Honda Civic 2008 Group

Montreal Honda: 2011 Fit Road test

Complete test drive: 2011 Honda Fit

The small Montreal Honda Fit is with us for many years. Originally, it was only to replace the hatchback version of the Civic disappeared in 2001. The Fit was not in his first year as it had rolled his hump in other countries. She was even close to the renewal. It occurs in 2009. While his first draft lines favored more "utilitarian", we present the Fit has sleek, cutting off the wind and seems poised to party. And with the price of gasoline continues to rise, the small Honda Fit is even more desirable.

The 2011 Montreal Honda Fit is available in Version DX, LX and Sport. Standard features of the DX being a bit stingy, the LX will probably be the popular choice. As for me, it's the sport that has been with me a whole week. Let's take a closer look ...

The boarding is easy thanks to wide doors. The bucket seats in cloth treat their occupants despite a low lateral support. The rear seat is very upright but the legroom is acceptable. The dashboard is rather dull. Plastics are hard and only the blue light indicator is the most beautiful effect. Yet the dials single digits on a black background are highlighted by this light. Same for the central block whose radio display is highlighted. It is also very original to have placed the big wheels of ventilation on the left side of the central block. They are so easily manipulated by the driver. Right panel, not a single glove but rather two. The bottom one is of normal size and will serve more to put the instruction booklet that your gloves. The upper, smaller, contains the AUX and USB.

So you can plug in your iPod, let it inside the trunk and control it with commands from the PA system. By the way, the sound of the audio system was very well in the Sport version. Note that each version, you get two speakers. So it's two for the DX, LX and four for six for Sport. The art of complicating things! Some parts of the instrument panel as these are fragile cup holders placed in front of the shifter that can move very easily with our hands. Parts that will eventually make a clicking time. One thing that I had not seen for ages: the intermittent wipers with delay is not adjustable. In fact, it happened again recently in a Fiat. I hope this is not a new fad! Whether to put a note in this cabin is its many storage spaces, particularly for coffee cups! There are six cup holders in front and two rear in such a small car. Wow!

Montreal Honda dealers watch out!

Since storage is important in the cockpit, the cargo space is also very spacious. Releases a large tailgate opening with a load sill a little high. Even with the seat in place, but there is enough space with the seat 60/40 down, it's practically cavernous with a perfectly flat floor. The seat is very easy to reduce, whether by the luggage or the rear door.

Motor side is Honda's all over! A nice little four-cylinder i-VTEC 1.5-liter single overhead cams and 16 valves. Producing 117 horsepower, but it is dynamic acceleration grumpy. Admittedly, the sound is not perfect and engine noise and road often invade the cabin. This engine can transmit power through an automatic five-speed manual transmission or an account that unfortunately only five speeds. If I say "unfortunately" is that a sixth report would lower the engine speed and thereby the noise at highway speeds. And although fuel consumption is excellent, it might drop even a few tenths. On the arm speed, it takes up the ring to engage reverse gear is a little low. Say that one must have long fingers! The suspension of reactions on dry pavement but degraded it is the lot of small cars with short wheelbases. Brakes are front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS ABS as standard. It is more than enough to slow the car not really heavy. The electric power steering is perhaps the weakest point of this mechanism. It is not accurate and I spent a lot of time correcting my trajectory. The Fit Sport rides on 16-inch Dunlop tires while other names of merely 15 inches. Interesting detail to note: the high beams are powerful allowing you to see clearly even when darkness fell.

Something that in Montreal Honda has not neglected, is security. All models, the DX to the Sport are equipped with antilock brakes with force distribution brake. Airbags and front dual-stage dual-threshold, front airbags and side curtain airbags are also included. Many other systems, such as active head restraints, are offered as standard equipment. Only assistance to vehicle stability (VSA) with traction control is reserved for the Sport model.

What do you Montreal Honda dealers think?

Here! A small trial unpretentious for a small car that's worth. It may seem to be a lot of negatives but in fact, competition is not really better. We are in a very competitive price range that makes the manufacturers have to cut where they can do without you too are affected. Yes, the interior is very plastic, the transmission has only five reports and the brakes to rear drum brakes! And then ... She can take you from deck A to point B in comfort perfectly acceptable so I think the goal is reached. The Montreal Honda Fit LX is the model of choice for its equipment enough to complete a low price point. Because what matters in this category is the price!

