USA Today Previews the 2014 Honda FIT Electric Vehicle

By James R. Healey, USA TODay

Honda's Fit is a terrific small car, and turning it into an electric makes it better.

It's quieter. It's smoother. A different suspension improves its ride and handling.

But you can't buy one; lease only, Honda says. Lease is $389 per month for 36 months, no money down, and includes maintenance, collision coverage, navi updates and roadside aid.

You also likely can't get one. Available since July 20, but only in California and Oregon. Some East Coast markets will get a few next spring. Honda plans only 1,100 total 2013 and 2014 models.

Honda explains: "By carefully controlling the lease volumes and regions at this stage, we can assure the successful EV experience while continuing to develop the technology, lower costs and learn about our customers' electric-vehicle needs and desires."

It's a "compliance car," made to meet rules in some states for sale of a minimum number of EVs. More's the pity. The size, style and feisty persona of Fit seem just the thing to elevate battery power from a good deed to a mass-market good deal.

Government rates it 82 miles on a charge; 118 miles per gallon-equivalent in combined city/highway driving. We could only get the range gauge to about 70 after long charge on 120 volts. But, reassuringly, it seemed to drop one mile in range for each mile driven, even using lots of full throttle.

Three mode settings vary the electric motor's horsepower: 123 in Sport, 101 in Normal, 63 in Economy. We used normal, mostly.

The only significant practical drawback in Fit's conversion to an EV: battery placement eliminates the spiffy flip-up articulation of the rear seats (still fold down), so no huge open space in the middle of the for tall or bulky cargo.

Very nice machine. Drives even better than the gasoline version. Quieter, rides smoother, seems to handle at least as well despite what's presumably extra weight.

The simple EV info screen tells you plenty and doesn't bombard you with gratuitous graphics and extraneous data. Probably won't suit those who need repeated validation of their decision to buy an EV, but more than plenty for most drivers.

Front seats have too much lumbar bulge so might get uncomfy on longer trips; depends on your physique.