tnkgrl
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I have a Fit EV to review for a week :)
I normally drive a '09 Fit Sport manual (with navi/VSA) with an aftermarket sunroof, aftermarket HIDs and ultra-high performance 195-series tires on the stock rims.
My review will be up on Engadget sometime in the next few weeks... In the meantime and since I've been a member here for over 10 years, feel free to ask me questions!
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tnkgrl
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Wow, nobody cares, really? You guys are missing out! This is a phenomenal car...
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xBeastx
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How quiet is it when driving?
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superchg2
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Sorry tnkgrl, didn't mean to snub you.
I had already read a few reviews on the Fit EV and it sounds like Honda did a great job!
If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits!
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NealX
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I'm mostly curious about the cosmetic upgrades, upgraded interior materials? colored plastics? seat fabric? instrumentation? shortened front and rear overhangs? exclusive EV trim and detailings?
Thanks and have fun!
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98EX4cyl
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Real world driving range info?
How do you feel the heavier EV compares to your Fit in terms of handling?
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CVCC1974
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How does the multi-link rear suspension behave when cornering (compared with the normal Fit Sport)?
How much that "B" gear simulates the engine-braking of the internal-combustion engine, especially when going downhill?
Thanks!
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BachelorFrog
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How is the steering wheel? The guy at the TTAC said it rivals $100k cars!
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danielgr
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98EX4cyl wrote:
Real world driving range info?
[...] |
+1
Also, don't forget to specify what is your "real world driving" like.
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Gary757
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Charging time? They say it tops off in 3hrs w/ 240V. But how long does it take to get to 50%, 80%, or 90%? What about at 120V?
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s2ktaxi
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how can I get one in Seattle :)
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P54
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98EX4cyl wrote:
Real world driving range info?
How do you feel the heavier EV compares to your Fit in terms of handling?
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+1
Real world driving range in all three modes.
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human668
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How many miles can you drive with it on a twisty canyon drive?
How long will the battery last if you just turn on the car, let it sit and set A/C on?
This kind of battery life test should be very easy for Engadget staffs.
I always wonder how those EV car drivers feel when they got stuck in traffic, had no where to go and it's 40C outside with bright sun. Keep the A/C on or not? How much juice left? Is it gonna last long enough til' the freeway is cleaned up and still able to drive home?
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superchg2
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human668 wrote:
I always wonder how those EV car drivers feel when they got stuck in traffic, had no where to go and it's 40C outside with bright sun. Keep the A/C on or not? How much juice left? Is it gonna last long enough til' the freeway is cleaned up and still able to drive home?
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Just get a long extension cord!
:)
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DrWhiner
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| If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits! |
LOL. What's btn your ears?
At 3.75 a gallon, the Fit EV is est. to save you about $108.33 a month.
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tnkgrl
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My answers below
- How quiet is it when driving?
It's much quieter than my '09 Fit Sport. Beyond the louder engine noise being replaced by a faint motor whine, there's much less tire noise. I'm not sure if that's because I'm running wider and stickier 195 ultra-high performance tires on my own Fit, if it's the result of the Fit's post MMC noise insulation improvements or if it's specific to the EV (tires, etc).
- I'm mostly curious about the cosmetic upgrades, upgraded interior materials? colored plastics? seat fabric? instrumentation? shortened front and rear overhangs? exclusive EV trim and detailings?
There are no HIDs headlights, LED tail lights or mirror-mounted turn signals, which is rather disappointing. Front and rear overhangs appear to be virtually identical to the regular USDM Fit, other than cosmetic differences and aero improvements to the front and rear bumpers and grill (refer to the press shots somewhere else on the site). The car is taller and it's noticeable both from the outside (both visually and during egress) and from the inside (higher driving position). The extra 2-3-inches of height are in the floor pan where the batteries are located and the rocker-panel cladding is taller as a result. Interestingly the wheels are 5-lug instead of 4.
Sadly, there's no upgrade to most interior materials -- it still feels and looks cheap in there. Fit and finish is actually a bit worse than my '09 Fit (some visible gaps) but there are no rattles. The carpets are nicer (thicker) and the seat materials feel richer (softer) -- more like microfiber. That's about it. Everything is a shade of grey with some silver (instead of the unsual gunmetal around the radio and on top glove box cover) and some black (the top of the dashboard and the vents). That silver looks really tacky, but the grey on the doors, seats and carpets is pleasant. There are rasteful chrome accents on parts of the black dashboard: the rim around the left and right gauges in the instrument cluster, the rim of the auto climate control display and the knobs used to adjust the vents. This interior is going to be difficult to keep clean.
