
Originally Posted by
niky
Finally back online. Whew.
Some thoughts:
On the Engine:
We really thought they'd bring in the 158 hp variant for the TOTL. Every other country has the AWD mated exclusively to the 158 hp variant. During the speech, they noted that we are unique in the ASEAN region because our variant packaging is different. According to my encyclopedic friend whose name begins with a "U", there were concerns about fuel additives and quality for the 160 ps diesel.
It might still happen. But not yet.
One of the big differences is the turbo. Both FWD and AWD get the same single scroll turbo here.
On the Space:
The five seater has more cargo space, of course, but one bonus of the seven seater that most overlooked is that the second row slides far, far back. In its rear-most position, the second row of the seven seater is about an inch or two further back than the second row of the five seater.
That said, in its rearmost position, the second row sits right under the rear AC assembly, which is bulky, so taller guys will feel the pinch (tall, in this case meaning over six feet).
The third row is tight, obviously. No space for adult feet with the second row all the way back.
But with the second row in the same position as in the five, your feet will fit under the seat. Honda has adjusted the seat rails so that there are pockets for your feet between them.
With the second row scooted forward, a six footer will fit in both second and third. Knees against the second row seat back, but he'll fit. Those five and a half feet or shorter will fit comfortably in the third. You can recline the third, and it is nice, but your head will hit the rear glass if you're over 5'3". Much like the Santa Fe.
The big problem is egress. You cannot enter or exit the third row gracefully, even though the second tumbles forward.
The rest of the mechanicals:
AWD gets bespoke suspension. Taller springs, 208mm ground clearance. Cast (instead of stamped) lower arms on the rear multi-link. Very ruggedized. All variants get fuel tanks with tubular tank guards and heavy-duty underbody cladding for better aerodynamics and underchassi protection.
All get liquid-filled suspension bushings and floating subframes. Expect Mazda-like NVH and suspension control, though not Mazda handling.
The Price:
All three variants presented were ultra-loaded. All had the 7" touchscreen and back-up cameras, the same leatherette seats, the same 8-speaker audio system, and the same 18" mags. LED headlights. LED foglights. Etcetera.
Base gasser gets Toyo Proxes instead of Michelin tires. Traditional automatic shifter instead of pushbuttons. No rear ceiling AC, but still the same dual zone system as the other two (note CR-V gets rear console vents as standard). So it's a "base" model, but at 1.5m, loaded na. And without the rear ceiling AC, there's more headroom in the back.
Sweet spot I think is the 1.75m diesel. All the toys and diesel. Cheapest diesel only gets a standard head-unit, a 4-speaker sound system, 17" alloys, halogen headlamps and single-zone climate control (but still with roof-mounted rear AC). Leatherette comes standard, though, so it's not completely stripped.
AWD gets Honda Sense, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, pushbutton automatic shifter, AWD, etcetera. Honda knows it will only sell in limited numbers, but they needed a halo car, anyway, so they loaded it to the gills. Taller guys complained about the headroom with the sunroof, though.
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Say what you will about the price, but I think this will do a whole lot better than the previous model.