Honda Automobiles: 2015 Honda Fit

Overview
In an effort to provide enhanced protection for vehicle occupants and other road users, Honda has embraced a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety that seeks to provide a high level of active and passive occupant protection along with features that make the Fit more compatible with other vehicles in a collision, as well as mitigating injury to  pedestrians. Honda engineers designed the Fit to earn top-level collision safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Starting with its next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body-structure, the 2015 Fit features a host of standard active and passive safety features and includes many standard and available driver-assistive technologies.

Key New Safety and Driver-Assistive Features

  • Driver and Front Passenger SmartVent™ Side Airbags
  • Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
  • Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) – a feature of VSA
  • Hill Start Assist
  • Expanded View Driver’s Mirror
  • Honda LaneWatchTM
  • Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines

Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control1
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) is an Electronic Stability Control system that works in conjunction with the Fit’s Drive-by-Wire™ throttle and anti-lock brake systems to enhance control capability while the vehicle is accelerating, braking and cornering, or when the driver makes an emergency maneuver. VSA® functions by applying brake force to one or more wheels independently while also managing the throttle, ignition and fuel systems to help the vehicle maintain the vehicle’s stability and fidelity to the driver’s intended path of travel.

The VSA system continuously analyzes data from sensors that monitor wheel and vehicle speed, steering input, lateral G forces and yaw rate. It compares the driver’s control inputs with the vehicle’s actual response. Whenever the actual response falls outside of a predetermined acceptable range, VSA® intervenes with a corrective action. For instance, if VSA® detects an oversteer condition, the system may apply braking force to the outside front and rear wheels to counteract the unintended yawing effect. In the event of understeer, VSA® may apply braking to the inside rear wheel while reducing engine power to help return the vehicle to its intended course.

VSA® also provides a limited-slip differential effect for the front wheels by applying braking force to a slipping wheel, thereby redirecting driving force to the wheel with more traction. VSA® is calibrated to function in a near-transparent manner, and in many cases a driver will not even be aware of its operation. However, anytime the system is enhancing vehicle stability, an indicator light on the center instrument cluster will flash. While the driver can deactivate the VSA® stability enhancement and traction-control functions via a button on the instrument panel, ABS remains fully operational at all times.

Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS)
New to the Fit, Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) is a sophisticated system that can initiate steering inputs that prompt the driver to steer in the correct direction during cornering and in slippery road conditions.Using vehicle speed and steering angle data, Motion-Adaptive EPS works with Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) and Electric Power Steering to detect instability in slippery road conditions both during cornering and under braking and automatically initiates steering inputs aimed at prompting the driver to steer in the correct direction. This advanced technology supports the driver’s action in operating the vehicle more safely and comfortably.Three examples of how Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) functions in conjunction with VSA are:

Stabilizes Braking corrects the driver’s steering input to reduce vehicle instability when the driver is braking hard on road surfaces with different friction coefficients (such as pavement that is only partially covered with dirt or snow)

Mitigates Understeer corrects the steering inputs to mitigate understeer and help the driver trace the curve

Mitigates Oversteer corrects the steering inputs to mitigate oversteer and help the driver trace the curve

The Motion-Adaptive EPS system consists of a rack-and-pinion steering gear with an electric motor installed concentrically around the steering rack. To control the level of assist the Powertrain Control Module receives signals from a speed sensor and, coupled with a steering sensor for torque and rotation, then calculates the optimal amount of assist and sends a signal to the electric motor.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
The Fit is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist as standard equipment. A power brake booster offers a solid feel with high pedal rigidity. The ABS independently modulates braking power at each wheel to help the driver retain steering control during heavy braking. EBD automatically optimizes braking force between the front and rear wheels, helping to ensure that the Fit stops in the shortest distance possible, regardless of the number of passengers or amount of cargo that it is carrying. Brake Assist recognizes emergency braking situations, based on the speed of pedal application, and quickly helps the driver apply full braking force.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)2
The Fit is fitted with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that alerts the driver whenever the air pressure in one or more of the vehicle’s tires drops significantly below the recommended level. TPMS monitors and transmits information on tire air pressure to the ECU. When the pressure in one or more tires drops to a potentially critical level, it causes a low tire-pressure indicator to illuminate in the driver’s gauge cluster.

Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags
Both the driver and front passenger are protected by multiple supplemental restraint systems including advanced front airbags (SRS) that incorporate dual-stage and multiple-threshold activation technology. One or both of these airbags will be deployed only in the event of a sufficient frontal impact. If deployed, these airbags are capable of being inflated at different rates depending on crash severity, seatbelt use and other factors. Like other Honda vehicles, the driver’s front airbag is located in the steering wheel while the passenger airbag is located on the top of the dash. When deployed, the passenger airbag inflates upward and then toward the passenger to maximize its protective potential while reducing the likelihood of injuries being caused by the activation process itself. Honda was the first company to introduce this type of upward deploying airbag system, now used by virtually all automakers.

