The 2015 Honda Fit is all new and comes in LX, EX and EX-L trims. It features a new 4-cylinder direct-injection engine with 130 horsepower and a continuously variable automatic transmission that replaces the previous generation's 5-speed automatic. How are the 2015 Honda Fit's road manners? We recently spent a weekend behind the wheel to test its roadworthiness.

Seeing Is Believing

The styling is one of the first things that we noticed about the new Fit. Sixteen-inch wheels, fog lamps and a rear roofline spoiler give the car a sporty, fun look. Its wide stance, with the wheels extended to the edge of the wheel wells, adds to the car's aggressive styling.

There's room for five in the Fit, but rear-seat occupants may feel a bit cramped with three in the back. We found the Fit to have good leg-, shoulder- and headroom up front, and passengers in the back found the Fit to have plenty of legroom, even for taller riders. One small complaint we had with the rear seats, however, is that they felt a little rigid and stiff.

Our EX-L came equipped with a considerable amount of standard luxury features. Steering-wheel-mounted controls, push-button starting and a USB audio interface are only a few of the amenities inside. There's even a second power outlet and USB port in the center console. Heated seats are a welcome feature on those cold winter mornings.

The tech-savvy buyer will appreciate the new Fit. Our EX-L comes with a 7-in touchscreen to control music, communication and navigation. HondaLink Connect turns the display into an interface for some of our iPhone's content. To help liven up the daily commute, we can stream Pandora Internet Radio via Bluetooth or a USB port. To minimize distraction, the Fit is able to receive SMS text messages when you need to check important messages on the fly. Our Fit EX-L also features a navigation system and traffic updates, both with voice recognition. One minor complaint is that you can't view the navigation or radio stations simultaneously; in order to change the radio station or view navigation, you have to flip between screens.

Road Manners

For a subcompact, the Fit offers a comfortable ride that is firm but not jarring. Even on bumpy roads, the ride was not too shuddering and was quite a surprise when compared to other subcompacts that we've driven. The engine is extremely peppy but can be a bit loud when passing or climbing steep grades. We especially liked the tight steering. It's very responsive and has a sports-car feel. Another great feature we love is Honda's LaneWatchsystem. When changing lanes, a tiny camera on the passenger-side mirror comes to life and helps minimize right-side blind spots for safer passing and turning.

One of the advantages of the Fit's new engine/transmission combo is improved fuel economy. We averaged a combined 43 miles per gallon, which is 7−8 mpg better than the Environmental Protection Agency rating. That's more good news, considering that this new combo has even more power and torque than the previous Fit.

The EX-L that we tested will set you back around $21,600. If that's a bit out of your budget, consider the LX, which stickers around $16,300 -- not bad considering you get cruise control, USB connectivity and a rearview camera as standard equipment.

Overall, we enjoyed the time that we spent with the new Fit. It comes well equipped for the price and deserves a second look if you're shopping for a new compact car.