interior space make for an uncommon subcompact experience. Conversely, the abbreviated console while practical (a likely Fit buyer doesn't need a lot of storage in the centre – we don't use CDs any more, after all) seems conspicuously small and narrow. Some design decisions seem confusing, especially as they relate to a millennial buyer: the aesthetic of the touchscreen seems outdated and more importantly, the layout has the huge, prominent and wonderfully tactile temperature knob where the too-small touchscreen volume control should be instead.

TECHNOLOGY

8.0 The fuel economy is the first-best thing about the 2015 Fit, without question. Over three hours of driving, some in clogged Toronto city traffic, the needle barely moved. The expanded view driver's mirror is cool in theory but slightly disorienting in practice; even cooler is Honda's "LaneWatch," which is useful for any lane change or tight parking situation.

VERDICT

8.0: The Honda Fit, a worthwhile improvement on the previous years' models, is a solid entry in a high-stakes contest within a crowded class. Feeling significantly bigger than it actually is, and featuring tools to take on the irritations of city driving are bonuses, but the real win is the stellar fuel economy.

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