Hatchbacks have made a major comeback lately. No longer the province of gearheads and station wagons, everyone loves hatchbacks for their fuel efficiency, agility, and compact size. The 2015 Honda Fit, from Brannon Honda in Birmingham, is the best value hatchback on the road. See how the 2015 Fit EX-L compares to the 2015 Volkswagen Golf SE 4-door in efficiency, size, and features.
Mileage
Honda is renowned for its efficient vehicles, and the 2015 Fit EX-L is no exception. Both the Fit and the Golf use an inline 4-cylinder engine, and the Volkswagen has the upper hand in horsepower, with 170 to the Fit’s 130. Those horses come at a price, however, and the 2015 Golf SE gets only 25/36 mpg, while the 2015 Fit EX-L gets up to 32/38 mpg*. While the VW has a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, Sport Mode, and paddle shifters, the Honda utilizes an intuitive Continuously Variable Transmission with Sport Mode and Dual Mode Paddle Shifters.
Space
Compact hatchbacks are awesome for getting around crowded cities and parking in cramped spaces—as long as you’re not cramped inside, too. The 2015 Honda Fit has excellent legroom for backseat passengers, with 39.3 inches. The 2015 Golf SE only gives 35.6 inches, so longer legs may be less comfortable. The cargo volume on the 2015 Golf SE is greater on its face (22.8 cu ft to the 2015 Fit’s 16.6 cu ft), thanks to the Golf’s adjustable cargo floor. What the Fit has that the Golf doesn’t is the Magic Seat in the second row. The Magic Seat is split 60/40, and both sides fold flush with the cargo floor, so long objects are stable when loaded. You don’t even have to remove the headrests. Also, the seat cushions can be folded up, giving tall items the room to sit upright. On top of that, there is a storage compartment under the driver’s side rear cushion.
Tech and Features
The 2015 Honda Fit EX-L includes more features than you would imagine available for such a value. Some of these features are Fog Lights, One-touch Turn Indicators, and Smart Entry with Push Button Start. These features are not included on the 2015 Golf SE, though its starting price is several thousand dollars higher. Both hatchbacks have a compatible app for device-car connectivity (HondaLink Next Generation and Volkswagen Car-Net), and both include a touchscreen display, though the Fit’s is 7 inches while the Golf’s is only 5.8 inches. Both also have a rearview camera, but the 2015 Fit EX-L camera includes multiple visual angles and dynamic guidelines. Only the Fit includes Honda LaneWatch, which displays a feed of the passenger lane when the right blinker is engaged for blind spot mitigation.
The best value with the best features and the best mileage is the 2015 Honda Fit. Check out the Fit today at Brannon Honda in Birmingham, Alabama.
*29 city/37 highway/32 combined mpg rating for LX and EX 6MT models. 33 city/41 highway/36 combined mpg rating for LX CVT model. 32 city/38 highway/35 combined mpg rating for EX and EX-L CVT models. Based on 2015 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
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