I decided to write a comparative review of these two cars, because the fit shuttle (hereinafter simply fit) is a rather rare car (for now) even in the Far East, and I happen to be the owner of both (even though the fit is actually not mine, but I often drive it and that’s all in the future will be held with my participation).
I’ll say right away to write everything and it’s physically impossible at once, so I’ll divide everything into several parts and slowly supplement it.
Let's start!
1. About me
So that everyone reading the review has an idea of who wrote it, respectively, and about its objectivity, a little about yourself:
I am 26 years old, my driving experience is 8 years, while I studied at the institute for 4 years I was engaged in the resale of cars, more than 50 cars of different brands, years of manufacture, body types passed through my hands, there were even hauls without runs, but one thing united them, they were all right-hand drive. I had 5 cars for personal use, wave number 6 on my list.
2. Data about compared cars:
Wave - 2005 was bought by me at an auction exactly 2 years ago with an estimate of 4.5V and a mileage of 74t.km, I drove it on my own. Components G of nishtyakov only tumanki and alloy wheels, black interior.
Rubber is now worth 15-195-55 China! tough and noisy, pressure like in a book, gasoline Ai-92 Gazpromneft, oil 0-20 Honda, the car is stitched, mileage to date is 110t.km
Fit - 2011 was exchanged for a Mazda Demio 08g + surcharge, before the exchange it was broken in the statistics - came at the end of 2014 with a mileage of 38t.km, 4C grade, simple equipment (for fit), leather interior + rag, climate, headlight corrector, button ECO, stabilization system! Tires 15-185-60 Dunlop (Japan), pressure as in the manual, gasoline AI -92 Gazpromneft, oil 0-20 Honda, mileage to date 52t.km
3. Exterior
Most say that the fit is a complete freak! And I partly agree with them, his sides and back are very controversial, but in my opinion, the muzzle, thanks to the low-hanging slightly aggressive bumper, is completely fine! Do not forget that the wave was drawn from scratch, and the fit was obtained by adding length to the second generation of a regular fit. The fit also has plastic door sills in stock, apparently to extend the line of that same bumper. What we liked about the fit is already rear diode optics! The gas tank hatch opens simply by pressing the hatch itself (there is no paw near the seat), finally a support appeared on the hatch for the gas tank cap and a plastic cord is attached to the cork (now you will never forget the cork on the roof). I pinned the antenna on the roof of the fit at the back of the RIGHT!!! not in the center, but on the RIGHT, whinnied for a long time, it looks like there should be a second left, but someone sleep on it ....! Why Honda engineers did not make it in the middle did not understand.
Well, I won’t say anything about the wave, she’s a beauty and everyone knows about it.
4. Interior
I'll start with the plastic from which the interior is made: on the wave it is hard and rough (it feels like the plastic is thick), but at the same time everything is adjusted clearly and efficiently and it does not emit any special squeaks. At the fit, all panels are made as if from foil, you press your finger on the door trim, the trim bends, the top of the torpedo reacts in the same way (I was in a slight shock), even Honda began to save hard on everything. Salon slowly creaks and rattles.
The torpedo of the fit is also very unusual, but in principle it’s nothing, everything is much stricter in the wave. I liked the cupholders on the sides, a beer plastic glass of 0.5 and, accordingly, bottles up to 0.6 liters fit exactly there. Two glove compartments, the lower one, as if on a wave, the upper one is small, but again a 1 liter bottle of cola fits there (and in some configurations there is a conclusion from the stove, i.e. you can cool or heat the contents of the glove compartment). The lower pocket (between the seats) on the wave is closed with a beautiful curtain, but on the fit, nifiga, and it is also divided by an insert so that you can insert glasses, which is not needed there, if you remove it, you get a big drawer, though not covered by anything. The steering wheel on the fit is more convenient, it is one and a half times thicker + I liked the plastic inserts with holes. The badge will not climb yet. Although the steering wheel itself has already begun to scrape out in the place of the grip from above (on the wave it started for me by 100t.km). The tidy of the fit is calmer (on the wave of a round type for sports) is illuminated with white light, all scales are large and more informative than on the wave. The fit does not have a dial temperature indicator, instead of it there is a lamp. It annoys someone, it’s somehow equally pleasant for me (all the same, on a wave, the arrow does not rise above the operating temperature, so I don’t even look at it). Finally, at least some kind of on-board computer appeared on the fit, it shows: consumption, how many kilometers the remaining gasoline will last, well, that’s all, it doesn’t even show the temperature overboard. But there is an economizer, in the form of a constantly running scale, showing instantaneous consumption, a tricky thing, by the way, it helps a lot to save benz. There is also an Eco button on the fit (such a green one), you press it and the indicator with a leaf lights up on the tidy, the car immediately starts to react sluggishly to gas, but I didn’t feel any savings, it just doesn’t go stupidly and that’s it. The fit also has an eco indicator separate from the eco mode, which lights up when the type of fuel is economically consumed, my observations showed that it lights up mainly when I release the gas pedal and coast, and also along the highway when you barely touch the pedal.
