I'm trying to figure out why the fit is rated as a LEV (Low Emissions Vehichle) and not a ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle). My 2001 Civic EX is a ULEV. Have the standards changed, or is honda just trying to get as much out of the 1.5L as possible and had to cut a few corners in the emissions department?

Steve

 

good question...the reason probably is cuz if honda wants to put that sticker on the car it must have a minimum amount of technological "CRAP" attached to the emission side of the vehicle. The Fit is so down right simple that there is no way of doing it.

 

Very good question.
But to be honest i really dont care if it has that little sticker or not.

Tyler

 

it could be that they are trying to get a little extra power out of the 1.5 liter motor.
my parents had an '03 accord that was a SULEV. super-ultra-low-emissions-vehicle. super-ultra... that's just sounds funny.

 

I noticed while browsing at the dealer that the window sticker indicated(maybe a California statistic) that the Fit had above average emissions; I was a little shocked but I have a feeling it was a cost-cutting measure.

 

i thought i read somewhere that the ranking rules changed or something.

 

from what I have been able to gather and from what I have previously heard (its a bummer but whatchagunnado?) is that the car was indeed pushed to make the power it does and it is also lower on the lineup...
less tech put into it.

kenchan-I also heard something about the classification changing too. As this car may have been considered a ULEV-1 if it had come out in '01...same as my old Civic. But in no way can I back these up, and I am too lazy to try.

 

The extra "U" would have cost more money.

 

I've heard that the test for lev and ulev are bery corrupt. Um not saying that it is an auto industry conspiracy or something, but it does seem that our emission testd favor american cars.

 

Don't think too much of it. It used to bother me, but when you find out what those mean, it's not big of a deal. LEV and ULEV do not refer to global warming gasses (mileage does). They only refer to pollutants, but that's still not as good as ULEV.

I think smaller engines have stronger criteria than bigger engines. For example, the camry has a pzev, supposedly as clean as a hybrid. My mom's RDX is ULEV2 as well. That thing is like 3.5 turbo, no way it can be green.

 

You also have to take into account that the 1.5L VTEC engine that comes standard in the American Fits is the highest performance engine for the rest of the world. It's tuned for higher performance rather than fuel economy or low emissions.

Personally, I wish we had gotten the options of the other engines. I'd love to be able to have the choice of one of the i-dsi engines in the U.S., but oh well...

Anyone know if Honda has any plans for a diesel Fit? I believe 2010 is the year when a lot of manufacturers are bringing their diesels to America. It's about damn time, I say.

 

Hmm i thought the Honda Fit was marketed for its good gas mileage? everyone seen the ads right 35+ mpg or so whatever Honda said. I'm lucky to get over 30 mixed freeway/city driving.

but...
i wouldn't exactly call a 1.5L vtec engine 109 hp a "high performance"
compared to the other Fit engines yes but in America, it's laughed at.

 

the 1.5L in my FitS coupled with the 5MT is high performance in my books
for a motor of this size. it's got ample torque. unlike other low powered
cars ive had in the past as my daily driver, this car is very quick and
responsive. ive never felt that the car was slow.

i doubt the 1.3L motor option would sell in the US even with the ULEV.
with the fattest population it's bound to be considered 'too slow and
incapable' to drive on large US roads. lol

 

I'm pretty sure the real reason is that the L15 is a relatively old motor, compared with the r18 that the civic gets. It was clean when it first came out, but it's almost 5 years old.

 

You wouldn't?

L12A i-DSI: 75 hp @ 5700, 85 ft-lb @ 2800
L13A i-DSI: 84 hp @ 5700, 88 ft-lb @ 2800
L15A i-DSI: 89 hp @ 5500, 97 ft-lb @ 2700
L15A VTEC: 109 hp @ 5800, 105 ft-lb @ 4800

Compared to F22Cs and K20s it's not a high performance engine. But it IS the top performing engine currently offered for the Fit.

 

So is it just me or does anyone else feel a little cooler now? haaahaaa
Finally a chance to use that > smilie!