Honda Mobilio (2017)

Synopsis

Honda is one of the leading automobile manufacturers of the world and has a lot of big names in their stable that made a lot of impact at the world's stage and got praise and success. This Japanese automobile company is steadily making its progress in the Indian market also. Recently, they showcased their Brio-based mini-MPV given the name, Mobilio at 2013 Indonesia International Motor Show in Jakarta which made its entry in Indian market on 23rd July, 2014. It is a seven-seater MPV based on the platform of Brio and Amaze, actually can be called as the third product on this platform. The price range of Honda Mobilio is Rs. 6,49,000 - Rs. 10,86,000 and it is available in 7 variants - Petrol E, Petrol S, Petrol V, Diesel E, Diesel S, Diesel V and Diesel RS. Let's take a closer look at the details of this MPV.

Exterior

The exterior of Honda Mobilio shares a similar look with Brio at the front but not altogether same. It has got some new stylish features which make it unique and comfortable as well. It includes impressive and sharp cat eye shaped curvy headlights with integrated clear lens indicators, stylish bonnet, a large front grille with a prominent chrome bar running along the center, nose with an aggressive company's logo, sporty bumper with newer faux air dam at bottom surrounded by a pair of round fog lamps, electrically adjustable body colored ORVMs with integrated side indicator and a floating D-pillar that hovers over the shoulder line.

Honda Mobilio comes equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels that goes well with the aggressive flared arches, body colored door handles, kink in the belt-line, a curved tailgate with an angular recess for the license plate in the center, tail lights been integrated into both the rear panel as well as tailgate and the rear windshield with a wiper, washer and defogger.

Interior

Honda has picked the dashboard from Brio or Amaze with certain subtle changes. The high quality materials are used to design the interiors which are dipped in classy beige and black shades along with wooden trims on the dashboard and door panels. The major change seen is the availability of an audio-visual navigation touchscreen infotainment system which is easy to access and operate. The roof mounted AC with three vents and three fan speeds at the rear side along with chromed driver side AC vents are quite chillier.

There is a plenty of legroom and headroom for the front passengers while there is a little discomfort at the third row for tall heights. All the seats in the rows can be reclined in order to provide a maximum comfort. The seats are wrapped in artificial leather which gives it a classy look along with center arm rests but they do not fold flat though. The three spoke power steering wheel along with metallic strips and chromed company's badge goes well with the interiors. Other features include power windows, accessory power sockets, vanity mirror, room lamps, head restraints and tick holder.

Dimensions and Fuel Tank Capacity

The Honda Mobilio MPV is much longer than the Ertiga with a length of 4386mm, width of 1683mm and a height of 1603mm as its dimensions. The car has a fuel tank capacity of 42.0-litres which gives you a great range.

Engine and Gearbox

The Mobilio MPV is available in both diesel as well as petrol options. The 1.5L, four cylinder DOHC iDTEC diesel engine generates a maximum power of 98.6 bhp at 3600 rpm with utmost torque of 200 Nm at 1750 rpm and is mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. On the other hand, 1.5L iVTEC petrol engine kicks out a maximum power of 118 bhp at 6600 rpm and a maximum torque of 145 Nm at 4600 rpm. This 1497cc petrol engine is mated to a 5 speed manual or 5-speed automatic gearbox.

Mileage

The ARAI tested figures for the petrol version is 17.3 kmpl on highways. On the other hand, the diesel variant is rated at 24.2 kmpl on highways. It serves as one of the most fuel efficient MPVs in India.

Brakes and Suspensions

The proficient braking system of MPV has got disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear that receive assistance from anti-lock braking system along with electronic brake force distribution. As far as suspension part is concerned, the front axle is coupled with McPherson Strut system while the rear axle is paired with a torsion beam which keeps the vehicle balanced.

Ride and Handling

It has a large wheelbase of 2652mm and a good ground clearance of 189mm for a stable and bump-free ride. The Mobilio petrol weighs 85 kg less as compared to the diesel one which makes it lighter in weight and a bit more bouncy. The ride quality feels stiffer in the petrol version and it serves as a nimble handler that feels more or less Amaze-like drive.

Safety Features

For the safety, it is featured with key-less entry, advanced engine immobilisers, dual front airbags, ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution), 3-point ELR seat belts, side impact protection, traction control, child safety lock and central locking system.

Variants and Shades

Honda Mobilio is available in seven shades - Brilliant Gold Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Carnelian Red Pearl, Majestic Blue Metallic, Tafetta White, Urban Titanium and the Pearl Black exclusively for the RS version. Honda Mobilio is available in 7 variants which are Petrol E, Petrol S, Petrol V, Diesel E, Diesel S, Diesel V and Diesel RS.

Variant-wise features of Honda Mobilio

The E variants is equipped with 2nd and 3rd row reclining seats, AC, power steering and a tilt adjustable steering. The S adds a 2-DIN audio system, steering mounted controls, rear AC vents, rear defogger, keyless entry and driver seat height adjustmens. The top-end V gets dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, alloy wheels, rear wiper and washer, foglights, two-tone interior and second row sliding seats. The Mobilio RS diesel gets projector headlamps, chrome garnishing on the outside, electrically adjustable and folding wing mirrors with turn indicators, and a tailgate spoiler. ABS and EBD are standard across all diesel variants of the car

Price

The ex-showroom, Delhi price range for this luxurious compact MPV is INR Rs. 6,49,000 - Rs. 10,86,000, which may vary.

Verdict

Overall, Honda Mobilio seems like a power pack of performance, style, comfort, space, luxury, technology and price. It competes with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Chevrolet Enjoy.

Honda Mobilio Diesel vs. Toyota Innova Diesel