Online Reporter
Willem van de Putte
SINCE my parents were involved in a horrific accident a few years ago and survived, I have always had a soft spot for Honda.
The car in question was a Jazz that, after contact, had rolled twice and landed on its side. Both of them came away almost completely unscathed, with only my father suffering a broken ankle.
The insurance assessor assigned to the car admitted that they would not have been so lucky had it been any other small hatchback.
The Honda Jazz moniker was replaced by the Fit in 2021, but the underpinnings and overall quality remain.
In this case, it is the Fit e: HEV, Honda’s answer to insane fuel prices, thanks to its effective hybrid system.
Exterior
It is a fairly good-looking car made more striking by the red paint job on our test unit.
Honda calls it the “Yoo no bi” design philosophy, recognising the beauty in everyday items refined over time.
An aggressive front bumper and honeycomb grille design flanked by LED headlights with the projector rings in black and daytime running lights give the Fit an eye-pleasing look. The side view is uniquely Fit with exceptionally thin A pillars and matte black finishes on the window frames and pillars, blending into the door mirrors, rounded off with 16-inch diamond cut alloys.
The rear has leaf-shaped lights, a sculptured rear bumper with a grained material finish, rounded off with a black spoiler.
Interior
Honda’s interiors have always been a quality affair with good use of space, and it is no different here.
It has its magic seat system. This provides a versatile seat configuration, including folding flat, flipping up or reclining to create cargo space that is almost four feet high for taller items.
The finishings are premium, with quality stitching on the leather seats and steering wheel, soft touch points and a large dashboard perfectly sculptured, providing the impression that you are sitting in a luxury sedan.
There was not a squeak or a rattle and the switchgear has a pleasant tactile feel to it.
Behind the steering wheel, there is a seven-inch adjustable digital driver display, while the nine-inch infotainment system sits flush with the dash. It is easy to use with good graphics and a quick response.
Apple CarPlay is wireless, but I had to connect Android Auto with a cable, which is not a deal breaker, though. Our test unit had some nasty scratches on the door sills, and I think a scuff plate would make a world of difference.
Power and transmission
The Fit e: HEV uses Honda’s i-MMD (intelligent multi-mode drive) hybrid system.
It combines a 1,5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery paired to an e-CVT transmission driving the front wheels. The engine produces 78kW and 131Nm, while the motors have power outputs of 12kW and 122Nm for a combined output of 90kW and 253Nm.
Driving
The driving position is unique, thanks to the thin A pillars and large “porthole” windows, creating a wide and panoramic view of the road.
It is an interesting mix of driving behind the wheel of the hybrid Fit.
With the battery close to full at slow speeds, it quietly moves forward with a slight hum to warn others, much like a full EV.
It is in situations like these that the full advantage of a hybrid vehicle comes to the fore. With regular driving and especially when driving hard, the battery depletes rather quickly, and once it drops to below 30 percent, the engine kicks in rather loudly, but that is standard fare with vehicles fitted with CVTs.
Once it settles down, the Fit returns to normal, and you appreciate the effort they have made with regard to noise, vibration and harshness levels.
It is quite quick off the mark with a charged battery, but it is best driven at a leisurely pace rather than a boy racer.
I found that the adaptive cruise control set at 112km/h provided the best of both worlds.
In fact, after a week of driving without focusing particularly on consumption, it returned impressive figures of 4,1l/100km.
Power delivery is linear rather than abrupt, and with a chassis and suspension that is well sorted, it provides agile handling, whether it is on potholed suburban roads or playing around sweeps and tight bends.
Steering is electrically assisted, but there is relatively good feedback when tackling some twisty roads on the way home.
Safety
Honda’s sensing safety system includes a collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation system, auto high-beam and front and rear parking sensors.
Verdict
The Japanese-made Honda Fit e: HEV is a fantastic car that stands out from the rest both in terms of looks and quality.
It does everything it should and then some. It is not perfect, but it comes pretty close for what it is and what it is supposed to do. — IOL Motoring
