2015 Honda Fit Long-Term Update: Drivability

Our long-term Honda Fit EX-L has racked up another month of service offering some new insights into the nuances of its well-rounded personality. For the most part, the news remains overwhelmingly positive. The space-efficient Fit continues to impress us with its ability to cart people and cargo with equal ease all while delivering exemplary fuel economy that now runs about 34 mpg on average. A bit less love is currently being showered on the Fit’s Display Audio with HondaLink Satellite Navigation system. But for the moment, we’ll relegate part of that operating angst to learning curve issues and hold off on making any final assessments at this point.

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Honda‘s complete makeover of the 2015 Fit produced a package that’s more adept on every level. We previously outlined the impact its new-gen powertrain had on the Fit’s more polished character. This time around, we’ll take a closer look at how the redesign impacted this versatile Honda’s ride, handling and overall drivability.    

Putting the fun in functionality  

With a stronger, stiffer structure anchoring its redesigned steering, brakes and suspension, the new Fit has a more confident and comfortable feel under all driving situations — a tangible plus further abetted by its slightly wider track, 1.2-inches of additional wheelbase and in the case of our EX-L level vehicle, a larger 16-inch wheel/tire fitment. While Honda was successful in reaching its main goals of enhancing mainstream smoothness and agility, the Fit still manages to feel right at home being hustled at a fairly brisk clip through the twisty bits as well. 

The Fit’s electrically-assisted power steering has a light but communicative character and boasts an extra measure of competence thanks to Honda’s sophisticated Motion-Adaptive EPS circuitry. Working with the Vehicle Stability Assist system, Motion-Adaptive EPS automatically encourages the driver to make appropriate corrective steering inputs that help mitigate oversteer/understeer when the vehicle starts to wander from its intended travel path through a corner on slick or uneven pavement. 

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Complementing those laudable dynamics, the Fit further boosts its driver-engagement index with some fundamental design elements. Heading that list is a first-rate driving position capable of accommodating almost anyone thanks to a height-adjustable seat and a tilt/telescoping steering column crowned with a seriously capable multifunction wheel. Kudos also are due to the Fit’s great forward sightlines and superb maneuverability in tighter confines. That capability is further improved by a backup camera with moving guidelines, a standard feature in all models. The Fit EX and EX-L take things one step beyond, adding Honda’s Lane Watch system that shows the right side and rear of the car on the center display screen when the driver activates the starboard turn signal. We’ll be exploring other aspects of this multi-faceted mini hauler in the coming months, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates.