I have a 2010 Fit Sport AT.


Thinking about getting a 2016 (or 2017 if there are significant differences, though it looks unlikely).


Have some questions, especially for anyone who's owned both.


Is the A/C any more powerful? Mine currently blows hot air when accelerating strongly (it goes from cold to warm in seconds).


Do the low beams still suck?


What happened to the right side arm rest? Is there something after-market? I never realized how important it was to me until today's test-drive.


Eco mode- are the EPA mileage figures done using that or not? Salesman claims not and that it'd add 2-3 mpg. I'm skeptical.


Is it easy to change the oil? It's very easy on my 2010 but I looked under the car and saw a plastic cover under almost the entire engine. I don't have a lift- I use ramps- and given how much most places hose you for syn oil changes and the inconvenience of going somewhere else for an oil change I'd prefer to keep doing it myself.


Also, when I bought my 2010 Honda used two different brands of tire. Mine had the Dunlops, which I hated. Does anybody know if all the Fits come with the same tires or if there are options? (I'm not sure yet whether to get the LX or EX- it's around a $2000 difference in price and not that many differences in features).


One more question- I like radios with knobs, not touch-screens. Seems to be a bigger distraction because you can't just feel and grab. What are people's thoughts?

 

I owned an '09 Fit Sport and now own a '15 Fit EX (both manuals) so I'll take a stab at answering this.


A/C is much improved. It takes a while to cool down the car, of course, as it's a big interior and a small engine. I've not noticed the A/C cycling on and off in the '15 like it did all the time in the '09 (and it's been a HOT summer up here).


Your low beams do not suck, they're just adjusted too low from the factory, like they were on my '09. They can be adjusted, you know. No such issues on my '15.


I didn't use the armrest on my '09, even though it was there, so I don't use it in the '15, either. No comment.


I have a manual transmission, so I don't have "Eco mode". I get 40-44 MPG on the highway and I average 38 MPG on my short (5 mile each way) commute to work. I'm happy with the fuel economy.


Yes, there is a plastic cover under the engine. It's held on with 6 metal screws (3 each side) and two plastic screw fasteners in the back. It's a bit of a chore to remove and install, but I change my own oil using a pair of ramps (4.5" lift) and can get under the car and remove/install the cover. With the cover removed, changing the oil is a snap. Drain plug and filter are easy to reach. If a 64 year old guy can do it, you can too.


Mexican made Honda Fits (like mine) come with Firestone tires. I haven't paid attention to what the Japanese made '16 Fits use, but I've run the Dunlop, Bridgestone and Firestone tires that Honda uses, and I'd say the Dunlops were the best of the bunch. Yes, the Firestones are even worse. The only good thing about them is that they wear fast, so you can get better tires sooner rather than later.


My EX has the touch screen. I like the larger screen for its higher resolution (works better with the backup and lane-watch cameras). The touch screen is a bit tricky, but there are also volume/select controls on the steering wheel. I use those most of the time. FWIW, I HATED the "single multi-function" knob on the '09 Fit radio. I never could figure out how to select albums or tracks with it. It required too much focus to use while driving, so I never did.

 

Not all of the Mexican Fits came with Firestones. The first few thousand built in 2014 came with Bridgestones. Mine was #7742 built in April 2014 and I got Bridgestones which I am very happy for.

But you are generally correct. All seem to be coming with Firestones now.

 

A/C is adequate. If it's really hot or you're just getting in the car, keep it of ECO mode as it seems to not be as cold. I've never had it "cycle" from warm to cold as you described it.

Low beams again are adequate.

No side armrest, it's just the center console which is too low IMO. Several people have created a DIY solution. I bought one that had storage and it works pretty well. I may make it an inch or so taller but it's good enough for now. Definitely better than stock. Click on my signature picture to see it.

I'd say 1-2 MPG is more realistic with ECO mode. I only turn ECO mode on when on highways. Stop and go it's sluggish accelerating. I've been getting between 41-44 pretty regularly.

Oil change is still very easy. As mentioned there is a plastic splash shield but 8 total screws and it's off. I use a ramp to change the Oil and the filter is easily accessible. I've been getting about 10k miles between oil change using 0W-20 Quaker state oil.

I have the EX with the touch screen. I don't remember the last time I use the touch screen to change the volume or radio station. I use the steering wheel controls for everything. I don't normally listen to the radio. I have music streaming through my phone using either Pandora, Amazon Music or the Google Play music. Not sure why people make such a big deal about not having a volume knob.

 

I have a '16 LX / CVT and it's been in ECO mode since I got it. Mileage averages between 42-44, getting over 50 on long trips.

One side benefit of ECO mode is a softer throttle response. So in stop and go traffic, the car lurches forward less in ECO - easy tip-in.

While I know many here are punchy on the throttle - especially with the 6MT - I'm the opposite. Gentle on the throttle = better MPG and easier modulation. ECO is also handy if you need to use reverse gently in tight spots when turning, for ex.

 

Your AC should turn warm when your accelerating briskly. It is designed to deactivate AC when doing so (at least most new cars are b/c AC robs power)

 

Nor am I.

 

Yes and yes.

I've just recently learned to prefer the ECON mode because of the above. No so much for the fuel savings but more for city driving ride comfort.