Check our other test drives for:
CR-V 2011 test drive
Accord Coupe HFP 2011

Test conditions

Conducted from September 6 to 12, 2011.

Days of sunshine, clouds and rain, between 10 and 17 C.

Model tested: 2011 Honda Fit Sport

Price according www.honda.ca (November 22, 2011):

· DX: $ 14 480

· DX-A: $ 15 780

· LX: $ 16 880

· SPORT: $ 18 780

Price as Tested: $ 18,780 + tax and options

Distance: 377.7 km (53% highway)
Average consumption: 6.5 L/100km

Engine speed to 100 km / h: 3000 rounds / minute

Engine speed to 115 km / h: 3500 rounds / minute

Vehicle supplied by Honda Canada . thanks to Honda Montreal.

Honda Montreal: CR-V 2011 test drive

Complete test drive: 2011 Honda CR-V

It's very special to spend an Accord Coupe HFP an SUV Honda CR-V. Sometimes, there are those chances ... Thank you Honda Montreal, The CR-V has been with us for many years. When it was unveiled in 1998, the CR-V was quite alone. Toyota had its RAV4 while General Motors relied on his partner then, Suzuki, to follow the parade. Subaru also made a breakthrough with his Forester. In fact, in this category, Suzuki was alone with his Sidekick end who rolled his hump since the 70's showing the world that could make all-terrain while being small. Later redesigned and completely renovated in 2008, the 2011 Honda CR-V is still at a crossroads as pictures of his successor has already been released by its manufacturer. It must be said that there are now many people in this category and pushes Kia Sportage with its designers. This requires that manufacturers think not only be functional but also to have more style.

Redesigned in 2008 the figure had rounded corners and the CR-V looked much bigger than previous generations. The CR-V is still in the game today but as the competition is very fierce in this category, Honda must redo its homework in terms of design. From what we saw for the future, the CR-V keeps a deja vu primed to modern. Honda Montreal warned me, and for one last hurray, the 2011 Honda CR-V comes in three trim levels: the LX, EX and EX-L. In the latest version equipped, you can still add as GPS, backup camera and voice recognition. This is the version EX-L with the options I've tested.

The boarding is easy thanks to wide doors. The front seats are clad in leather very comfortable despite lateral support means. The space for the head, hips and legs is not lacking much in the front and rear. It should be emphasized at the rear bench seat that moves forward and backwards to promote space for passengers or cargo space. The design of the dashboard is getting old and with its colors drabes this basket trimmed dials without personality. If we exclude the central display surrounded by tiny buttons, all is well placed and easy to operate. The audio system reads multiple audio formats from CD aging on satellite radio through the iPod with the USB plug was unfortunately placed in storage between the two front seats. Its performance is excellent. The GPS, although somewhat more friendly than previously tested in the Agreement, not worth the extra investment. The shift lever is always located in the dashboard of freeing the space between the two front seats.

If we can say that the 2011 Honda CR-V is not an athlete, honors the term "utility". Indeed, the cargo space is very well designed and modular wish. First, the "picnic table" is still there after so many years. She can not bear much load but she withdrew from the sight of passers-by all objects that you should not leave it in your SUV. If this board is removed, the space is vast. The threshold loading could be lower but it's not a big problem. The bench, which, as I said before, can be moved forward or backward is divided into three parts 40/20/40. You can roll each part independently which does not give a flat floor. But Honda has thought of! You can raise the seat and attach it to an anchor designed for this purpose. And voila! A large cargo area with a flat floor. Just great. Hope this versatility will continue in the next generation.