In the fit, I was very surprised that when the front wipers are turned on in any position and you turn on the reverse speed, the rear wiper also starts to wave in jerky mode
I really miss this feature!!! Even at the fit a few minutes after turning off the engine, you can open and close the driver's window.
The seats of the fit are combined leather + rag, in my opinion it is very practical in terms of cleaning + the fit rag is easy to clean with chemistry (on the wave with this full butt), the fit has more pronounced lateral support (later you will find out why), the adjustments are all the same as on the wave. Surprised that the fit does not have a rear armrest!
The trunk is basically the same, but the fit has a trump card, it does not have a spare tire !!! Instead, a can of some kind of gel and a compressor! But in the niche where the spare tire should lie, you can cram a lot. Moreover, there is a plastic partition which can divide this space at your discretion. On a wave, I carry a cardboard box in the trunk attached to the hooks on the back of the seats, with all sorts of things necessary on the road, and in a fit I would put everything under the floor, and I wouldn’t bathe with this box when I need to unfold the seats and transport oversized pieces !!!
Continuation:
And yet, as for the interior, I wanted to pay attention to the climate. On the wave, I have an ordinary stove on krutilki and to work with it, I literally need 1-2 seconds to make adjustments to its work and it happens literally by touch without being distracted from the road. On the fit, the climate control, but it looks beautiful, but damn it, in order to add a temperature of 6 degrees, you must first find the treasured button (because they are monotonous and for 2 weeks of operation I did not remember where which one) then poke on it 6 times! Well, if you also need to change the direction of the airflow, then it won’t take long to catch the pole, because this round display is so small that you really have to peer (I have 100% vision, by the way) Conclusion: the climate is beautiful, but the twists are more practical!
4. Visibility.
When I got into the fita, I immediately noticed the HUGE rear-view mirrors, they are really 2 times larger (no exaggeration), you can see absolutely everything in them, the dead zones are minimal!
But the front side racks on a fit are one and a half times more massive than on a wave, and side visibility is very difficult. Even a very large area of glazing of the front windows does not help. Once I even almost knocked down a man at a pedestrian crossing, stupidly did not see him because of the counter! Everything else is the same.
5. Taxiing.
I love my wave, first of all, for a very clear and predictable taxiing, sometimes I lay it on the verge that even the rubber squeaks and it feels like the demolition of the front axle has gone, but all this is easily corrected by gas. On a wave, the steering wheel itself turns a little tight, but at speed it is just perfect for aggressive driving. Entering the turn, I feel like I'm struggling with it to get into the right trajectory. On fit, everything is very boring. The steering wheel turns in place with one little finger, it seems that the car is hanging on a lift. At speed, the steering wheel gets a little heavier, but this is not enough in my opinion. The suspension on the fit is softer, very soft, sometimes I even forget that I'm driving a Honda. If on a wave I feel almost all the joints in the asphalt, then on the fit there are only holes larger than average. I tried to go into turns on a fit, damn it's really scary, it rolls like a cow (it's not for nothing that they installed a stabilization system, it is very useful on gravel roads in winter), + this cotton steering wheel! in short, fit is a car for a comfortable ride on our glorious roads, there is no sport and perfect Honda taxiing in it, which is a pity.
And I think I understood why they made such a serious lateral support, so that you don’t fall out of the seat stupidly in a turn !!!
Back in the already distant 2013, namely in the summer, Honda held a presentation of a new car. We are talking about a model called Fit sample of the third generation. Only two years later, the car left its homeland, that is, Japan, and was presented in a slightly different, already European form. The model also changed its name to Jazz.
