The perfect family car is hard to define. That’s mainly because we all have different wants, needs, and demands from our family haulers. Most would like a decent amount of ground clearance, loads of space, three-row seating, and excellent fuel economy.
It’s a simple brief, but putting all that together in one car will end up with a load of compromises. But there is one car from Honda that we think is the perfect one-car solution for most.
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Meet the Honda Freed
We recently got up close and personal with Honda Freed during a recent trip to Japan. Parked proudly in front of the Honda Welcome Plaza in Aoyama, Tokyo, we couldn’t help but poke and prod around this curious looking MPV.
One can say that its local equivalent is the Honda BR-V, but even then, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it as such. As far as we know, the Freed is sold in just two markets, namely Japan and Singapore. It’s now in its third generation with the all-new model introduced earlier this year.
The Freed is also one of Honda’s top-selling models in its home market, seeing loads of them driving around the streets of Tokyo.
The right size
At just 4,310mm long, the Freed is even shorter than the BR-V. It’s also less than 1.7 meters wide, making it even narrower than its ASEAN counterpart of sorts. Because of that, the Freed fits just about anywhere you park it. That’s handy in the tight streets of Japan’s metropolis.
In terms of design, we can best describe it as a mini-minivan. For those who miss the Odyssey, it’s a little bit like that but boxier. Of course, boxy means more space for the inside.
Space for days
Despite being smaller than the BR-V, there’s heaps more space inside the Freed. Interior packaging has always been Honda’s party trick, and this minivan nails that to a tee. It’s possible thanks to the engine being pushed as far forward as possible to free up room in the cabin.
Sitting at the front, you get the impression that you’re in something wider than the exterior suggests. The freed (pun unintended) up space around the footwell adds to the feeling of space, along with the generous glass area. By putting all major buttons and controls on the center console, allowing more room around the footwell.
Then we get to the second row. Even with the front seat pushed back all the way, there’s still more than enough real estate for those seated there. It can also slide forwards or back to make way for the third-row passenger. Speaking of which, space back there is decent and best for children and smaller adults, as with most MPVs.
Premium feel
Maybe it’s something about cars built in Japan, but the Freed felt more upmarket than we expected. Like the Fit we took a look at earlier that day, there are still hard plastic panels but textured in a way that they don’t feel cheap. The common touch points such as the steering wheel and cubbies on the dash were pleasant to interact with, and the same went for the buttons and dials.
Honda didn’t cheap out on the rear quarters, either. Again, it’s all about textured plastics and padded panels that elevated the ambiance, and the seat materials in the Crosstar version were cushy.
Oh, and we loved the dual sliding doors of the Freed. For parents, it makes all the difference making ingress and egress for children a lot easier, as well as putting the child seats in place.
Powertrain choices?
Just like every subcompact Honda model these days, the Freed is powered by the familiar 1.5-liter i-VTEC mill that’s also in the City, City Hatchback, and the entry-level version of the HR-V. It’s good for 119hp and 145Nm of torque that’s then hooked up to a CVT. Japanese-market model can even be fitted with all-wheel drive.
But this is Japan we’re talking about, so of course, there’s a hybrid option. The hybrid pairs that same 1.5-liter to Honda e:HEV system and bumps power up to 129hp with a maximum torque of 253Nm. Like the non-hybrid model, all-wheel drive is also available.
How much?
Prices for the Freed range from ¥2,508,000 to ¥3,437,500. That about P913,000 to P1,250,000 at current conversion rates sans taxes. Not a bad price for a smartly packaged MPV that meets most of the average consumer’s needs for a family car. We’re sad that there are virtually zero chances of it ever coming here, but we’re glad to have spent some time with it.
