I recently drove the top-of-the-line Honda Fit Hybrid for a few days. It was introduced in 2021 into Southern Africa. I have a Honda Fit from 2004.
It's so lovely, and almost every day I get a request from someone to sell it to them.
The idea of city automobiles is so fantastic. They are lightweight, compact, and have fuel-efficient engines to produce the least amount of damaging emissions. An iconic city automobile has always been the Honda Jazz now known in all markets as Honda Fit.
The little-hunk from the East has developed a reputation for hassle-free city commuting. It has been abused locally as a Mushikashika taxis because of its fuel economy and stamina. The little car can carry 8 to 9 people albeit illegally as Mushikashika
Brand enhancements
The Honda Fit, formerly known as the Jazz in some markets, has improved upon past generations by finding a formula that appears to be successful for the target demographic.
This indicates that the fundamental components that make the Fit so well-liked have not changed. The automobile still has the same upright, tall appearance, oval shape, and somewhat narrow waist that contribute to the spacious cabin that owners have grown accustomed to.
LED head- and tail lamps have been added to the Honda Fit's current version to improve its design and give it a more contemporary look.
- Honda Fit Hybrid eCVT a pricey beauty
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Van-like
The cabin maintains the same feeling of modernism.
A full-colour touchscreen infotainment system with complete mobile connectivity greets passengers, and there is another digital screen in front of the driver.
Using the buttons on the two-spoke steering wheel, the latter can be set up to display pretty much any information the driver wants to see. The majority of the materials used to construct the cabin give passengers a sense of quality.
There is enough room for four adults. The boot volume will be a limiting factor if you plan to take those same four adults on a weekend trip.
The Honda Fit is primarily intended to be a city car, though. The back seats can be folded up or can slide forward. This indicates that the rear footwell can be used to transport oddly shaped goods that cannot be lay on their sides, such as pot plants.
If more room is needed, all the seats (except from the driver's seat) may be folded down so that you can fit something as long as a mountain bike or a surfboard inside. Honda has termed the Fit's multi-configurable "magic" seats, and they certainly make the Fit a useful partner for small families or home-based business owners.
Energy economy
The Honda Fit in my care was the range-leading Fit Hybrid eCVT. It features a fuel-efficient drivetrain and all of the same advantages as its siblings.
A 1,5-litre petrol engine with an electronically powered component is housed behind the short hood. Lithium-ion battery packs power the electric drive motor.
Hybrid Honda Fit engine
Without consuming a lot of gas, one can go through late-afternoon traffic or from one traffic signal to the next. Forward propulsion is entirely provided by the electric motor at low speeds. The gasoline engine starts up as the speed increases to give the process some vigour. Your right foot's weight will determine whether the power-train is in electric, hybrid, or only gasoline mode.
This system operates without a hitch, and the hybrid badging keeps you informed of your driving preferences at all times. You typically go at a slow enough speed to keep the electric power-train almost completely silent. When travelling on a highway or having to go quickly, the petrol engine takes over entirely.
Single-use vehicles
The Honda Fit continues to live up to the reputation it has earned as a top-notch city car, as I stated at the beginning of this essay.
It effortlessly assumes the role of an urban runabout. This is made even more appealing by the hybrid engine found in the top-of-the-line Honda Fit Hybrid eCVT.
However, the Honda Fit Hybrid eCVT is by no means inexpensive at an estimated cost of slightly less than US$40000 if it were to be launched in Zimbabwe. The Honda Fit cannot be purchased at this price and used solely during the workweek or in the city.
The current epidemic has devastated Zimbabwe, and new car sales indicate that fewer people are buying new cars there and that many people are buying used cars to ease their financial load.
My decision
The Honda Fit Hybrid eCVT version simply does not seem to be a suitable fit for our local market. In a market where purchasers require vehicles that serve several purposes, this Honda falls on the wrong end of the scale. This is not to argue that it's a horrible car; it's simply that the timing and cost are really unfortunate. If it were to be launched in Zimbabwe costs would be prohibitive since vehicles purchases are not bank rolled by the banks for ordinary workers. Therefore, since they are less than a quarter of the cost, we shall stick to the grey imports coming from Japan directly.
