Much like Apple and the iPhone, Honda and the Fit are an example of taking an already stellar product and making it even better. The 2015 Honda Fit offers the following improvements at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit yesterday:
- 4.8 inches of more rear legroom
- 10.9 percent more passenger space
- New direct-injection 1.5-liter engine
- 9 percent more horsepower and 7 percent more ft-lb of torque
- New six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions
- 33 city, 41 highway mpg with the CVT transmission
- High-strength boron steel frame
- Bluetooth smartphone connection
- Rear-view camera
- Leather and/or heated front seats
- Infotainment screen
- Keyless entry and starting
None of that existed in the Fit last year, and it was still a car beloved by drivers, reviewers and writers for its reliability, efficiency, sportiness, comfort and thoughtful touches. Honda knows that the way to the top of a class is taking the elements that many drivers gloss over and making them so intuitive and well-executed that you can’t help but notice them.
With the 2015 Honda Fit, Honda is reiterating its core philosophy of high-quality materials with ruthlessly efficient engineering. The result is a car that’s fun to drive and solidly built with plenty of amenities and technologies to make the Jones’s jealous. For more details on the 2015 Honda Fit, check out Motor Trends’ analysis.