Road sailing with the spacious Honda Mobilio

RECENTLY, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) barged into the lucrative compact seven-seat multipurpose vehicle (MPV) segment by introducing the 2015 Mobilio and branding it as an “MUV.”  Not an MPV or AUV (Asian utility vehicle) but a multi-use vehicle.

HCPI called the Mobilio an MUV to signify what makes it different from an AUV or MPV.
While HCPI aims to grab market share from the Toyota Avanza and Suzuki Ertiga by, like them, offering more space and more seats for a lesser price, there is this difference: Honda offers a premium option, as embodied by the snazzy RS (Road Sailing) white orchid pearl variant and a sporty option, as exemplified by the Modulo HondaCustom Performance-kitted crystal black pearl variant.
The 2015 Mobilio is totally different from the original Mobilio, a small vehicle with a small engine that was developed for the Japanese market.  This latest iteration is not available in Japan. At its launch, HCPI president Toshio Kuwahara said that the 2015 Mobilio was especially designed for emerging Asian markets with the needs of consumers and families in this region in mind.

Mr. Kuwahara did not mention that the 2015 Mobilio is built on a stretched version of the subcompact Brio’s platform, maybe because some people dislike the Brio’s stubby build. The front end of the Mobilio resembles that of the Brio in some ways, but its profile with a sleek shoulder line is longer and more elegant than the Brio’s.  Moreover, the Mobilio’s structure is sturdier and more solid, with excellent fit-and-finish, than its rivals.

SPORTIER

The chrome front grille, huge air intake, teardrop-shaped headlights, front lip spoiler and tailgate spoiler with integrated high-mount stop lamp lend the Mobilio a sportier look than its rivals.
In the top-of-the-line Road Sailing variant (P967,000, add P20,000 for white orchid pearl), you get the RS front grille, RS front bumper with fog lights, RS side sill garnish,  turbine-like 15-inch alloy wheels, the bigger RS rear spoiler, RS rear bumper with chrome garnish and tailpipe finisher.

With the Jazz, Honda proved that it is the best in versatile seating arrangements and cargo space flexibility.  That mastery carries over to the Mobilio, whose black fabric back seats can be folded and tumbled easily.

The front seats are bucket type with sliding and reclining flexibility, the 60:40 split-type second-row seats can also slide and recline or be folded and tumbled with one touch while the 50:50 split type third-row seats can be reclined or folded and tumbled.  But while the second- and third-row seats can be flipped forward to increase cargo volume to as much as 521 liters, they do not fold flat on the floor.

The front and second-row seats offer enough headroom and legroom, but the third-row is suitable only for children.

ROAD SAILING

In the RS variant, a 7-inch touchscreen with navigation and DVD/CD dominates the dash.  The RS’ audio system has four speakers, Bluetooth, USB-in and AUX-in connectivity, hands-free telephone and audio streaming and an emergency hotline button.
Although the cabin looks more basic than the Jazz with a lot of hard plastic, the RS Navi variant has touches of silver and chrome trim to make it look more premium.  There are storage spaces galore with five cup holders, four bottle holders, pockets in the front and rear doors, seatback pockets, a center console aside from the glove box. Keyless entry and rear aircon are standard in all variants.
The Mobilio is powered by the same 1.5-liter iVTEC engine with CVT (continuously variable transmission) as the Honda City sedan, producing 117 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters torque.  The drivetrain provides decent power to move off briskly and haul a fully loaded Mobilio.  Zero to 100 kilometers per hour requires 11.6 seconds, but then this is a compact people carrier, not a high-performance car.
The driver’s seat is well-positioned and the instruments and controls are within the driver’s view and easy reach.  I tried the navigation system and it worked fine.  The tilt-adjustable steering wheel has audio controls for easy access to audio functions without taking your eyes of the road.
The Earth Dreams CVT and ECO lamp contribute to the Mobilio’s fuel efficiency.  But of course it is less frugal than the Jazz, being bigger and heavier.

The ride quality is comfortable, if a bit firm, absorbing uneven road surfaces and potholes with composure.  On long trips outside the city, the Mobilio, driven efficiently with the ECO lamp constantly lit up, would sail on the road, providing a comfy, relaxing ride.

The Mobilio is equipped with dual airbags, antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), driver’s seatbelt reminder and Isofix anchoring points for a child safety seat, but alas, no electronic stability control (ESC) which is one of the requirements for a five-star occupant safety rating in the Asean New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Honda Motor Co. can easily remedy this shortcoming in future production of the Mobilio.

Bottom line, the 2015 Mobilio has something extra to offer than its rivals: a competitive price (P807,000 for the manual transmission model, P877,000 for the CVT variant and P967,000 for the RS Navi): plus a class-above, upmarket personality.  Calling Mr. Kuwahara: The Mobilio would sell even more if HCPI would bring the diesel variant here.