Speaking of climate control: it's automatic and digital, just like what's available on some non-USDM Fit/Jazz trims abroad. The navi unit is new and features Bluetooth (for both calls and audio), USB and HondaLink (which integrates with Honda's iOS app). There's also a small remote on the key ring that lets you monitor the charge level and turn on the AC to cool the car while it's plugged in. It's separate from the key remote which still handles the lock/unlock and panic duties. The navi screen is also used by the backup camera -- another cool feature. There are seat warmers for both front seats (with two levels of heat).
The back seats lose the MagicSeat functionality and no longer fold flat into the rear foot well. The trunk floor is about 2-3-inches higher than in the regular Fit. All this results in less cargo space and less flexibility but there's about 2-3-inches of extra legroom in the back because the seats are mounted further back. Other than the better fabric, front seat comfort, position and ergonomics appears identical to that of my own Fit.
Center instruments are fully digital with speedometer and monochrome MID. This is similar to the CR-Z, with red lighting for Sport mode and green for Eco mode. The left instrument (normally the tach) is an analog discharge/charge gauge which shows real-time acceleration and regen. The right instrument (normally the fuel level) is an analog battery level gauge with a couple of LED gauges showing the power drain from the climate control and auxiliary items (such as lights).
- How is the steering wheel? The guy at the TTAC said it rivals $100k cars!
Yes, the steering wheel material is some kind of fake (or maybe even real?) soft leather that feels like a million bucks. Other than a few extra controls for the MID and Bluetooth the sterring wheel is identical that of my own Fit (I have that rare manual with navi/VSA so it has audio on the sterring wheel).
- Real world driving range info?
I fully charged the car Monday morning and drove it about 40 miles pretty aggressively in all 3 modes up and down the hills of San Francisco for two days without the air conditioning on, but with the stereo playing (sometimes loudly). When I plugged it in to charge tonight, it showed a 20% charge remaining with a range of about 12 miles. That's all I know so far.
- How do you feel the heavier EV compares to your Fit in terms of handling?
It doesn't feel heavier but it's definitely under-tired -- it badly wants wider, grippier tires. That being said, handling is remarkable -- the center of gravity is super low with the batteries located in the floor. There's little (if any) body roll or squat and sudden transients are managed extremely well (when the tires don't give up). Understeer comes in predictably when pushed hard but it never feels unsafe. It still just drives like a Fit, and this is a wonderful thing.
- How does the multi-link rear suspension behave when cornering (compared with the normal Fit Sport)?
It's fantastic. You really feel the difference, especially in terms of ride. It's much more compliant and planted without being soft -- it's no longer choppy back there.
- How much that "B" gear simulates the engine-braking of the internal-combustion engine, especially when going downhill?
That's exactly it: drive it D and it feels like an automatic, drive it in B and it feels like a manual stuck in a lower gear. I like it much better in B (this lets me do a lot of braking by simply lifting off the throttle. The brake-by-wire system (which kicks in when pressing the brake pedal) feels different but not weird or annoying. brakes are easy to modulate and it's difficult to notice the transition from electric (motor) braking to friction braking.
Now's probably a decent time to talk about acceleration. The Fit EV is a downright fast car -- there, I said it. There's a lot of torque no matter what driving mode you're in and it's incredibly linear. Passing is effortless, even in Eco mode -- it's perfect for city driving. While my manual Fit is no slouch, you need to rev the engine to make it move. Eco mode is similar to Normal mode but everything is dulled down a bit -- this means you have to press the throttle harder to get the same level of acceleration. It's ideal for busy/dense stop-and-go traffic. Sport mode is a monster -- it's trivial to light up the tires (even with the VSA enabled). Acceleration just pins you to your seat -- it feels faster than BMW's ActiveE!
- Charging time? They say it tops off in 3hrs w/ 240V. But how long does it take to get to 50%, 80%, or 90%? What about at 120V?
It took about an hour to charge form 65% to full with a standard level 2 charger (240V). Full charge is supposed to take 3 hours and that appears to be accurate. I'm using a public ChargePoint station neaar my house since I don't have a garage (120V level 1 charging would take forever anyway).
- How many miles can you drive with it on a twisty canyon drive?
No idea, but I'll try to find out.
- How long will the battery last if you just turn on the car, let it sit and set A/C on?
