Honda Freed review: Understated small MPV with plenty of plus points, Lifestyle News

AsiaOne

2 days ago

The Honda Freed is one of those cars that's immensely popular, yet you don't really notice on the roads.
There's obviously good reason for its popularity, and the Freed's otherwise plain looks hide a car that's practical, easy to drive and just generally pleasant to live with.
There's now a new version of the Honda Freed on the market, and judging from the number of them seen on the roads so far, it looks like it's going to be more of the same story. What's new about the Honda Freed?
The new Honda Freed trades its predecessor's slightly curvy looks for lots of straight lines, and the angular design makes it look literally like a box on wheels.
There are neat details like the cube-design taillights, but otherwise the Freed is the kind of car that wouldn't stand out in traffic. Which is kind of the point anyway, as the design is meant to be more functional than fancy.
Similarly, for the interior, the Freed features a layout that is optimised for user-friendliness. Most of the physical buttons are well-placed and intuitive to use; they're positioned high up to make them within easy reach of the driver.
While there is a touchscreen for the infotainment system, it is an aftermarket unit that is fairly basic in its operation and user interface. It has both Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, which is all you need for connectivity.
But the biggest change on the new Honda Freed is its new hybrid drivetrain, which is now officially available in Singapore for the first time. While the output of 130hp is similar to that of the previous petrol model, the introduction of hybrid power means that the Freed now gets greater fuel efficiency than before. How does the new Honda Freed drive?
Much like how it looks, the Honda Freed driving experience mostly hits the mark without being spectacular or outstanding.
With its new hybrid drivetrain, the Freed now feels slightly zippier off the line, compared to the somewhat lethargic demeanour of its predecessor. The electric motor's instant torque lets the car accelerate with a bit more urgency, and while it's ultimately not fast, it's pleasant enough to make good progress in traffic.
At the same time, the Freed is all about smoothness, from its linear power delivery to its excellent ride quality. It's quite obvious to see that the Freed places comfort as its top priority, and the suspension manages to cope quite well over most road surfaces, even when fully loaded with people on board.
Handling wise, the Freed's steering is light and easy to twirl, making it a cinch to manoeuvre in tight spots. It can be a little bit slow to react though, which naturally discourages one from pushing it too hard. Not that you'll want to in a car like this anyway.
Instead, the Honda Freed positively excels in other aspects of driving, and that includes its fuel efficiency, with a claimed average consumption figure of 5.1 litres per 100km. That's an excellent return by any objective measure, and a decent improvement over the previous petrol model's average of 5.9 litres per 100km. What is the Honda Freed like as an MPV?
While the Freed's dimensions are quite small, it still manages to squeeze in seating for seven relatively comfortably.
Sure, the third row can be tight in terms of legroom and shoulder room, but the Freed's upright and boxy styling means that there is plenty of headroom for full-sized adults. Access to the back is relatively easy too, with the second-row seats tumbling forward with a quick pull of a lever.
The car's compact size means that there isn't really a lot of boot space, but the third-row seats do fold away (upwards and sideways, interestingly) to create more room for stuff. It's probably enough to fit in a few decent size boxes, or an average family's weekly grocery run, but not much more than that.
There are plenty of other clever storage solutions around the interior though, such as two large gloveboxes up front, and numerous cupholders throughout the cabin. You even get USB charging ports planted at the back of the front seats, allowing rear passengers a convenient way to charge their devices. Is the Honda Freed worth buying?
Well, if you want a relatively affordable way to drive seven people around, the new Honda Freed is certainly hard to beat.
Its entry price of $171,999 with COE (as of June 2025) for the base HS7 variant is definitely competitive, especially in today's high COE environment. The one tested here is the higher spec HE7 model, which goes for $176,999 with COE, and comes with a few additional extras like rear aircon vents and adaptive headlights.
Its closest and most obvious rival is the Toyota Sienta Hybrid, which costs a fair bit more at $189,888 with COE. And while the Sienta is certainly a very capable car indeed, the Freed offers plenty of plus points in its own right to make it a compelling choice for the budget family driver.
Its winning formula is clearly to just keep it simple, and the Freed adheres to that philosophy by offering a practical and efficient package that's easy to live with. While it doesn't stand out from the crowd, the Freed certainly doesn't need to, for it lets its qualities do the talking.
[[nid:711923]]
[e-mail]
No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.