Used Car Review: Honda Fit Hybrid (2014)

The Honda Fit RS Hybrid is a popular choice in New Zealand as an affordable, efficient hybrid option. In Japan it has some quite strong competition from Toyota’s lineup, in particular the Toyota Aqua. For Kiwi buyers who are in the market for a compact used hybrid both of these vehicles are often at the top of their shopping lists.

Our test vehicle was a 2014 model RS Hybrid in Vivid Sky Blue Metallic with the ‘S Package’ meaning it’s kitted out with many mod cons, including keyless entry and a proximity key with push button start.

Sporty Exterior

The Honda Fit’s exterior is much more angular when compared to the likes of the Toyota Aqua, and features a bold design line that starts in the rear light cluster and intersects the door handles. This extends all the way to the rear section of the front guards.

The headlights are narrow and are swept back into the front quarters. The front bumper houses the low-slung fog lights which adds to the cheeky sporty aesthetic. The rear features a compact spoiler and a long cascading light cluster which runs all the way from the spoiler, down the C pillar to the bumper. Imitation vents feature on the front and rear, drawing slight similarities to the Honda Civic Type R. The ensemble is all tied together with a long swooping chrome embellishment that extends right across the rear hatch in typical Honda fashion.

The Honda Fit Hybrid is 3955 mm long, 1695 mm wide, and its wheelbase measures at 2530 mm. In terms of size, it’s very similar to the Toyota Aqua but where it stands apart is its height – the Fit is considerably taller at 1525mm.

Modern Cockpit

The interior of the Honda Fit Hybrid is a grown up place to be. The materials used feel durable, and overall the cabin feels classy and tastefully put together. It might not match many of its European competitors, but it’s certainly impressive within its class.

The seats have a two-tone fabric with hints of ‘Red Pepper’ through them and they felt firm and supportive. Overall, it’s a quite dark interior which should be easy enough to keep looking clean as a daily driver.

The climate control system is very slick but it may not be to everyone’s taste as it’s a touchscreen. If you enjoy the tactile feel of buttons, switches and dials then this might not be your cup of tea.

The instrument cluster looks great – it’s bright and sporty with a sort of 3D effect. On the left of the prominent gauge is the power and charge indicator as well as the clock, and on the right is a multi-functional display.

The blue theme extends to a stocky gear selector, which is reminiscent of an early dash-mounted Prius gear stick with a separate park button and sport mode function.

To the right side of the steering wheel you’ll find a large green ECON button for added fuel efficiency. The steering wheel has built in controls for both the cruise control and stereo functions to help keep your eyes on the road.

Swiss Army Knife Storage

With all seats up, the storage comes in at around 354 litres of space which is great for a car of this size.

This is usually where storage in a regular hatch back ends, however, the ace up the sleeve of the Honda Fit is that its rear seats can be folded upright to aid the transport of more cumbersome items.

On the right side of the steering wheel is a convenient pull out cup holder which is one of five drink/bottle holders in the front. You also have a power outlet under the armrest and one beneath the centre console.

Performance

The Honda Fit comes with a 1.5-litre Earth Dreams engine that is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

To help with keeping the car compact the GP5 chassis Hybrid Fits are fitted with the DCT rather than the CVT, the motor was built into the transmission and the planetary gear that makes up first gear is located on the interior side of the motor. This created a lightweight and compact transmission structure.

The (i-DCD) transmission combined with the power of the electric motor gives you a very smooth experience. Economy-wise, we achieved between 4.6l /100km and 5.7l/100km during our test drives - this was not quite as good at the Toyota Aqua we previously tested on the same route, however, there are many variables, such as weather, which make it tough to compare the two cars.

The Honda Fit Hybrid develops 135 HP and 170Nm with a claimed acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 8.4 sec. There are also paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel, meaning you can chop through the gears manually. This offers more control and makes for a more engaging driving experience.

The suspension is relatively firm, which controls the ride and gives you confidence heading into corners. The brakes felt a little bit more responsive over the standard Honda Fit, but this could be down to the regenerative effect caused by the hybrid system.

The Honda Fit is a hybrid car that is full of surprises. From its advanced smart gearbox to its Magic seats, Honda has really pushed this model and set the benchmark for what they could offer in a smaller Hybrid platform.

Safety features include:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Airbags (inc. side)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Electronic Power Steering (EPS)
• ISOFIX

For more information on safety ratings visit rightcar.govt.nz

Choosing you next used car?

A good start is to find a vehicle that is stocked by an appraised dealer. AA Appraised used cars have received a 43-point mechanical check by the AA which focuses on the mechanical and safety aspects of the car and gives an overall evaluation of the vehicle.

Click here to find an AA Appraised Used Vehicle dealer

Get total peace of mind with an AA Pre Purchase Inspection

When you buy a car, you may have a number of questions about its condition and safety. Assume nothing. An AA Pre Purchase Vehicle Inspection will give you complete peace of mind a comprehensive 100+ point vehicle check by an experienced mechanic.

Click here for more information on AA Pre Purchase Inspections

Thank you to GVI for supplying us with the 2014 Honda Fit for review.

To view this car and similar models, click here.

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a car

• AA Preferred Dealers - aa.co.nz/preferred
• AA Pre Purchase Inspections - aa.co.nz/inspections
• AA Valuations - aa.co.nz/valuations
• AA History Report - aa.co.nz/vehiclehistory
• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews

Vehicle experts you can trust