One way or another, despite the name change, Jazz and Fit are almost identical cars with only minor differences.
Already in the spring of the current 2016, representatives of the Honda company arrived in New York, at the international auto show taking place here. The reason for the arrival of the delegation from Japan was the new station wagon. We didn’t just start talking with the Jazz and Fit model, because it was on the basis of this hatchback that the car was created, which is eventually called the Honda Shuttle and is made in the station wagon body.
But if the second generation had a double name - Fit Shuttle, then the third generation got rid of the first part of the name and became a full-fledged Shuttle without any additions.
The Japanese decided not to make major changes in appearance, because the wagon and hatchback of the third generation remained very, very similar to each other. Of course, from the point of view of practicality, the station wagon is superior to its co-platform, since it has an enlarged body, which also provides an increased wheelbase, luggage compartment, etc.
Well, it is possible that the Honda Shuttle will eventually enter the Russian market, so we will study with special interest this new product, which arrived from Japan and is going to be sold in European countries.
Exterior Honda Shuttle 2016-2017
As we have said, the Shuttle and Fit are similar in many ways. This is not surprising, because the manufacturer is one, the platform is common. And the manufacturer himself has always adhered to the tradition of maintaining common features between the hatchback and station wagon. Here you have the result, to which photo and video materials will allow you to get more detailed answers if relevant questions arise.
The front end is adorned with a double grille trim with plenty of chrome elements. Long, tapered headlights extend almost to the windshield, providing a very, very attractive head optics. No less interesting is the front bumper with elements of aerodynamics and a hint of sportiness. All this is complemented by a couple of sections along the edges of the bumper, where large LED fog lights are located. Although the ribbed hood should not be left unattended.
On the side, we observe slightly swollen wheel arches, beautiful alloy wheels, stampings on the sidewalls, a kind of body kit, and a roof line that is rather unusual in shape. In general, in profile, the car looks a little better than a hatchback. But this is already so, a purely subjective opinion. Although there is no denying it, the new generation of the Honda Shuttle station wagon really turned out to be elegant and attractive.
The stern welcomes us with recognizable lines, but still with new lights, a more comfortable tailgate, a slightly redesigned rear bumper.
Summing up, we can say that the new generation Honda Shuttle is the result of hard work. Specialists from the Japanese company did not just take a hatchback, stretch it in length and change the name. Much more painstaking and delicate work was done here. One way or another, the result is pleasantly pleasing. It is obvious that even in Russia such an all-rounder would hardly have been abandoned.
Alas, as part of the presentation in New York, Honda representatives did not say how much the length of the body had increased, as well as how the rest of the dimensions of this car had changed compared to the original. But it is precisely clear that there is no trace left of the previous trunk volume of 354 liters, which the hatchback flaunted. The station wagon will receive at least 500 liters of free space behind the second row of seats.
Interior Honda Shuttle 2016-2017
Inside the car remained, in fact, the same as the original Jazz. Such a decision is quite expected, since the hatchback received at one time a very decent interior, which does not make much sense to look for a replacement.
Of course, there is always something to strive for and where to develop. But still, the 2016-2017 Honda Shuttle model is not entirely independent, since for the most part it is based on a hatchback and is its small offshoot. Therefore, it does not make much sense to invest great efforts and funds in this model, since it is positioned as a hatchback with an increased body length.
This does not prevent the Honda Shuttle from getting an excellent steering wheel, which will be at the disposal of the driver, a well-thought-out dashboard, well-placed controls and deflectors on the center console, and much more.
Apparently, the space in the cabin will also become larger due to the increase in the length of the body, since even the photo shows an increase in the free zone in the knees of the rear passengers. It will also remain comfortable in front, since good seats are placed here, even with good lateral support. This is not a sports car for you, and therefore it is clearly not worth waiting for some Recaro buckets here.
In general, the interior makes a positive impression, even if it is borrowed from a hatchback. No one will blame Honda for such a move.
Options Shuttle 2016-2017
The equipment is also pleasantly pleasing, although it also largely repeats the equipment offered for the Honda Fit.
The exact list of what customers will get when choosing the basic version is not yet known. But it is known what to count on as options for the richest performance of the station wagon:
- navigation system;
- Cruise control;
- multimedia complex;
- touch screen multimedia system;
- advanced audio system;
- leather interior;
- keyless access system in the cabin;
- full set of airbags;
- LED fog lights;
- LED rear optics;
- light alloy wheels with a diameter of 16 inches, etc.