Mechanically, all 2011 Honda CR-V is powered by the engine i-VTEC 2.4-liter that produces 180 horsepower at 6,800 revolutions / minute. Its torque is 161 lb.-ft. at 4400 rpm. / Min. The only gearbox available to team up with this four-cylinder five-speed automatic. But as Honda Montreal said: only the EX-L model takes advantage of the four-wheel traction Real Time 4WD standard while others are pulled by the front wheels. Real Time 4WD system that takes power only when the front wheels lack traction. Although it can get to the cottage, the Honda CR-V is not a trapper. The engine is no miracle. It is appropriate at cruising speed but clearly feels he is overwhelmed when overtaking or accelerating frank. The conduct of this SUV is nice however and the disadvantages associated with SUVs are well contained. Thus, despite the high center of gravity, the body does not lean in corners too. ABS disc brakes, ventilated front and solid rear, are powerful and independent suspension is comfortable despite the larger tires. These, the Bridgestone Dueler H / T, are 17 inches in diameter on all models. The rack and pinion steering is precise enough for this type of vehicle.

So to all the team at Honda Montreal: this is a fine vehicle that is likely to be completely redesigned for model year 2012. He has great quality and is very comfortable to use over long distances. Friends of mine who drove to North Carolina a roundtrip say only the good. That's when overtaking and quick starts that we would like more horses. Besides, I'd like to try it with four adults aboard loaded with luggage. The lack of horses must be really obvious. On the other hand, its cargo space and rear seat are models of versatility. The fact that we can move forward and backward to adjust the seat and back are rare features in competition. And since I want to finish on a positive note, I will come back no GPS!

Check our other Honda Montreal Dealers test drives:
Honda 2011 Fit Road test
Accord Coupe HFP 2011

Test conditions

Conducted from August 8 to 12, 2011.

Days of sunshine, clouds and rain, between 17 and 26 C.

Model tested: Honda CR-V EX-L Navi 2011

Price according www.honda.ca (October 19, 2011):

LX 2WD: $ 26 290
LX: $ 28 290
EX 2WD: 29 490 USD
EX: $ 31 490
FORMER L: 33 490 USD
EX-L Navi: $ 35 590

Price as Tested: 42 $ 488.33 taxes included

Distance: 635.8 km (43% highway)
Average consumption: 9.0 L/100 km

Engine speed to 100 km / h: 1900 rounds / minute

Engine speed to 115 km / h: 2200 rounds / minute

Vehicle supplied by Honda Canada .

Honda Montreal : Accord Coupe HFP 2011

Complete test drive: 2011 Honda Accord Coupe HFP

I would first like to welcome the arrival of Honda Canada within my staff. Honda manufactures many of its vehicles in Ontario in over several years to figure topped the charts with his Canadian sales model Civic. It was therefore important to me that Honda Montreal is formally integrated into the pages of what is now done.

When automotive journalists reserve their press cars, they do not always know what level of equipment will have their vehicle. When I booked this Honda Accord Coupe, I expected a performance car but rather bourgeois as its target customers has generally exceeded the stage of youthful follies. What was my surprise to see in the parking lot of the Honda Accord all black clad, black alloy wheels and low profile body. First comment that I went through my head: I could never do less than 10 L/100 km with this car!

I must say that when I gave this mandate to try only as fuel efficient cars, several told me that I would have only small cars flat and tasteless. Well, there are many exceptions! And this 2011 Honda Accord Coupe HFP is one. As this Agreement is very different from the rest of the family, I will tell you about that version of HFP. If you're like me, you wonder what do those three letters. HFP Honda Factory Performance. This is the new powerful entity such as Honda, Toyota TRD or Nismo Nissan. The Honda Accord Coupe is the first car to enjoy this treatment.

You do not get on board this car, it goes down! The car is low and it is obviously necessary to bend a little more to be seated. A few small decorative touches are exclusive to the model HFP as carpets embroidered on the front and a numbered badge because it must be said that HFP is limited to 200 copies. Up front, it's comfortable on beautiful leather bucket although somewhat more lateral support would not be too many. The seats are leather, it's more slippery when it would be better retained. The design of the dashboard does not break anything. In fact, the sporty image that HFP version tries to project to the outside was not transmitted inside. So we end up with a dashboard whose style is straight out of a '90s Civic. The dials are black with gray writing and although they are very readable, the car looks a little bare. The steering wheel provides control of certain commands such as audio system, cruise control and Bluetooth telephony. Speaking of Bluetooth, it is part of the multimedia system of the Agreement HFP. To be polite, this system is far too complicated to be understood easily and quickly. It took me three days to successfully pair my phone as it does in fact voice commands. I would have much to say about this multimedia system whose interface seems to have been drawn with a TRS-80 but I will focus on the GPS. And it deserves a paragraph ...

