7 reasons to like the all-new Honda Mobilio

The Mobilio has the potential to become Honda’s next big thing.
CDN PHOTO/Lito Tecson

There’s a reason why seven-seater multipurpose vehicles are a big hit in our country at the moment.

These vehicles are practical because they can carry seven people, haul cargo or do a little of both at the same time.

This is the reason why MPVs like the Toyota Innova and Avanza, and Isuzu Crosswind are among the top selling vehicles in the Philippines.

Lately, a bunch of other MPVs joined the race such as the Suzuki Ertiga and the Chevrolet Spin. One that made the most noise was the entry of the Honda Mobilio.

The Mobilio has a lot of potential for the Philippine market that thrives for practicality.

“With a clear grasp of the local culture, we believe that the all-new Mobilio fits the needs and expectations of the Filipino family,” HCPI president and GM Toshio Kuwahara said in a report in motioncars.inquirer.net.

Honda Cars Cebu Inc., the exclusive dealer of Honda vehicles in Cebu, lent Cebu Daily News a unit of the top-spec Mobilio RS for a weekend to help us find out what makes this vehicle—only available in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and India—a promising MUV (multipurpose utility vehicle, as Honda calls it).

Here are seven reasons why we think this seven-seater will be loved by Filipinos.

The average Filipino family will be smiling inside the spacious cabin of the Mobilio.
CDN PHOTO/Brian J. Ochoa

1. Just the right size

The Mobilio has a smaller profile compared to some of its competitors but this isn’t a disadvantage as this allows the vehicle to easily navigate narrow streets, which are many here in Cebu, and tight parking.

But while compact in stance, the all-new Mobilio isn’t actually small inside. There’s enough space for seven people, perfect for the average Filipino family.

One good thing that Honda did was eliminate everything that takes up space and has no purpose. The seat rests of the front- and second-row seats were also made slightly concave to offer additional knee room in the second and third rows. The lower portion of the instrument panel has also been reduced to create extra legroom for front-seat occupants.

The dashboard looks like that of the Honda Brio. It’s cute and functional.
CDN PHOTO/Lito Tecson

2. Height is might
Despite being smaller in size, the Mobilio possesses a high 189-millimeter ground clearance that may be a vital factor in choosing a family car these days. The Toyota Innova, which has a bigger body, has a 176-mm ground clearance. The higher clearance allows the Mobilio to negotiate potholes, occasional rough sections of the road and flooded streets safely.

The Mobilio also has a raised roofline that provides generous headroom for second-row and third-row passengers.

Fold the second and third row seats and you have one huge cargo area.
CDN PHOTO/Lito Tecson

3. Impressive interior
Honda’s large project development leader for the all-new Mobilio, Atsushi Arisaka, and his design team employed the “Progressive Private Jetliner” concept in the Mobilio that emphasizes modern styling, advanced technology, a spacious cabin, flexible seats and a sedan-like ride that make one feel like sitting in a private jet.

Sitting inside the all-new Mobilio, one can indeed experience that design concept with its comfortable seats with silky-touch fabric and the presence of convenient storage spaces. All that’s lacking is the champagne.

4. Sporty design
The Mobilio’s low roofline and forward squatting stance makes it look sportier than most of its competitors.
Other exterior highlights include a broad metallic grille centerpiece, sculpted character lines and a lightning bolt beltline that makes it look like the more expensive Honda Odyssey.

This 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine powers the Mobilio.
CDN PHOTO/Brian J. Ochoa

5. Tried-and-tested engine

The Mobilio is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine that comes from the previous generation City and Jazz. This engine produces 118 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters of torque, enough to pull the Mobilio effortlessly around the city streets. The engine is paired with either a continuously variable transmission (on RS and V variants) or a five-speed manual transmission (on E variant).

6. Affordability
The Mobilio in Cebu starts at P837,000 for the basic variant and P997,000 for the top-of-the-line model.

This gives a lot of Filipino families a chance to own a practical seven-seater vehicle that is made by one of the more famous Japanese brands.
7. Brand advantage

Let’s face it, most of us Filipinos are brand conscious.

This is where the Mobilio has an advantage since we all know the quality and prestige of Honda cars in our car-loving nation.

That big “H” on the grille means a lot.
CDN PHOTO/Lito Tecson