The all-electric version of Honda’s versatile hatchback, the Fit EV makes a strong case for gas-free transportation. Although it can’t go as far as the regular Fit—or hold quite as much as—those are the only concessions you’ll have to make in return for hanging up the pump for good.
What's New for 2014
The 2014 Fit EV is unchanged from last year’s debut model.
Choosing Your Honda Fit EV
The most important feature of any EV is what makes it go. The Fit EV carries a 92-kW electric motor that manages a respectable 123 horsepower. In fact, the EV is quicker to 60 mph than the gas-powered Fit. The single-speed transmission comes standard with three selectable driving modes: Sport, Normal and Econ.
With the lithium-ion battery pack fully charged, you’re good for 82 miles of travel. When plugged into a 240-volt outlet, the standard charger brings a fully depleted battery back to capacity in just three hours. Expect about 118 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined city and highway driving.
The battery pack cuts into cargo space and versatility a bit, but you can still carry up to 50 cubic feet of stuff. (By contrast, the regular Fit holds a class-leading 57 cubic feet).
The Fit EV comes only one way: fully loaded. That means you get things like navigation, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, heated front seats (covered in eco-friendly fabric), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and a six-speaker sound system with CD and USB connectivity.
Liking the Fit EV is easy. Getting your hands on one is a different story. It’s available only on a lease and only in certain states: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. If you can get to one of those places, the lease deal is sweet, likely less than you're currently shelling out for gasoline each month. But the Fit EV won’t be available to anyone much longer. Honda’s flirtation with a mainstream EV is expected to end by the end of 2014.