In fact, listing additional equipment, as well as options for more expensive trim levels, can be quite a long time. At the same time, do not forget that even the basic equipment carries a lot of useful and interesting things. At least that was the case with the original Shuttle in the face of the Honda Fit (or Jazz, whichever you prefer).
Because the equipment is another big plus in favor of the brand new Japanese station wagon. Let's see how he will please us with prices, as well as what he will offer as technical specifications.
Price Honda Shuttle 2016-2017
Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not mention prices during the presentation of the novelty. Although we can hardly expect a serious increase in cost compared to the hatchback, as well as the previous generation Honda Shuttle, which experienced the last update in the recent 2013.
Alas, the Honda Fit is not officially represented on the territory of Russia by the sample of the third generation, although its predecessors were present with us. The likelihood of a new version of the Shuttle station wagon is also not as great as we would like.
In any case, for a third-generation hatchback they are now asking from 15.65 thousand dollars, which is only one hundred dollars more than the starting price of the second generation of this car. But from the start for the Honda Shuttle station wagon they will ask a little more - from 17 thousand dollars. The cost of the Shuttle in the top version will be about 20 thousand dollars.
As you can see, the price tags are quite modest. This was already mentioned as part of the hatchback review, which set a very serious bar for its competitors. Now, really, few people can offer such a worthy and richly equipped car as the Honda Fit and Honda Shuttle, given the price tags that the Japanese automaker has set on them.
Specifications Shuttle 2016-2017
If we talk about the technical specifications for the Honda Shuttle, then here we are dealing with a line of power units, which consists of only two motors.
In the role of the base engine, a 1.5-liter gasoline traditional internal combustion engine with a capacity of 110 horsepower will be offered. There is nothing remarkable in it, although it performs its task of good dynamics and economical movement.
Much more interest is the alternative motor, which has become a hybrid power unit, complete with an all-wheel drive system. The same 1.5-liter gasoline engine is used here, but now it functions in conjunction with an electric motor, as well as a set of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
The complex works on the Atkinson cycle. The transmission of traction to the wheels is carried out using a robotic gearbox, supplemented by two clutches. What is the total power of the hybrid - remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the average fuel consumption declared by the manufacturer is an impressive 2.7 liters per 100 kilometers traveled. To what extent these figures will really correspond - we will find out only after a while.
In the meantime, we can draw some conclusions based on the data that the Japanese automaker announced.
Videos test drive
Conclusion
Before us is a completely new generation of Honda Shuttle, built on a new generation of Honda Fit hatchback. From the old station wagon, the novelty is distinguished by too much in order to look for some kind of connection.
The car acquired a more modern and expressive appearance, received a high-quality and comfortable interior, rich equipment and more or less good technical characteristics. All this is complemented by a very, very nice price tag.
One cannot but agree with the fact that now for the kind of money that Honda is asking for their Shuttle station wagon, it is extremely difficult to find worthy alternatives. Of course, if you do not look at the Chinese assortment. Yes, and there you can find competitors only by price, but not by quality, technical characteristics, equipment, and even more so appearance.
Last week, Honda Motor Co., Ltd launched a new stage in the evolution of the Honda Fit to the Japanese car market - a hatchback turned into a station wagon. HondaFit Shuttle. The presentation of the new version of the car could have taken place as early as March, but due to the recent tragic events in Japan, the automaker decided not to hold large-scale events and limited itself to publishing a press release complete with a series of photographs.
It is no coincidence that the new one was named the Shuttle, the space theme served as an example when, with the help of advanced technologies, a level of safety, comfort and economy was achieved that made it possible to travel into space. With the new car, Honda continues the tradition of providing a high level of safety for its cars. The new Fit also consolidated the car's advantage in efficiency - fuel consumption, depending on the configuration, ranged from 3.3 to 5.4 l / 100 km. The idea was successfully implemented in the model, which provided for, while maintaining the previous good trunk capacity, to significantly increase, and previously not small for a hatchback, the internal passenger space of the car. Thus, we can conclude that the new brainchild of Honda fully justifies its name.