 

Because the steering wheel controls take more time, and concentration is distracted away from driving during that time; and the useless touch screen control takes even more concentration away from the road, including visual focus.

 

How does it take more time? My hands are already on the steering wheel, versus having to take my hand off the steering wheel to reach for the volume knob.

 

ive owned all 3 of them, GD MT, GE MT and AT, GK CVT.

the GK is by far the best as far as a car, but the build quality isnt all that great when u look closely. my favorite was the '12 GE MT.

 

I use the volume control on the left side wheel and the cruise control on the right constantly and find it very capable of adjusting both parameters in traffic, etc. Very ideal and simple. On the freeway I pretty much use the cruise control up and down buttons to regulate speed and rarely touch the accelerator once I'm in the flow.

 

You're a few slices short of a loaf.

 

A/C seems better.

Headlights are definitely better.

Fuel mileage is better for me so far with or without Eco. I like the Eco mode for the same reason as some of the other commenters (softer throttle), and then it's nice to turn it off for a little extra snap.

I got the LX partly because I wanted a knob and not a touchscreen, and am happy with the choice.

 

No, I'm quite well-bread.

 

It's his butcher's dog temperament. And my long ago CB handle was Short Fuse, but I'm much better now.

 

Thanks. I'm getting a 2016 EX CVT. Anything I should be looking for when picking it up? Last car (2010 Fit) they left the body plugs off. Apparently for some reason that was pretty common even when it's clearly on the PDI list.


Also does anybody know where I could get an aftermarket alloy rim? I'm sure the dealer ones cost a fortune. (I hate having only a donut spare)

 

You know, I just bought a 2016 EX with the CVT. After a 3 year gap of previously owning a 2010 Sport AT. I owned a 2010 Honda Fit Sport from 2010-2013.

Don't get me wrong, I love this new Fit. But many of the things you mention in your original post are simple realities about this incarnation.

I love the moonroof, the step up in technology and refinement. I think the interior is more refined and beautiful.

But yes, you won't get a music system with knobs. The center console, arm rest is embarrassingly inadequate, and it won't probably be as easy to change the oil.

The headlights seem to be improved.
Hasn't been hot enough for me to have a valid opinion about the air conditioning.

In another thread, I admit to actually liking the 2010 interior in some ways, better.
Much more hard plastic in the 2010, but I kind of like that for ease of upkeep. Plus IMO the 2010 interior had more of a fanciful or "fun" look and feel to it. Slopes, contours, and countless cup holder and spaces, plus a dual glove box that is now missing. I kind of liked that with the 2010, you were driving a Honda that's interior did not necessarily look like anything else in the Honda line.
This new Honda Fit's interior is absolutely beautiful BUT also IMO much more homogenized.

Maybe necessary evolution but it seems like in the 3rd Gen Honda Fit, Honda was moving The Fit more towards the center, bringing it more into the general Honda model fold, so to speak. Gone are some of the "geeky" stylistic differences that I actually liked. Oversized knobs, bulbous headlights, unique dash.

I think the "perfect" Fit, would add some of the technology and refinement of the Gen 3, including the moonroof availability, but maybe keep some of the stylistic points of the previous incarnation.

But I suspect for most owners I'd be in the minority.
And even I have to admit, this interior is really nice. But it's "mainstream" nice.

The odd thing also is, that the thing most people seem to complain about, which is the touch screen volume controls as opposed to a real knob?

That doesn't bother me at all. I like the touch screen volume control. Seems cleaner, and works fine. If you don't like it? You always have the steering wheel controls.

Anyway, you've already noticed some of the differences between the 2010 and the 2016. I think the 2016 represents NEEDED evolution in term of amenities and improvements, BUT I'd be lying if I said there weren't things about the 2010 I thought were actually better. Even if I know you can't go back again.

Maybe the biggest driving feel difference is the change from a "standard" automatic transmission to the CVT. I like the efficiency and gas mileage improvement possible with the CVT, but if you like the feel of automatic shift points, you'll find them missing. Of course you can put it in sport mode and create your own.

Probably the thing I'm enjoying most about my new Fit is the moonroof. With so much glass and visibility already built into the Fit, adding a moonroof, makes is possible to really give yourself almost a "convertible" feel when driving.

I wish I had more summer left to enjoy it a little longer.

Also....
One thing I also discoverd is with my 2010? The space underneath the back hatch was simply covered with a flat board, leaving the spare tire well pretty much exposed and open if you lifted up the board.
The 2016 comes with a Styrofoam Insert that gives you a very, very small indentation for storage, and also is form fitting to actually fit down into the spare tire.
My guess, is that on the 2016, this might reduce some road noise and insulate better. BUT....
The 2010 not having this? Allowed me to actually store quite a lot of things around the spare tire in the space surrounding the spare.
I'm kind of disappointed in the lack of storage space underneath the floor in the hatch with the 2016.

I've though about just throwing the Styrofoam insert away....but I don't know how much noise that would allow, PLUS the Styrofoam insert also is designed to hold the Scissor Jack.

But I actually stored a LOT of things in the wheel well of the spare tire with the 2010, and the design of the 2016 does not allow me to do so.

 

If you have a set of 15s from your 2010 they will fit on the 2016 Fit.

 

Alloy rims. The dealer said they'll try to sell to me at cost but given how much BS they pulled when selling me the car I have little faith in them when I show up tomorrow.