No idea, and I won't have time to try this.
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danielgr
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tnkgrl wrote:
My answers below
[...]- Real world driving range info?
I fully charged the car Monday morning and drove it about 40 miles pretty aggressively in all 3 modes up and down the hills of San Francisco for two days without the air conditioning on, but with the stereo playing (sometimes loudly). When I plugged it in to charge tonight, it showed a 20% charge remaining with a range of about 12 miles. That's all I know so far.
[...] |
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tnkgrl
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It was actually 44 miles according to the trip meter (not 40) -- that included about 1/4 night driving (headlights on).
With a full (100%) charge the range display shows:
- 68 miles (Eco)
- 60 miles (Normal)
- 50 miles (Sport)
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blackstripe77
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Is it psychologically different to driving a gas-powered car? Did you ever get range anxiety? Or constantly think about turning things off to save juice?
Ignoring the price difference, would you rather own the gas or electric Fit, or would a hybrid perhaps be the best compromise?
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VTECyo!
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DrWhiner wrote:
| If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits! |
LOL. What's btn your ears?
At 3.75 a gallon, the Fit EV is est. to save you about $108.33 a month.
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Let's say you buy you buy a Fit Sport with Navigation for $20,000, and you buy a Fit EV for $36,000 (I realize it is lease only, but this is for simplicity's sake). With a $16,000 price difference, if you save $108.33 per month it would take 148 months to break even. In other words, more than twelve years...if you think that the Fit EV is a value proposition, you need to think again because it's not, and before you start hurling insults ad hominem, you should know what you're claiming.
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superchg2
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VTECyo! wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
| If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits! |
LOL. What's btn your ears?
At 3.75 a gallon, the Fit EV is est. to save you about $108.33 a month.
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Let's say you buy you buy a Fit Sport with Navigation for $20,000, and you buy a Fit EV for $36,000 (I realize it is lease only, but this is for simplicity's sake). With a $16,000 price difference, if you save $108.33 per month it would take 148 months to break even. In other words, more than twelve years...if you think that the Fit EV is a value proposition, you need to think again because it's not, and before you start hurling insults ad hominem, you should know what you're claiming.
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Hey Whiner,
why don't you jam your self righteous, better than thou attitude where the sun don't shine, sideways!
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3stageD15B
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VTECyo! wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
| If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits! |
LOL. What's btn your ears?
At 3.75 a gallon, the Fit EV is est. to save you about $108.33 a month.
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Let's say you buy you buy a Fit Sport with Navigation for $20,000, and you buy a Fit EV for $36,000 (I realize it is lease only, but this is for simplicity's sake). With a $16,000 price difference, if you save $108.33 per month it would take 148 months to break even. In other words, more than twelve years...if you think that the Fit EV is a value proposition, you need to think again because it's not, and before you start hurling insults ad hominem, you should know what you're claiming.
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The price after tax credits and incentives would bring down the $36,000 figure - if indeed it was for sale - and not just for lease.
And why do so many people seem to perseverate on only the "saving fuel costs" of EVs? First of all - I'm NOT a greeny. Far from it. I have an acute dislike for even the term. Yet - how much more would you be willing to pay for a car that... accelerates better than the regular Fit, is quieter inside, saves hours upon hours of re-fueling time over the life of the vehicle (how precious is your time to you?), promises reduced maintenance, can be fueled at home (with solar), and offers oodles of cool technology? Oh - and also saves you $100 per month at the pumps?
Granted - currently it is rather expensive and not for sale. If Honda could mass market the Fit EV and over time bring the price down to around $25,000 I think this would be an EV many regular car owners would be happy driving. I think Honda deserves some real credit here for developing an EV that real drivers can enjoy.
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CrystalFiveMT
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How is acceleration/power response? Is it at least as snappy and eager as the MT Fit?
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DrWhiner
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1. Every ToVer should know that the Fit EV is NOT for sale. All this talk of how expensive the MSRP is just BS, distraction to obscure the matter of fact.
2. The Fit EV is ONLY available for lease, at $389 a month for 36 months, plus tax and title due at lease inception, collision insurance included.
3. How much you need to pay for collision coverage for a $36k vehicle a year?
4. Tell me what is the net amount, after deducting insurance, after fuel savings, after savings of maintenances like oil changes?
5. How much you need to pay to lease a Fit Sport NAVI for 36 mths (including down payment()?
6. Think again. Do you still believe what you said: With a $16,000 price difference, if you save $108.33 per month it would take 148 months to break even. In other words, more than twelve years...? LOL.
