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In the subcompact segment, small can no longer mean cheap. It's not only price but a product's execution that makes the difference between a sale and a walkaway. With the 2015 Fit, Honda looks to be leading the pack -- at least on the execution side.
The basics: Honda's new Earth Dreams direct-injection 130-hp engine, when combined with a continuously variable transmission, makes the Fit the segment's fuel economy leader.
Continuously variable transmissions get a lot of grief from purists, who complain about the rubber-band feeling of power delivery. But each CVT evolution gets better, and Honda's simulated shift points feel almost like a traditional automatic.
There is still some hunting for optimum CVT range during kick-down acceleration, but for the most part, the unit is pretty responsive and accurate. With the CVT whirring at its most efficient, 80 mph only requires 2,500 rpm from the engine. For the true purists who demand to shift their own gears, a six-speed manual...