If you are an engineer with a calculator for a brain you are going to notice that the wheelbase is 50 mm longer and the whole car is 106 mm longer. The track has increased by 36 mm in front and 24 mm in the rear. Overall width has gone up by 13 mm. At the same time, interior width is up by 30 mm and the interior is a dizzying 10 mm taller.

Power comes from a 117-horsepower iVTEC inline four with drive-by-wire throttle control that can be mated to either a five-speed manual or the optional five-speed automatic. In an unusual move, fuel economy for the automatic in town is 0.1 L/100 km better than the manual gearbox. Honda pulled this off by eliminating the weight of the spare tire and putting an air compressor and a can of updated sealing material that is easily removed from the inside of the tire when a permanent repair is made.

If you are an engineer with a calculator for a brain you are going to notice that the wheelbase is 50 mm longer.

When you put all this in a chassis that has increased rigidity by 174%, and particularly when compared with (Toyota) Yaris and (Nissan) Versa, the Fit's handling will make run away. Cornering is flatter at regular road speeds and when pushing for the limits, the Fit does have the nose start to slide out. Because there is plenty of warning, you can back off in time to keep on track.

Variable-ratio (variable related to car speed) power steering lightens the steering when going through a slow series of S-bends so that steering is nearly effortless. Pick up the speed and the steering backs down, but you don't really notice the change. Takahiro Ota, Deputy, Large Products Leader, Vehicle Dynamics for Honda told me that "we chose the steering set up for sport feeling when driving".

Another duty of the new chassis and its improved structure is safety. Crashworthiness has improved as has pedestrian impact safety through features such as collapsible fenders, deformable hood and hinges. For occupants, Honda makes dual-stage front airbags, side-impact and side-curtain airbags standard. In addition, four-channel ABS for the front disc and rear drum brake system is standard across the model line-up.

The new Fit has proven so popular that Honda expects to take Canadian sales from 16,000 units to 20,000 as well as North America from 80,000 to 100,000 units. Another key to success is provided by Honda Canada Executive Vice-President Jerry Chenkin, when he stated that "Honda has always worried about products that do the least amount of damage to the environment. That has not changed and will not change."

Honda Fit will be available in basic DX trim with the DX-A just having an automatic transmission. LX and Sport top up the line. There are no factory options, but there will be a range of dealer-installed accessories to help individualize the car. MSRPs will range from $14,980 to $20,480.


Photo Credit : Honda