We are made to when the consumer GPS can display images in 3D. This Honda (I also "suffered" in a CR-V) was frozen in time. Colours fade, writes coarse and difficult to read, even at a standstill, and French voice guidance is much too "synthesized". Regarding guidance, in Montreal, no problem. Probably in all major cities, there is no problem. But the campaign? I live in the countryside and if you live away from major roads, well, you're on your own! Let me explain. I return to Montreal and I go to the Joliette region. On the highway, no problem. GPS has released a little before hitting the road for Joliette 131 (like other GPS models for that matter).

So, away from Montreal, I confronted him shortly before leaving to take small ranks since I know very well that it's shorter. GPS update would simply recalculated its path to follow mine. Not that of Honda! He draws a dotted line to a straight line from your current position and your point of arrival and taunts you by saying that this road is not "verified" and that you should return to "his" way! I'm sorry but a GPS to know all the roads, especially those who have been around for decades because it must be able to get out of trouble in an area you do not know. So, unless it is included in the vehicle you want, I would not give a penny for this equipment. This is definitely not the point and I hope that a reputable company like Honda's supplier will not GPS. It does not remain in all major cities. Phew! It feels good ...

The sound quality of the audio system of 270 watts is very good and it is possible to connect an iPod using a USB wireless located in the small box between the seats. This is fine except that it should clarify this small space to be less difficult to connect an appliance at night. And it's not exclusive to Honda since many manufacturers up the USB in this dark and difficult to access. The rear seat access is laborious but I do not take offense because, for the small family and friends, choose a sedan. The trunk is not huge and if you think a larger lowering the back seat, know that the opening is not very wide. For your major purchases, shop in a store that offers delivery! I still managed to rush a lot of little boxes.

Honda Montreal, adventures.

So I think the highlight of the 2011 Honda Accord HFP is not his but his engine compartment. This coupe HFP is powered by the 3.5-liter V6 producing 271 horsepower at 6200 r / min and a torque of 250 lb-ft at 5000 rev / min. It is a power output at high rpm but it grows. It grows so it is difficult to make a smooth start. The only gearbox available is the six-speed manual. It requires a good right arm but it works I was not disappointed. In addition, this power-train runs on regular gasoline and fuel consumption is more than reasonable. Braking is powerful thanks to the four brake disks and, of course, ABS with electronic braking force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist is standard. This Agreement rolls on wheels HFP exclusive on which were mounted tires of 245/40R19 Michelin Primacy MXM4 94W. It provides good handling but it's a little hard on the butt. Tires of this size combined with the suspension lowered by one inch of this model undoubtedly harden the depreciation of the holes and bumps in the road. The rack and pinion steering is light on occasions, prove that this Agreement retains some features of the bourgeois regular version.

Montreal honda dealers, here! A nice car from Honda, but which earned a few nicknames. The one I remember is that it is "an old car with a young kit"! A few things could still improve this version as a younger, sporty interior. It is the purpose of this release. A major overhaul of the audio interface / bluetooth / gps should also be put on the agenda. Compared to systems Infiniti, Ford and GM, among others, he now appears dinosaur. Indeed, this could be it a coupe for older people who refuse to grow old. Basically, all those who love to ride refuse to grow old, thank you to the team at Honda Montreal for their support and sponsorship.

Here Check our other Honda montreal dealers test drives:
Honda CR-V 2011 test drive
Honda Fit 2011 Road test in montreal

Test conditions

Performed from 2nd to 9th of september, 2011.

Days full of sunshine, clouds, rain and hail, between 17 and 30 C.

Model tested: Honda Accord Coupe HFP 2011

Price according www.honda.ca :

Single version: $ 37 890

Price as Tested: $ 063.03 45 all inclusive

Distance: 414.6 km (48% highway)
Average consumption: 9.4 L/100 km

Engine speed to 100 km / h: 2200 rounds / minute

Engine speed to 115 km / h: 2550 rounds / minute

Vehicle supplied by Honda Canada . / sponsored by Honda Montreal