Externally, the new Fit, despite all the changes, retained the features of its older brother. Recognition belonging to the family gives the preservation of the overall geometry of the front end of the body and optics. The main external difference from its predecessor, of course, was the increased length of the car by more than half a meter, it was 4410 mm, with a width of 1540 mm and a height of 1695 mm.
Filling HondaFit Shuttle It is offered in two versions, a base petrol model with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder I-VTEC engine and a hybrid model with a combination of a 1.3-liter I-VTEC engine and a 10 kW IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) electric motor. The base model can be purchased with a CVT and front-wheel drive, or a 5-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, while the hybrid variant comes with a CVT and front-wheel drive only.
Prices for a petrol Fit Shuttle start at 1,610,000 yen with tax, FWD/CVT, 1,785,600 yen for 4WD/5-speed. The hybrid variant starts at 1,810,000 yen, which, by the way, is significantly cheaper than the 2,350,000 yen for its closest competitor, the five-seater Toyota Prius Alpha. Production of the new Fit began at the Suzuka Honda plant in Mie Prefecture in early May. The automaker promises that a number of cars will be delivered before the end of July. Honda Motor's planned monthly sales are 4,000 vehicles.
A minivan is a high-capacity passenger car. Usually they are equipped with three rows of seats. Their body is noticeably higher and larger than that of a passenger car. The number of passengers that a minivan can carry is eight. Today, such cars are equipped with an attractive design and a decent set of options. They are chosen by large families and those who need large amounts of luggage space. Shuttle and other models of this manufacturer are a prominent representative of this class of cars.
A brief excursion into history
The first machines with a similar capacity were invented at the beginning of the First World War. The father of minivans is the Alfa 40/60 HP Aerodinamica, developed by the Italian company A.L.F.A. The first official minivan is the American Stout Scarab.
The most famous model with a similar body was the Italian. It is believed that he was ahead of his time. Mass buyers were not ready to purchase such machines in the 50-70s of the twentieth century.
The real heyday of minivans came in the 80-90s. In pursuit of a buyer, large manufacturers are starting to manufacture minivans. Renault Espace, Chevrolet Astro, (T3), Toyota Model F, Honda Shuttle appear.
"Honda Shuttle"
Honda Shuttle is a minivan class car with three rows of passenger seats, designed for the American consumer based on the European model. A distinctive feature of the car is an unusual transformation of the cabin. On the Honda Shuttle, the second and third rows of seats fold down to create a huge luggage space behind the first row.
Front wheel drive car. It was equipped with two types of engines. The first - a volume of 2.2 liters. The second - 2.3 liters. Gearbox - automatic. Equipped with air conditioning and an additional option in the form of cruise control.
Due to the elongated body and the A-pillars located at an angle of 45 degrees, the car has excellent aerodynamic properties.
No matter how good this model was, it was not popular with buyers. In 1997, the manufacturer decided to reduce the number of models produced in Europe. A little later, production stopped altogether. It happened in 1999. It was succeeded by the Stream minivan, which entered the European market.
"Honda-Civic-Shuttle"
In 1987, Honda engineers create a new minivan based on the Civic model. Compared to previous versions, the Civic Shuttle has become larger and received an all-wheel drive system. Fog lights, an electric sunroof, a cassette player, an audio system, and a kenguryatnik appeared on the car.
The model is completed with different motors. There is a volume of 1.3 liters with a capacity of 83 l / s and 1.5 liters, giving 100 l / s. The main working unit was 1.6 liters, issuing 120 l / s.
The main distinguishing feature of the Honda Civic Shuttle from other models was its off-road qualities. During the development of the gearbox, another low gear was created, which is used as a replacement for the reduction gear in the transmission.
Until now, the Honda-Civic-Shuttle is sold with wild popularity, because it combines dynamics, versatility, practicality and excellent technical characteristics.
Continuing the development of minivans, Honda in 2011 launches the Fit Shuttle line, created on the basis of the most popular Honda Fit hatchback. The machine is equipped with a working unit with a volume of 1.5 liters and a hybrid - 1.3 liters. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars are produced.
Fit Shuttle is characterized by increased economy, large luggage space, ergonomics and excellent road behavior.
The car behaves well when driving on city streets. Meets the highest safety requirements. It is equipped with airbags, ABS, ESP.
The company was not limited to the release of these models. Under the Honda logo, many more cars are produced that are worthy of the attention of buyers.
