The third-generation Honda Freed has gone on sale in market, a couple of weeks after the redesigned mini MPV made its debut. Priced between 2.508 million and three,437,500 yen (about RM74k and RM101k), the newest Freed is obtainable in two variations, particularly the Air with a less complicated design and the Crosstar that provides rugged crossover components.
Clients can even get to select from two powertrains, with the primary that includes a L15D 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine making 118 PS (117 hp or 87 kW) at 6,600 rpm and 142 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. This DOHC i-VTEC mill is paired with a CVT that drives the entrance wheels, with all-wheel drive being an choice.
The choice powertrain is Honda’s e:HEV dual-motor system with a LEB 1.5 litre NA inline-four petrol engine that delivers 106 PS (105 hp or 78 kW) from 6,000 to six,400 rpm and 127 Nm from 4,500 to five,000 rpm. The engine primarily acts as a generator for a 48-Ah lithium-ion battery, which then powers a front-mounted electrical motor rated at 123 PS (121 hp or 90 kW) and 253 Nm to drive the wheels.
At larger speeds, the engine may also be clutched in by way of to straight drive the wheels as it’s extra environment friendly to take action. Hybrid variants are additionally provided with all-wheel drive, which provides an Clever Energy Unit (IPU) and a second electrical motor to the single-speed electrical CVT to drive the rear wheels when wanted. Honda claims a WLTC-rated gas consumption of 25 km/l for the hybrid variants, whereas the pure petrol-powered vehicles present 16.2 km/l.
By way of measurement, the all-new Freed is barely bigger than its predecessor, measuring in at 4,310 mm lengthy, 1,695-1,720 mm large and 1,755-1,780 mm tall, however the wheelbase stays unchanged at 2,740 mm.
Design-wise, the MPV seems to be impressed by the second-generation Crossroad with a blockier design. The rakish bonnet of the earlier mannequin is now flatter and there’s now a extra upright face, the latter that includes trapezoidal-shaped headlamps with two dotted strains for daytime operating lights above the primary headlamps.
The “grille” between the headlamps is closed off and sits above small air consumption slits and a bigger opening within the decrease apron. Alongside the perimeters, distinguished creases originating from the tip of the headlamps run via the door handles and into the rails of the sliding rear doorways, with additional creases seen across the wheel arches.
Round again, the earlier two-piece taillights that encroach into the tailgate at the moment are gone, changed with vertically-oriented clusters with a big pixelated look. The lighting setup is an identical for each variations of the Freed, however the Crosstar will get distinctive design touches to mark it out because the extra adventurous of the 2.
Distinctive to the Crosstar is a textured “grille” insert in addition to a wider “mouth” that merges each units of air intakes. This model additionally will get black plastic physique cladding that goes all the way in which to the rear bumper, which positive factors a fake skid plate.
The in depth redesign extends to the inside that will get a recent dashboard that’s paying homage to what you see within the newest N-Field. Gone is the previous automobile’s high-mounted instrument cluster, which has now been changed with a digital show forward of a two-spoke steering wheel.
There’s additionally a big, fabric-covered trim piece that wraps across the central infotainment touchscreen, with a bit of the trim on the passenger-side being a further storage compartment sufficiently big for a tissue field. The material used contained in the cabin is described by Honda as being designed to be water and oil resistant, which is helpful for these with messy youngsters.
In the meantime, the air vents that had been beforehand on both aspect of the infotainment display screen is now positioned collectively beneath. As with the earlier Freed, automobile controls are positioned excessive up and near the motive force, releasing up area beneath in case the motive force must shuffle between the entrance seats. The novel shelf with storage cubbies additionally makes a return right here.
For the Air, clients can select between six- (2+2+2 structure) or seven-seat (2+3+2 structure) configurations, however the Crosstar can solely be had with both 5 or 6 seats. The rearmost seats could be folded up towards the wall if not in use whereas the rear bench in seven-seat fashions could be folded down in a 60:40 break up, offering homeowners with loads of seat setups.
It’s price mentioning the Crosstar with 5 seats is exclusive in that’s has a boot space tailor-made for outside actions with options akin to a modular cargo area, utility mounting factors, a pegboard and a lamp that illuminates the world beneath the tailgate when opened.
The Freed comes normal with Honda Sensing in Japan, which incorporates features akin to autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane maintain help and extra. There are additionally loads of exterior colors, inside themes and wheels to associate with seller choices within the type of styling kits – Superior Model for the Air and Lively-Powerful Model for the Crosstar.
Additionally obtainable are disability-friendly variations of the Freed that include an extendable ramp within the boot for loading wheelchairs and a entrance passenger seat that pivots outwards for simpler ingress and egress.
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