Comparison Test: 2015 Honda Fit vs 2015 Nissan Versa Note

Value

Brendan says:

Right off the bat, the Note’s at something of a disadvantage here. Sure, the SR trim looks sharp, but it drives flat, just like the regular car. Cosmetic enhancements are hard to put a price on (outside of Beverly Hills), and given the only minor increase in equipment, I’d recommend the Note SL, or just sticking with the regular SV.

However, even though buying the SR includes paying a premium for looks, it’s very competitively priced against Honda’s offerings. The Fit EX we tested is effectively a trim level above the Versa, which prices out approximately identically to a CVT-equipped Fit LX. The latter rides on 15-inch alloy wheels, doesn’t have a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and just has the basic cloth interior; it’s less fancy than the Note both inside and out – but then again the Nissan’s missing heated seats.

Fuel economy is too close to call really, with the Fit earning a real-world average of 7.4 L/100 km and the Note scoring 7.1 L/100 km over the same distance. A difference of a few tenths like this is a dead heat, as a moment or two’s idling while shunting around for pictures could even things out. The Note technically wins here, and we’d warrant it would open a bigger gap versus a manual Honda, but I’m inclined to label it a draw.

The subcompact market is as cutthroat over these small details as you might expect, and the real deal here can fluctuate back and forth depending who has a 0.9 percent advantage in monthly financing. Having said that, the Fit has consistently held a strong portion of its resale value, and will doubtless continue to do so. It’s not the cheapest of the two, but we’d declare it the best value overall.

2015 Honda Fit EX vs 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR. Click image to enlarge

Conclusion

With some of the first-generation Fit’s fun-to-drive character blunted by increased size and weight, and some of the Versa’s French-connection flavour dialed down in favour of frugality, I expected this test to be neck and neck. Usually, any comparison comes down to a series of trade-offs, or a personal choice based on taste. Would sir prefer the red or white with dinner – that sort of thing.

Here, however, the Fit is far and away the better car. It’s faster, more flexible to use, just as comfortable, very close on price, and costs about the same to operate. We still feel the Note is a good buy if you can get a good buy on one, but in the subcompact segment, it’s survival of the Fit.

Pricing: 2015 Honda Fit EX
Base Price (EX 5dr): $19,195
Options: $135 (Metallic Paint); $1300 (CVT)
Freight: $1,995
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $22,725

Pricing: 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR
Base Price (SR 5dr): $18,698
Options: $135 (Metallic Paint)
Freight: $1567
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $20,500