The Honda Fit is all-new for 2015, improving on a design which was already quite popular as the brand’s entry-level model in North America. Its new design is evolutionary, retaining much of its familiar styling and packaging.

Our EX-L with Navigation tester is fully loaded with every available option, which here means you see 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights and body color heated mirrors.

Standard on all trim grades are multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto on-off fuctionality, LED tail lamps and a body colored roof spoiler at the rear.

Aerodynamics are improved for 2015 with a variety of details you can see like a cab-foward design which cheats the wind, but also some you can’t like full under-body panels which reduce drag there too.

15-honda-fit-12Inside, our EX-L with Navigation was feature packed with heated leather seats, leather trimmed shift knob and steering-wheel with audio controls which are nicely back-lit at night. There’s a power sun-roof too.

The dash features a clear and concise instrument cluster, push-button start and Honda’s top-end touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. The screen also displays images from a multi-angle back-up camera and LaneWatch camera.

LaneWatch really impressed me, lighting up your screen with a wide angle view of the lane to your right when you use the turn signal. This comes standard on EX trim and above, and is almost worth buying the car for all on its own.

Sound from the 180-watt six speaker audio system is phenomenal despite the usability issues I complained about. It offers AM, FM, CD, Satellite Radio, HD Radio, MP3 and all manner of Bluetooth connectivity options. There’s also a two USB ports and HDMI connection for video playback.

15-honda-fit-3What Honda calls the Magic Seat, is the two-way foldable rear seat which is standard on all models. The lower cusions can fold upward giving you a tall storage space perfect for things like that new big-screen TV.

Additionally, the 60/40 split rear seats when folded conventionally fold entirely flat. This gives you one of the most usable and SUV-like cargo volumes in its class at 52.7 cubic feet. Nice.

Moving onto the powertrain, under the hood is a new 1.5 liter four-cylinder “Earth Dreams” engine. With Honda’s famed i-VTEC+VTC valve and timing control as well as direct fuel injection it offers up 130 horsepower.

It’s available in the Fit with both a six-speed manual transmission in addition to a constantly variable transmission or CVT. The top-line EX-L with Navigation we tested comes standard with the CVT.

15-honda-fit-2The CVT does offer the best mpg in the Fit. As such the EPA rates it at 32 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. In our week with the Fit we achieved an average of 37 mpg with 50/50 mix of city and highway with the AC on.

When it comes to chassis, the 2015 Honda Fit retains its humble MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear axle. Power steering is electric and brakes are front disc and rear drum with ABS. Stability control and traction control are also standard equipment.

When it comes to safety, the Honda Fit tops its class with an IIHS Top Safety Pick honor. It achieved Good ratings on their full battery of testing except the small-offset crash where it achieved an Acceptable rating.