Honda’s new Freed is more efficient, punchy and refined.

ST_Freed_1.png Honda Freed HE:7 Review: Smart and Serious

They say you should not judge a book by its cover, but in the case of the new third-generation Honda Freed, it is probably fairly safe to do so.

Compared with its predecessor, the latest car looks a whole lot more modern. With a more upright and raised front section – adorned with a low-profile grille flanked by equally low-profile headlights – the car strikes a confident pose.

At the back, a cliff-drop tailgate and a large rear windscreen have the same visual effect, aided by slim vertical tail-lamp stacks. The angular theme continues along both sides of the car, with right angles dominating the glass area and far fewer creases along the sheet metal.

Besides looking more contemporary, the new car projects a seriousness missing in the previous model, which had a busier-than-necessary design.

Like pages between the covers, the modern exterior reflects a higher level of thoughtfulness and technology within. Indeed, the new Freed is a notch above its predecessor on this front.

First, it gets a petrol-electric hybrid system, which improves its fuel efficiency significantly. The test car averages 5.2 litres/100km, which is very close to Honda’s stated figure, and which is a lot better than the facelifted second-generation Freed’s 7.8 litres/100km.

With a bigger fuel tank of 42 litres now, the Freed can cover 800km without a refuelling stop.

Its petrol engine is 1cc bigger at 1,498cc. But this time, it is assisted by two electric motors, which not only reduce the amount of fuel the car burns, but also improve its overall driveability dramatically at the same time.


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Front and centre: A 1.5-litre engine is packed here, along with two electric motors, to give the car newfound verve and efficiency.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

At the wheel, the new Freed feels brisk and breezy, with its torque and power bands extending well beyond what was possible with its non-hybrid 1.5-litre predecessor. This translates to better refinement, as you rarely have to squeeze the throttle hard to keep up with traffic.

The car is likeable across all driving situations. A bigger windscreen and front quarter windows give the driver better visibility than most, if not all, the Chinese electric cars in town. It handles tight spaces with aplomb – something which cannot be said for most multi-seaters, especially the full-sized models.

Its ride quality is far better than most of the electric cars, although not noticeably better than that of the Toyota Sienta.


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Logical lot: The cockpit is more digital now, but controls and switches remain sensible and intuitive. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

While the Honda excels in city conditions, it is no slouch on the highway either. At cruising speeds, it retains its refinement despite its more angular profile.

Zero to hundred is 11 seconds, compared with 11.9 seconds previously. But the top speed has been pared down to 154kmh, from 178kmh – likely in the name of efficiency. But as alluded, the car feels more effortless than these figures suggest. Even against some mass-market electric cars, the Honda feels adequate.

The new car is about as long and wide as the previous one, with the same 2,740mm wheelbase. But its roof is 43mm higher at 1,754mm. This increases headroom in the cabin.


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Flip and fold: Seats are highly configurable, with fairly easy access to the third row. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Inside, utility remains unchanged, while versatility has improved a little. Second-row seats can be tumbled forward to free up cargo space. Or their seat backs can be reclined flat to form lounge seating with the third row. As before, you will have to give up two out of the car’s seven seats if you want to carry something sizeable in the boot.

There are more conveniences on board, including dual gloveboxes, hooks on armrests, charging sockets for rear occupants and a scratch-resistant utility tray across the dash. There are buttons on the driver’s side to open and close the motorised rear sliding doors.

Systems and components have been upgraded too. These include rear disc brakes and electric parking brake with auto hold, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, and both front and rear parking sensors.


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Compact stowage: Carrying bulkier items requires giving up two seats.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Head- and tail-lights are LED now. Rear air-conditioning vents, auto high beam and active cornering lights are a few other enhancements, depending on the variant. The infotainment touchscreen is larger and offers wireless phone pairing for calls and music streaming. Instrumentation is fully digital.

In short, a more modern car. In this case, you could have gathered as much at first glance.

Credits: The Straits Times. Author: Christopher Tan

Original Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/motoring/car-review-hondas-new-freed-is-more-efficient-punchy-and-refined