Honda provides family mobility

The highly versatile seven-seater adds another vital model to the Honda passenger car offering in South Africa and is set to win the quality-driven, hi-tech brand many new friends.

The Mobilio brings the space and practicality of a family-friendly MPV within reach of a wider audience while delivering all the style, technology and engineering prowess the Honda marque has become famous for. This will allow buyers seeking a spacious, seven-seater solution to consider a stylish Honda product for the first time.

The Mobilio is offered in two trim levels, Trend and Comfort, both powered by the same, zippy 1.5l petrol engine, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. Both the engine and the gearbox have already proven their mettle in the highly regarded Honda Ballade.

The advanced four-cylinder, 16-valve power unit is fitted with Honda’s i-VTEC intelligent variable valve timing system and has a maximum power output of 88kW at 6 600rpm linked to a torque peak of 145Nm at 4 600rpm.

But it’s the interior of the Mobilio that will be hogging the limelight. Comfortable seats, generous head- and legroom for all three rows of seats and plenty of luggage space ensure a feeling of luxury and privacy. Despite its comparatively compact footprint, the Mobilio offers sedan-like space but with the benefit of three seating rows.

The 60:40 split second-seat row has a slide and recline function that allows the space to be optimised depending on preference and requirement. With a large door aperture and the second row’s one-motion fold-down function, access to the rear seating row is easy and convenient.

The third seat row is split 50:50 with a reclining function and offers ample legroom. Both seat rows can be folded flat and tumbled forward to maximise cargo space. Even with all seats in place, the Mobilio will swallow a full 223l of cargo, which increases to 521l with the third-row seat folded down.

Honda’s advanced compatibility engineering body construction means the new Mobilio provides peace-of-mind safety by managing collision forces, while active and passive safety equipment includes dual front air bags, head restraints, front inertia reel seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, as well as ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution.

“The arrival of the Mobilio represents another important chapter for Honda in South Africa,” said Graham Eagle, operations director at Honda Motor Southern Africa.

“It extends our model offering to include a value-added seven seater with real space, comfort, style and dynamic appeal.

“Vitally, the Mobilio also meets Honda’s stringent quality and safety standards, providing our customers with real peace of mind, while the interior’s versatility and practicality will ensure it delivers what MPVs do best: meet a very wide spectrum of family and lifestyle motoring requirements,” Eagle said.