Driver and Front Passenger SmartVent™ Side Airbags
Side airbags mounted in the outboard area of each front seatback are designed to help provide pelvic and thorax protection for the driver and front passenger in the event of a severe side impact. In the Fit, a new side airbag design allows the side airbags to deploy in a manner that mitigates the risk of injury to a smaller seat occupant. This design eliminates the need for the previous front passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).

Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
The 2015 Fit includes side curtain airbags now with a rollover sensor system. The side curtain airbags, contained within the outboard sections of the headliner, deploy in the event of a sufficient side impact, providing a significant level of head protection in the window area. In the unlikely event of a rollover, a roll-rate sensor, along with multiple G sensors determine the rate of roll and deploy the side curtain airbags accordingly. Like the other airbag systems in the vehicle, the side curtain system utilizes sensors to determine the most appropriate timing of airbag deployment.

To provide the optimal level of protection for occupants, testing was performed to determine the most appropriate timing and rate of deployment in the unlikely event of a rollover. The system uses algorithms to continually evaluate the situation and determines whether a rollover is imminent. The roll-rate sensor and multiple G sensors determine the “scenario” and calculate the angle of roll and the speed of the vehicle in order to deploy the airbags at the proper time for optimum protection. In the case of a rollover, the side curtain airbags on both sides of the vehicle will deploy. However, in the event of a sufficient side impact that does not result in a rollover, only the airbags on the impacted side of the vehicle will deploy. The airbag maintains full inflation for approximately three seconds after inflation to allow for the increased duration of a rollover.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)
All Fit models are equipped with a child seat-mounting system called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) in the outboard rear seating positions. The LATCH system provides two lower anchors and an upper tether anchor. When used with a compatible child seat, the LATCH system provides attachment points between the child seat and the vehicle seat without having to use the vehicle’s seat belts. A tether anchor is available for the remaining middle seating position in the second row. All seat belts except the driver’s are equipped with a locking retractor that can be used to help secure any child seat. Both rear side doors are also equipped with child-proof door locks for added protection.

Driver’s and Front Passenger’s Seat-Belt Reminder System
To help increase seatbelt use, a driver’s and front passenger’s seat-belt reminder has been incorporated into the instrument cluster. After the vehicle is started, a weight sensor detects whether the front passenger seat is occupied. If the driver or front passenger has not already fastened their seat belt, an icon in the main gauge cluster illuminates and a chime sounds as a reminder.

Hill Start Assist
Hill Start Assist helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the driver switches from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is stopped on an incline. Hill Start Assist automatically activates when the vehicle senses a certain incline and is fully stopped in any forward or reverse gear. The system uses a longitudinal G-sensor along with a wheel speed sensor and steering angle sensor to control the hydraulic brake modulator. While activated, the brakes are released when the driver depresses the throttle to make the vehicle move.

Expanded View Driver’s Mirror
All Fit models are newly equipped with the Expanded View Driver’s Mirror that increases the driver’s field of vision by 4.2 degrees to provide a better view of objects to the back and side of the vehicle.

Honda LaneWatch™3 (EX, EX-L)
New to the Fit, the EX and EX-L trims include Honda’s LaneWatch™ display that uses a camera located at the bottom the passenger-side exterior mirror to display a wide-angle view of the passenger side roadway on the Display Audio screen. The image appears when the right turn signal is activated, or when a button on the end of the turn signal stalk is pressed.

The typical field of view for a passenger-side mirror is approximately 18 to 22 degrees, but the LaneWatch™ display field-of-view is about four times greater, or approximately 80 degrees. The system helps the driver to see traffic, as well as pedestrians or objects, in the vehicle’s blind spot. To help make judging distance easier, the display has three reference lines. Drivers should visually confirm roadway conditions prior to changing lanes.

On the navigation-equipped EX-L, when LaneWatch™ is in use and a navigation turn prompt is needed, the image changes to split-screen so that LaneWatch™ and navigation information can be displayed simultaneously. LaneWatch™ can also be customized to suit the driver’s preferences. Turn-signal activation of the LaneWatch™ system can be turned on or off, as can the three on-screen reference lines. Screen brightness, contrast and black level are also adjustable.

Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines
For the first time all Fit models receive a multi-angle rearview camera, viewable on the LX trim’s 5-inch color LCD screen and the EX and EX-L’s 7-inch Display Audio. The camera can show a top view, normal view or wide rear view when the transmission is in Reverse. The camera is located just below the license garnish separating the rear window and solid hatch. LX models feature static guidelines that help drivers gauge how close they are to an object, while EX and higher grades have dynamic guidelines that project the vehicle’s future path based on the driver’s steering wheel inputs..

Safety and Driver Assistive Features

 

 

1 VSA is not a substitute for safe driving. It cannot correct the vehicle’s course in every situation or compensate for reckless driving. Control of the vehicle always remains with the driver.
2 For optimal tire wear and performance, tire pressure should be checked regularly with a gauge. Do not rely solely on the monitor system. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
3 Display accuracy will vary based on weather, size of object and speed, and the display may not show all relevant traffic. The display is not a substitute for your own direct visual assessment of traffic conditions before changing lanes.