Generous Fit: Honda spruces up its subcompact

It's still small, but Honda found ways to make more room inside its popular Fit while adding some pizzazz to the front and high-end amenities in a new model presented Monday.

One of the most anticipated introductions at the Detroit Auto Show, the new Fit was technically a tad shorter and wider, but the gains of inside legroom made it feel like a much more generous mid-sized saloon.

Honda boosted horsepower by 13 to 130, hoping to address criticisms of being underpowered.

It now comes with an all-new direct-injected 1.5-liter DOHC engine that Honda says elevates gas mileage, 41 miles per gallon (17 kilometers per liter) on the highway, and makes for a smoother ride.

'The Honda Fit is a small car with big aspirations. Faster, more fuel-efficient and more fun, it's a subcompact with larger-than-life-capabilities,' said John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda also migrated some high-end model amenities to the 2015 Fit, due to hit dealers in spring next year.

They include improved smart phone connectivity to the seven-inch (18-centimeter) touchscreen console monitor, and Honda's Lane Watch technology, which allows the driver to see through right-side blind spots on the monitor.

It also comes with Bluetooth capacity, backup cameras, and, as an option, leather seats for the first time.

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