Review - Honda Mobilio Petrol
The Honda Mobilio petrol review focusses mainly on the engine and gearbox, and ride and handling sections. A detailed report on the exteriors, interiors, features, prices and verdict can be seen on our Honda Mobilio diesel review.
Exteriors:
On the outside, the Mobilio petrol is set apart by the ‘i-VTEC’ badge on the bootlid. There are no other changes, and even the alloy wheels for both fuel variants have the same design.
The Mobilio petrol variants will weigh between 1,131 kg - 1,160 kg. Compared to the diesel which has a turning radius of 5.4 meters, the petrol Mobilio can turn in 5.2 meters. The placement of the engine is a factor in deciding the turning radius, says Honda.
Interiors:
Save for the tachometer which redlines to 7,000 rpm, there are no changes on the inside compared to the diesel Mobilio.
Features:
The diesel and petrol variants of the car will be similarly specced. However, like in the Amaze, all diesel variants of the Mobilio could get ABS and EBD as standard.
Engine and Gearbox:
Power for the Mobilio petrol comes from the City’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine which makes 119 PS and 145 Nm of torque. Only a 5-speed manual gearbox is offered, and a CVT automatic may be considered depending on market demand. The manual box is however light to operate and doesn't require much effort.
Two areas where this engine easily outclasses its competitors are refinement and performance. The motor is as silent (at idle and lower rpms) as a petrol engine can get, and its only when you rev it, can it be heard.
In terms of performance, the Mobilio petrol should be capable of hitting 100 km/h in 12-13 seconds, with a limited top-speed of 140 km/h. At low speeds where you don’t have access to the 145 Nm of torque, getting a move on seems slightly sluggish.
Once the engine crosses the 2,500 rpm mark, the Mobilio quickly builds up pace, and reaching triple digit speeds is like a walk in the park. The MPV is capable of hitting an indicated 90 km/h in second gear.
Compared to the Ertiga petrol, the Mobilio petrol feels a lot more powerful and fun to drive.
Ride and Handling:
The Mobilio petrol weighs 85 kg less compared to the diesel. The lighter weight makes the car a bit more bouncy, and the ride quality feels stiffer in the petrol for the same reason.
In terms of handling, like the diesel Mobilio, the petrol is a nimble handler and feels Amaze-like to drive.
Brakes and Safety:
This department is identical to the Mobilio diesel. However, as mentioned before, the diesel variants could get ABS as standard, while the petrol would see it only on mid- and top-end variants.
Fuel Economy:
Honda claims an efficiency of 17.3 km/l. Under normal driving conditions, the car achieved 12.5 km/l. The figure drops to 10.5 km/l when we used the accelerator unnecessarily.
Price:
The Mobilio petrol is expected to start from INR 6-6.25 lakhs, ex-Showroom, New Delhi.
Verdict:
The Mobilio petrol has nearly all the virtues of the diesel variant, but with Honda’s proven 1.5-liter petrol engine. The engine does what its known for, which is offering good performance and decent fuel economy.
The petrol Mobilio will certainly appeal to customers who have traditionally used petrol engines and expect high levels of refinement and performance. These customers are likely to find the diesel Mobilio noisy, and a touch unrefined.
Initial impressions are that the Mobilio petrol feels better to drive than the Ertiga. The Honda offers better interior space as well compared to the Maruti, and if priced right, it should replicate the success of the Amaze.
