The opportunity to drive an array of electric cars back in the 1990s was enlightening on many levels, bringing home the realization that for many these cars were less than purposeful daily drivers. From my perspective, they were fun but also impractical for my longer driving needs. And as for their performance, well…good for electric cars but not so much compared to fun-to-drive, conventionally-powered competitors.
Segue to today and an opportunity to drive Honda’s new Fit EV. This electric car cuts a nice profile with its super-small exterior and provides a good amount of room for four inside. The new electric version is nearly identical in design to the gas powered edition with some slight modifications, including closing up the front air intake since it’s no longer required for engine cooling, plus some other subtle changes that only EV enthusiasts might spot. While early prototypes had huge ‘EV’ stickers on the flanks, our vehicles did not. Thank you for that, Honda.
The standard Fit has decent around-town handling and simple-to-operate controls, making it the perfect wrapper for Honda’s latest electric car content. Power is supplied by a 123 horsepower electric motor generating 188 lb.-ft. torque. The Fit EV is rated by EPA at a mile-per-gallon-equivalency of 118 MPGe.
Inside, the EV instrumentation is pleasantly direct without the standard video game styling that often overwhelms a driver in cars with this level of forward-thinking electronics. Among the controls of note here are those for the Fit EV’s three driving modes and a battery detente in the center mounted shifter that, when selected, increases regenerative braking during coast-down.
Each driving mode is indicated by color-keyed illumination within the instrument panel that changes from green for economy to white for normal and red for sport. The mode selected affects performance and the amount of battery power available for driving range. During our drive the least amount of range was achieved in the performance mode with the most in economy mode, as expected.
The Fit EV is a highly capable vehicle that comfortably transports four adults. Handling is surprisingly good for a car equipped with 20 kWh worth of lithium-ion batteries. It cut neatly through a Honda-staged slalom and braking course, exhibiting an ability to confidently handle transients faster than most drivers will require in the real world. Steering input is predictable and braking excellent. Frankly, it’s surprising how well the Fit EV handles when pushed to discover its limits, allowing induced oversteer when requested and plenty of squealing tires with a stab of the throttle in the sport mode. Transitioning to drives on Pasadena city streets replete with hills and curves was pleasant and uneventful.
Those interested in Honda’s new Fit EV will find this electric available at a monthly lease cost of $369 for 39 months with no money down, starting in select markets in California and Oregon. The Fit EV is not available for purchase, an oddity that harkens back to the electric vehicle test marketing days of the 1990s when lease-only arrangements were status-quo.
With its good looks, snappy EV performance, and three-hour recharge time on a 240-volt system, the Fit EV should be popular with today’s electric car enthusiasts and mesh well with many lifestyles. It’s capable of covering 82 zero-emission miles per charge by EPA estimates – and in real-life driving, certainly more – and does this without compromising on the looks and driving fun that’s important to so many of us. It could be, for many, the perfect fit.