Okay, if you are going to compare with the CL-S which is a V6, and the TSX which is at 2.4L engine, these are very different engines altogether. One is a V6 which is expected to be smoother than the small 1.5L 4 banger, and the other is the 2.4L inline 4 which, due to it's displacement makes it smoother upon acceleration. The latter case, smaller displacement engines are expected to be noiser and rougher than its larger displacement counterparts.

When I said smooth, I am not talking about hard accelerations, which the Fit will "THROW A FIT" and grumble and snarl roughly. I meant when the Fit is idling, its smooth, when it's cruising at 75 mph, I think it is smooth and not that noisy at all.

Why not compare the fit 1.5L engine with a V8? The V8 will trump the 1.5L engine, no doubt.

Let's compare apples with apples here.

In terms of small displacement engines, I really think the Honda fit is leading the pack, aside from the small displacement engines they use in Europe, which is known to be well tuned (given it's long history there).

 

I agree that the Fit at 75MPH is not that noisy [save for the tire drone], and I do like what I hear.

Smooth - "Nothing rides like a Cadillac." You're transported in living room luxury.

The driver/car relationship in a Fit is much higher than in a Deville.

Put the L15 engine next to a NorthStar engine they will both sound equally beautiful.

286HP just has a whole lot more 'body' than the 114HP. They both can sound rather mean if wound to their limits.

Beautiful engines.

What we all are about to see is an explosion in automotive engine technology. I mean we as in USA.

You're right, the European/Asian Nations have been conservation conscious for decades and decades - part of their history.

All the technology is coming together into a Global market. It's all about the money.

K_C_

 

The reason why the MT is at a higher RPM than the AT is because of the difference in the final gears. The MT has a higher final gear than then AT.

 

Equalize them by adding an overdrive sixth to the MT.

 

A 6th gear would definitely help for the MT. Notice how the CR-Z has a 6-Speed MT.

 

i prefer 60-65... i have cruised times though at 70-80 and its a little noisy and mpg suffers...really needs a m6 in it

 

somnambulant - now that's a word you don't hear often. Different from 'boged down', however.

This thing is geared/powered to be economical. Next generation of engine/gear box's.

 

People who drive standard (there aren't so many and they aren't forced too) should know how to drive it properly, so make like the A/T and downshift when needed...
And the echo/yaris can deal greatly with the small engine size and longer gears that will keep the car fuel efficient on highway, while not being too slow even without downshifts.
The echo hatchback m/t is probably the funniest sub compact to drive on NA market since the swift GTi actually (without compromising too much fuel efficient, comfort, or noise level). Nothing to do with the yaris (which is still decent).

And the versa, even if it has 6 gears and a supposedly good renault chassis, really sucks, much more than the yaris or the accent (more fun than the yaris, even if it's not a better car overall).
And in my old underpowered geo metro or my even older underpowered civic wagon, I don't mind the sound, but in a two years old, "powerful" car, that isn't that cheap to buy, I do care. Toyota are smoother, but it's not a reason to take a tercel 1995 as benchmark (which seems to be the case on the fit for noise level). And probably that better than oem 175 tires and a 6th gear would help a lot, wind noise are actually well contained (on our toyota camry and mr2 we have some). Just face it, Honda did wrong with the gearbox, they should fix it but they won't, it sucks. And even performance wise, a bit longer first gears would not hurt (and higher rev limiter).

And in Europe, most auto makers now adopted small turbo engines, like the fiat multi air, VW tsi, PSA THP, Renault TCE, which apparently give good daily drive performances (low end torque) and great fuel economy. I wonder why VW doesn't scrap the 2.slow 8 valves for the 1.4tsi in the next jetta.

 

I like to hear the engine in my car, but maybe I'm weird? Love my 5MT, only thing I could ask for is another gear.

I've driven lots of different cars.. is the Fit the quietest? No. Is it the worst? No way... Spent a lot of time in a late model Taurus.. that was a loud car on the inside.

 

I think the fit is actually in the top 3 worst cars concerning quietness (remove things that aren't cars like jeeps).

 

I was just stating my personal experience with my prior cars that's all. Obviously these are different engines (thanks for stating the obvious). Actually these are completely different cars w/ different purposes which my post clearly states. If you read my post carefully I did give honda props for an overall great car at a great price.

When you state....."I think it is smooth and not that noisy at all." This sounds more of an opinion than anything...btw what are you comparing this to? A tractor? A diesel truck?..please specify . I at least told you what I was comparing my personal experience to.

Now since we all want to compare "apples to apples" lets get exact sones / dba #'s to compare it to.

For sh*ts and giggles lets actually throw some test data out there for comparison instead of opinion.

Cruising @ 70 mph, sones/dBA

2011 FORD FIESTA SES 24.7/67.5

2010 HONDA FIT SPORT 25.2/67.6

2010 NISSAN VERSA 1.8 SL 23.8/66.0

2010 TOYOTA YARIS 27.0/69.2

2011 Ford Fiesta SES vs. 2010 Honda Fit Sport vs. 2010 Toyota Yaris vs. 2010 Nissan Versa Specifications - Motor Trend

If you want to know what some "Luxury" cars are here are some examples
Cruising @ 60 mph sones / dba (not quite 70 mph but close)

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS 18.3 sones (63.7 dbA)

2010 Lexus ES 350 17.0 sones (and 62.6 dbA)

Obviously these are way more expensive cars with way more insulation. But just wanted to show some other cars not in the same small displacement category.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...n/results.html

As a point of reference the average person talking is 6 sones.

 

It's the AT models.
The Yaris M/T is quieter than the M/T fit for sure.
The yaris m/t is at the noise level of the 6 speed versa at cruising speeds.

And how does the fiesta gets only 2.5 turns lock to lock while having a bigger steering ratio than the fit? The fit is 2.5 turns also and with 12.7 steering ratio, and imo the maximum angle of the wheels (and turning radius) isn't great, so it's worst on the fiesta? Or I don't understand what the steering ratio is. Both have the same turning circle and almost the same wheelbase..

The fit also has the worst 60-0.
The fiesta looks good (the only sub compact I didn't drive yet), just too bad that the interior is so small and impratical (I sat in it), and that it's a ford.