The Honda Mobilio, which exited the Indian market within a short span of under three years, is set to receive a second facelift internationally, in 2019.
Indonesia held the world premiere of the Honda Mobilio in September 2013. In the same market, the MPV received a facelift first, in January 2017. According to an Autonetmagz report, the plan is to extend the three-row model’s life with another round of minor changes next year.
The report says that the Honda Mobilio is lacking in design and equipment as compared to the second generation Suzuki Ertiga which calls for another minor change. The updated MPV could debut in February or March. Once again, Indonesia may get the latest model first but the changes planned are a mystery at the moment.
Honda Cars India’s former President and CEO Yoichiro Ueno had confirmed early last year that the company was considering giving the Mobilio a facelift in India, but eventually, it discontinued the MPV in the original form. Internationally, the Honda Mobilio slots below the SUV-styled Honda BR-V, a model that records mostly triple-digit monthly sales in India.
The Mobilio is underpinned by a stretched version of the Honda Brio’s platform. It offers seats for seven and a boot space of 223 litres. Under the hood is the standard 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 118 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm. A 5-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission sends drive to the wheels.
Also See: India-bound 2019 Honda Civic & Civic Modulo at Thai Motor Expo
The Honda Mobilio competes with the likes of the Suzuki Ertiga, Daihatsu Xenia and Toyota Avanza in the Indonesian market. Prices starts at IDR 193,000,000 (INR 9,29,836.95).
[Source: autonetmagz.com]
