Honda Mobilio: 5 Things to know

The Honda Mobilio is an MPV based on the Brio seemingly stretched to its limits. The second-generation was launched in 2014 and since then has appeared in many markets including Thailand, Indonesia, and India. In the Philippines, it competes against the Suzuki Ertiga, and the Toyota Avanza. While the market here has not exactly warmed up to its styling, it is nevertheless a surprisingly good performer. Here are 5 things that set it apart from its competitors.  

Mileage

The Mobilio uses a 1.5-litre i-VTEC Petrol engine or a 1.5-litre Earth Dream i-DTEC Diesel engine. The i-DTEC engine with its 24.2 kmpl mileage is extremely frugal. Even when mated to an automatic transmission. This being a Honda, comes with Honda’s modern CVT. This uses a locking torque converter to avoid the rubber banding effect that these Honda CVTs were infamously plagued with in the past. Other than giving it a smoother power delivery, the torque converter also increases the durability of the CVT. The petrol option is also pretty efficient if driven sensibly and can easily return 20 kmpl. Compared to these figures, the Toyota Avanza only returns around 15.8 kmpl.

Power

Like we already said the diesel is the one to go for if you are looking for mileage. However, most people stay away from diesel engine when they are looking for power. The Mobilio would, however, beg to differ. Its 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine produces 99 bhp of maximum power and 200 Nm of peak torque while the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine produces 117 bhp of power and 145 Nm of torque. It is, in fact, the most powerful engine in its segment and beats the Ertiga and the Avanza producing 94 bhp and 106 bhp respectively. Add that to the fact that it weighs only a little more than the Honda City. However, the Mobilio is meant for carrying more than just the driver and added weight will not only hamper the power but also the mileage. Still, the engine copes well and does not feel sluggish under most loads. What’s more, the CVT comes with a sports mode that sharpens the fuel delivery and engine response allowing for a fun and spirited drive.

Space

It is an MPV after all, and this is what MPVs do. The Mobilio is longer than the Ertiga at 4386 mm while the Ertiga is wider at 1683 mm and also taller at 1685 mm. But the Mobilio pulls a Tardis and turns out to be bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. The third row has class-leading space with enough headroom and legroom for humans with legs. Taller people will have to ask the second-row people to slide their seats a bit but at least that is a possibility in the Mobilio. The elbow room is a little tight but nothing to worry about. Cargo space is equally large. On the whole, it can rival much bigger MPVs in terms of space, let alone the Ertiga.

Interior Quality

Honda is known for the quality and practicality it offers in the cabin of its cars. The Mobilio is no different. Before its facelift in 2017, the Mobilio shared a lot of its interior with the Brio much like the rest of the car. The new one, however, turns its focus to the Jazz and the City. While the materials used inside are mostly hard plastics they don’t feel out of place and lend to the reliability and practicality of the car. Thankfully there is also some nice smattering of metallic and glossy touches. Infotainment is handled by a user-friendly 7” touchscreen infotainment system coupled with a 4 speaker system with all the usual connectivity options including Bluetooth and USB. It also gets audio streaming while the top variant gets HDMI support along with navigation. The air conditioner gets its own digital controls instead of analog style knobs.

Drive

The Mobilio is set up to be a nimble performer. Don’t forget this MPV has an RS version on offer. While even this RS version is not exactly a canyon carver, it is much easier to drive than the competition. Its compact dimensions make it easy to steer on city roads and through narrow parking spots. The peppy engine makes it easy to do overtake maneuvers. The higher than expected ground clearance at 185 mm means that it can be confidently driven over bad roads. Frankly, it is better than some so-called SUVs at doing this. And that counts for a lot.

Honda has a lot of cars within its own portfolio that can make the Mobilio redundant. And yet the Mobilio not only performs in its own stable but also punches the competition from other car makers. Maybe we need to look at the Mobilio as more than just an overstretched Brio.