There is something quite refreshing about spending time in a small car that doesn’t constantly remind you that you’re driving a small car. The Honda Fit 1.5 Hybrid is one of those vehicles. It is compact, easy to live with and surprisingly practical. In fact, I was rather fond of this little Honda by the time our test came to an end.
Smart looks, with a splash of colour
The Fit has a neat, modern design that suits its compact proportions. Our test unit came finished in Crystal Red Metallic, which gave it a bit more presence than you might expect from a small hatchback.
The 17-inch alloy wheels add to the look, while LED headlights, LED taillights and LED daytime running lights give it a more contemporary appearance. It’s not an aggressively styled car, but it has enough character to avoid blending into the background.
Small outside, spacious inside
The cabin follows a simple, uncluttered layout. Everything is easy to reach, visibility is good and there are plenty of cup holders dotted around. If you’re someone who travels with multiple drinks, Honda has clearly thought about you.
There are a few omissions, though. Wireless Apple CarPlay would have been welcome, particularly in a car that gets so many everyday details right.
One of my favourite features is Honda’s Magic Seats. They can be configured in different ways to accommodate passengers or larger items, opening up a surprising amount of usable space. For a car of this size, the practicality is impressive. You can carry more than you’d expect without having to play an elaborate game of boot Tetris.
Hybrid efficiency done right
The Fit uses Honda’s i-MMD hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. Power is delivered through an e-CVT system.
Following the facelift, combined output has increased by 10 kW to 90 kW and 253 Nm. The petrol engine contributes 78 kW and 131 Nm, while the electric motor adds a further 12 kW and 122 Nm.
The biggest talking point, however, is fuel consumption.
Honda claims 3.7 L/100km, which is already impressive on paper. During our time with the Fit, we managed an overall average of 4.5 L/100km, with the figure dropping as low as 4.0 L/100km at one stage. Those are genuinely impressive numbers, especially for everyday driving.
The CVT transmission is probably my biggest gripe. It can get rather vocal when you ask for more acceleration, and the engine noise becomes quite noticeable. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does take away from an otherwise pleasant driving experience.
A little car that gets a lot right
At R544,900, the Honda Fit 1.5 Hybrid e isn’t perfect. The absence of wireless Apple CarPlay and the noisy CVT are worth mentioning. But it gets the fundamentals right.
It’s spacious, practical, easy to drive and remarkably light on fuel. More importantly, it makes a convincing case for why you don’t always need a large SUV to get through everyday life.
I must admit, handing the keys back was a rather sad moment. Watching the Fit drive off into the distance wasn’t exactly how I wanted our time together to end. But all good things must come to an end, and this little Honda left a very good impression.
It’s worth a test drive.
