The forthcoming Honda Mobilio MPV has hit the test production line at Japanese automaker’s Greater Noida plant in New Delhi. It will be the first such product from Honda for the Indian automotive market. It’s based on Honda Brio platform and is the third such vehicle to use this platform in the country, with other two being Amaze compact sedan and Brio hatchback. As is the case with the likes of Amaze and Brio, the Mobilio will have high amount of localization. It’s this focus on heavy localization, which is expected to give Mobilio a sharp price tag in India.
The Honda Mobilio will be marketed with turbodiesel and petrol engine choices. The 1.5 liter i-VTEC petrol engine borrowed from Honda City is rated at 117 horsepower with 146 newton meters of torque; whereas the 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbodiesel engine borrowed from the City and Amaze is good for churning out 98.6 horsepower with 200 newton meters of torque.
The engine will be teamed up with either turbo diesel and petrol powerplants, whereas in Indonesia, the Mobilio is marketed with CVT automatic transmission. It is slightly expensive as compared to Maruti Ertiga with the starting price of approximately Rs. 7 lakh.
The Honda Mobilio will be introduced this July and will compete with Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga. Following its debut in Indonesia, India will be the 2nd major market for the Honda Mobilio.
