No changes to the powertrain.
PT Honda Prospect Motor, the Indonesian subsidiary of Honda, has launched the 2016 Honda Mobilio with a slew of updates, just two years after the MPV was introduced in the country. While changes on the outside are minimal, the interior gets a massive update.
The Brio-derived dashboard, which faced criticism for feeling too cheap, is replaced with an all-new dashboard borrowed from the soon-to-launch Honda BR-V. While the color scheme continues to be a dual-tone layout (all-black dashboard for the RS model), most of the parts found on the dashboard are all-new.
Starting with the AC vents, the 2016 Honda Mobilio and Honda BR-V opt for City-derived rectangular AC vents with a large center console featuring a touchscreen entertainment system with integrated reverse camera. The three-pod instrument cluster from the Brio is now replaced with a traditional cluster with Blue highlights and White fonts, again a feature seen on the Jazz-derived models. The steering though continues to be a three-spoke Brio-borrowed unit.
Moving to the center console, the 2016 Mobilio gets automatic climate control, a feature which is unseen on any Brio-derived product. Honda now offers a large storage space where the rotary AC controls used to be.
On the outside, the 2016 Honda Mobilio gets a new design for its alloy wheels. There are no changes to its powertrain either, with the 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine putting out 118 PS and 145 Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual or CVT.
Also read: 2016 Honda Fit Twist (Honda Jazz Twist) spotted in Brazil
Taking customer feedback, Honda Cars India could introduce these updates on the Mobilio later in the year. Sales of the MPV slumped to an all-time low of 192 units in December 2015. The Mobilio's immediate rival, the Maruti Ertiga, on the other hand which received a facelift back in October 2015 saw sales of 5,981 units in the same period.
