2015 Honda Fit EX-L

2015 Honda Fit EX-L Review

Still a good Fit after all these years.

By: David Merline

Web2Carz Contributing Writer

Published: September 10th, 2014



Honda may not be the sexiest brand, but there's a reason they're one of the top automakers in the world. When it comes to their core models, which since 2001 have included the enormously popular Fit subcompact, they know what they're doing, and they do it well.

The Fit was given a face lift for the 2015 model year, and all of the changes are improvements. The Fit is such a ridiculously fun and efficient little car that it's hard to imagine being unsatisfied with it, which is no mean feat given that we're talking about a cheap subcompact.


  • Outside

    The biggest improvement to the Fit's fit and finish is the toned-down front end. Gone are the bug-eyed headlights, replaced with a sleek, cylon-looking monobrow. It gives the Fit an air of seriousness that the previous design lacked.


    The entire front end is much sportier, with two sharp creases flanking the hood and leading outward toward the A-frame. The whole thing has a sleek windswept look from the front that's quite a bit more pleasant than the rather bland visage of the previous generations.

  • Inside

    As nice as the Fit's new facelift is, the car is still a small hatchback and so is limited, lookswise, by design. On the inside, however, the Fit really comes alive. The interior is Tardis-like in its seemingly physics-defying proportions (in fact, when Honda was still considering the name Fitta — obscene-in-some-languages — the proposed slogan was "small on the outside, big on the inside"), even though at first blush it looks like an ordinary hatchback.


    In reality, the Fit is a subcompact that acts like an SUV, offering fold-flat seats in the rear that make possible a truly shocking amount of storage. Anyone who doubts the utility of the hatchback design needs to test drive a Fit and see for themselves what 52.7 cubic feet of storage space looks like. For comparison's sake, that's double what the CRV offers behind the second row seats, and nearly 75% as much space as the 70 cubic feet the CRV has with the second row seats folded.


    We tested the EX-L trim, which comes with a 7-inch nav screen. We're not so sure that the high-level trim steps up the luxury or convenience enough to justify the extras cost, and since the Fit is such an excellent value proposition, it might be best to go low-end on the trim level and upgrade to an aftermarket nav if you really need one, or wait until Honda integrates Apple's CarPlay into their cars and get that added later.


    The cabin is comfortable, with good sight lines, and Honda's base sound systems aren't nearly as distressingly awful as they used to be. The rather complicated wiring harness needed to use Honda's silly and redundant HondaLink apps is cumbersome and, frankly, embarrassing, but no one will ever need or want to use that, and fortunately there is a USB outlet to allow you to play music directly from your portable device.

  • On the Road

    There's a reason why car enthusiasts and other auto mavens like hatchbacks. They're small enough that a little power goes a long way. And that's definitely the case with the Fit's 1.5-liter four cylinder. While it doesn't offer as many high-rpm thrills as a Civic or an Accord, the Fit, when outfitted with a manual transmission, is still a fun car to push to its limits.


    Our tester came with a CVT, which isn't quite as much fun, although the paddle shifters did afford us the ability to step down a gear anytime we needed some extra torque. Body roll is always an issue on hatchbacks, but Honda has managed to keep it to a dealable minimum on the Fit.


    The ride isn't soft, but it isn't sports-car harsh either. Honda seems to know the right level of sportiness this car needs, so while you feel the road at all times, you don't feel ALL of the road.

  • Conclusion

    The Fit is a peppy, maneuverable, little ball of fun. And you can probably fit a bike or two in the back. What more do you want?


    This car is the counterargument to everyone who feels they need to own a crossover or an SUV, even though they only have one child, or maybe only a dog. The Fit is roomy for passengers, configurable enough to haul a couple of trunks' worth of stuff, and fun enough that you'll never want to let anyone else drive.

  • Specs & Prices

    Engine: 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four engine

    Transmission: Continuously variable

    Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive

    Power Output: 130hp / 114 lb-ft

    Fuel Economy (mpg): 32 city / 38 highway

    Price (base): $20,800

    Price (as tested): $21,590 (includes $790 destination charge)

    AvailableFeatures: 180-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 speakers, 7-inch display, Honda satellite-linked navigation, Honda LaneWatch, Bluetooth, push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, illuminated steering-wheel-mounted controls.

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• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2015 Honda Fit, click here: 2015 Honda Fit.