Honda has begun selling a new compact minivan called the Freed in Japan.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
It seats five, seven or eight (three-row versions with either a centre bench or twin seats are offered) and special mobility assist versions – with side lift-up seat and passenger lift-up seat – were also offered at launch. A wheelchair-accessible model will go on sale next month.
Honda said the new minivan has its original low-floor and low-centre-of-gravity technology, to achieve a compact body size that makes it easy to manoeuvre through city streets as well as a spacious cabin that enables [usually smaller Japanese] adults to sit comfortably in all three rows.
The new model is 4,215mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,715mm high on a 2,740 mm wheelbase. Dual sliding side doors are standard and power assistance is optional.
The engine is a 1.5-litre i-VTEC unit with torque converter and continuously variable automatic transmission.
Electric power steering is used and stability assist is either standard or optional. A four-wheel drive version is offered as is usually the case with Japanese domestic market model lines. These versions are targeted primarily at buyers in Japan’s snowy regions.
