It is compact on the out side but it is incredibly spacious
in the inside. It can seat 7 and is more fuel efficient than a Hatch back. And
that’s the Honda Mobilio for you. An MPV Based on the Amaze and Brio plat form.
The front has been Superb a bit lot but the average person will have to look
hard to spot the differences. The changes are in the bumper and the fat chrome
grill mainly. They have given it a slightly more macho look. The rear look is
pretty good with wrappers on tail lamps and floating roof giving it a station
wagon like feel. The dimension platform has been stretched to 4386 MM in length
and wheel base is generous 2652 MM. What’s amazing about the Mobilio though is
the space inside it. It’s the three row 7 seater which offers excellent
flexibility in space, with all rows in place it still gets 223 Liters of boot
space bigger than most hatch backs and enough for two big suit cases. Flip and
fold the 50-50 split third row and you will be free up for a Sedan riding with 521 liters of boot space.
The middle row too can be folded for even more flexibility. Now I have to say
the Honda Mobilio has one of the best middle row as far as the MPV Has go. This
row is really comfortable, you have lot of leg room and you have things like
drop down arm rest as for your comfort and you get also can recline the seat if
you want to. Not only that you can also push it forward and backward to
increase legroom for the rear passenger, which by the way for third row which
is not really bad. There are enough comfort features in the middle row too,
such as an AC Panel which has separate condenser and blowers to increase
cooling at the rear. Getting in to the third row is really easy but you do have
to crow chip for it. Now the third row in any MPV is usually a punishment
mostly because you really have not much space but not so with the Mobilio. This
is one of the most spacious third rows you could find among in MPV’s of the
segment. Not only that, you also have things like me able to recline the back
rest for added comfort and you have decent knee room over here except that
probably you knees are little raise because its height is little low but other
wise this row is really comfortable and very usable as in term.
The nice large windows make sure the passenger won’t really
get hanged over back there. The beige interior may be a paint to keep clean but
again to add feeling of space. The Mobilio isn’t that great in the features
though, its got all though I expect, two air bags in front and ABS to ensure
safety, the dashboard is the same as the Brio and the Amaze but the instrument
panels is slightly different with the blue rings surrounding the 3 pod meter
console. It does not have automatic climate control and speed sensing locks or
extra charging points even but it has steering audio controls, powered outside
mirrors and power windows as standard.
So right now I am
driving the Honda Mobilio Diesel which has the 1.5 L i-dtec engine 100 PS of power
and 200 NM of torque, this engine is very familiar with the Amaze and the Honda
City but here what Honda has been done, is they have lowered the gear ratio a
bit and that has make a world of differences in this car the Mobilio. Pick up
is instant, hardly any trouble like and they have also worked from Amaze’s
level a bit which means it is very refined inside the cabin, you hardly hear
the engine noise here.
What’s even better is the ground clearance, the 15 inch 185
width tyros are the wider as seen at this plat form, and has got an SUV
rivaling 189 MM of ground clearance which is pretty re assuring. Body role is
hardly evident and it drives pretty much like a car. I think this car can be
afforded very sorted as far the MPV is go, nothing much to think about here. What’s
really good is the fuel efficiency, 24.2 KMPL, even during our drive, we got
close to the 20 KMPL overall. That will be one of its biggest selling points.
Overall for some one looking for a versatile vehicle that can seat 7 and carry
luggage, with car like handling and of course excellent fuel efficiency, the
Honda Mobilio seems to be the near perfect vehicle in its segment.
