http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/au...view.html?_r=0

Love some of his stuff:

About the Touch Screen Audio System:
About the CVT:

 

Zing! My feelings exactly about a touchscreen volume control... Really flimsy. Wouldn't want to have to mess with that on the road but I guess that point is moot thanks to steering mounted controls.

Why bitch about A/T when M/T is the only way to go on such a puny engine?

 

Umm, because most buyers will be getting the CVT? Note that he wasn'f faulting the CVT, just the rather silly "7-speed" paddle shift mode.

Oh, and 130 HP is hardly puny in a car that weighs just over a ton.

The CVT seems to be getting pretty good marks considering the natural hatred that most automotive writers have for anything not a stick. When it is functioning as it should it should select the engine RPM needed to produce what the driver is demanding with his throttle foot using the least fuel. Unfortunately, if it holds an efficient constant RPM as the car accelerates (as it is designed to do) the writers term it "droning."

 

After a couple days of driving I am loving the CVT more than I could have imagined. It just flows for a daily driver and when you want performance just stomping on the gas it has great reaction. It is almost like a regular transmission because you notice occasionally what you would think is a shift but in reality it is just the rpm matches the speed and it quiets down. People have to remember this is not a luxury car and will not sound or act like one, but for what it is I find it a really cool piece of machinery! If you over expect what it can provide you will be disappointed. After driving a cobalt every day for 7 years I was used to engine and transmission noise and body rattles and clunks, this was quite a change. Its ride is a little stiffer than I was use to but its not a drastic change.n
PS: The screen volume is a PITA but using the control on the steering wheel is a great alternative, personally I wouldn't even care if there was a volume control on the screen!

 

Good evaluation of the new Fit and its CVT. I have now test driven 4 different Fit EX CVT models over the past week and every time came away very impressed. The one I test drove today was taken extensively over very hilly terrain (some very steep hills) and it performed very well. Another thing that came as a pleasant surprise was the performance of the A/C. It became quite hot around 11:00 this morning and the A/C seemed better than in my '14 Civic. Also love the new gauges, especially the speedometer...very nice! Every Fit I have looked at has excellent fit and finish and build quality!

I applaud Honda for doing an excellent job all around on the new '15 Fit!

 

I. agree, they did a great job and so far being assembled in Mexico is as good as I had hoped for.

I also agree that the AC works great. Someone on here thought it was mediocre and that could well be in high heat but for my personal experience of the outside being 80* it does great.

 

It is a pleasant surprise to read how people are liking the CVT. I can not wait to get mine.

 

Interesting review that I have heard before about the touch screen issues. I can almost bet that Honda will change this to a knob volume button, ether next year or the year after almost like the 2013 Civic changes over the first year model 2012 Civic.

 

130 is still puny. Wouldn't want any form of auto with that little an engine. To each his own.

 

This will not happen. There actually is a physical volume control, even more conveniently placed on the steering wheel. I'll admit it takes some getting used to but it's there.

 

You are probably right, and the physical volume on the steering wheel is a good thing. But....If honda gets a lot of bad feed back from owners and the press, like they did with that first year model released 2012 honda civic, changing it a great deal for the 2013, I bet Honda may just do a little tweaking. If not 2016, than 2017. Just a guess.

 

While I was searching online for Honda news, I saw where Honda is presently recruiting for an "infotainment engineer" I think that most would agree that they need a talented person to head up their infotainment options.

That having been said, I expect that the egineering and design of of these systems come from electronics manufacturers and not directly from Honda. But Honda tells them how much they will pay per unit. And I am sure that is a very small amount!

 

I've read about and wish Honda would accept the new "CarPlay" system over the HondaLink, but I have a feeling it will be for the 2015 Accord/Civic and not an upgrade for the 2015 Fit. Only one cable is needed over two for the Hondalink, and one can download a number of apps as well. Those waiting until next year on the 2016 Fit may have a better choice than us.

 

Scion switched back to a knob as well. An analog parameter deserves an analog control.

All it takes is for Honda to find out that the knob was a factor in some folks choosing an LX over the EX for them to change. You don't want to put the desirable features only on the low-end vehicle.

 

Unless you have a pure analog radio, this really isn't the case anymore. The analog knob just changes a digital number up and down anyway.

With so many controls on the steering wheel, I think this'll be a non-issue for most people.