VTECyo! wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
| If a person needed a commuter car this would be nice, but for the $36K price tag a family could almost buy 2 regular efficient gas Fits! |
LOL. What's btn your ears?
At 3.75 a gallon, the Fit EV is est. to save you about $108.33 a month.
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Let's say you buy you buy a Fit Sport with Navigation for $20,000, and you buy a Fit EV for $36,000 (I realize it is lease only, but this is for simplicity's sake). With a $16,000 price difference, if you save $108.33 per month it would take 148 months to break even. In other words, more than twelve years...if you think that the Fit EV is a value proposition, you need to think again because it's not, and before you start hurling insults ad hominem, you should know what you're claiming.
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tnkgrl
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See my reply above. You gotta read :) I wrote:
"Now's probably a decent time to talk about acceleration. The Fit EV is a downright fast car -- there, I said it. There's a lot of torque no matter what driving mode you're in and it's incredibly linear. Passing is effortless, even in Eco mode -- it's perfect for city driving. While my manual Fit is no slouch, you need to rev the engine to make it move. Eco mode is similar to Normal mode but everything is dulled down a bit -- this means you have to press the throttle harder to get the same level of acceleration. It's ideal for busy/dense stop-and-go traffic. Sport mode is a monster -- it's trivial to light up the tires (even with the VSA enabled). Acceleration just pins you to your seat -- it feels faster than BMW's ActiveE!"
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tnkgrl
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Let's drop this cost discussion right now. I'm not interested in talking about it. This is not about money, it's about driving the future -- what it feels like and what it brings to the table. You don't lease this car to save money, you lease it because you want to be an early adopter.
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tnkgrl
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PS: To be completely clear, it blows the gasoline Fit away in terms of performance.
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tnkgrl
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It's only psychologically different if you let it be. It's all about your mindset. No, you can't drive from SF to Portland in 9 continuous hours -- it's just not gonna happen. But you can use this car day in, day out to commute or run errands in a 25-mile radius without much panning (especially if you have a garage with a charging station) -- basically the kind of driving I do with my regular Fit.
There are quite a few charging station in SF and the Bay Area. Once you know where the charging stations are and have a charge pass (the car comes with one) you can plan longer trips. The navi shows you the location of charging stations and lets you know if you're entering a destination that goes beyond your range. There are several apps you can download for both iOS and Android that help you find charging stations.
Worse comes to worse you can charge the Fit EV using any standard 120V outlet (there's a cord in a storage bin under the trunk floor) -- it just takes about 4 times as long as a standard 240V level 2 charging station. Basically, it just feels like have a gas tank 1/4 the size of the regular Fit.
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FiSH-Chan
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With the heavy batteries on the floor, I bet the tire and road noise is reduce by far even if they don't put any effort into soundproofing.
Thanks for sharing and the q&a btw, I enjoy reading it.
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tnkgrl
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To answer your second question. If I had a garage I'd lease a Fit EV in a heartbeat (assuming any are available anymore), and rent something for occasions like Burning Man (which my gasoline Fit takes me to every year).
Since my spouse and I roadtrip regularly, I'd also probably also get something like an older diesel Mercedes wagon, older VW camper van or a newer sporty RWD car (1-series, FR-S or BRZ) for occasional long distance travel. That second car would be a manual.
I don't think I'd want a Fit hybrid unless it was a manual or was a plug-in hybrid with a pure EV range of like 10 miles or so -- and that's a big maybe. Either way I'd want to keep the Magic Seats. If you're gonna burn fossil fuels, might as well not bother with the hybrid in my book.
Still, without a garage, I'd be more likely to purchase a Fit Si manual (with more performance/comfort/convenience features) than an EV or hybrid. In fact I'd even be more interested in a small 5-door Acura hatch or a 5-door Civic hatch. It just needs to be as roomy (cargo space) as the Fit.
In fact, this is the dilemma I'm currently in. The lease on my '09 Fit Sport manual (with navi/VSA) is ending, and I can't decide if I want to keep it or get something else. I love it (especially with the aftermarket goodies) but I've never kept a car this long, and Honda has nothing for me right now (beyond another Fit).
I'm also looking for more performance/comfort/convenience -- manual is a must, so is Bluetooth for calls and audio (which I currently don't have)... Decisions, decisions, decisions. Frankly, I've been eying that new Elantra GT!
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