Honda Freed & Freed Spike facelift / Honda Freed Hybrid & Freed Spike Hybrid

I want to talk about the Honda Freed. Okay, that car was launched in May 2008 as a 2009 model and this was the most practical Honda minivan ever made in Asia using the platform lifted from the Honda Fit/Jazz as a foundation. It was later exported in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Then on the July of 2010, the Freed Spike debuted and it features a sporty profile and made to be more utilitarian than being a minivan. With these two gained success, the Honda Freed series welcomes them their first facelift and that's not all, Honda welcomes the Freed Hybrid and Freed Spike Hybrid in the ever growing Honda Hybrids line-up consisting the Honda Insight, Honda Fit Hybrid, Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid, and the Honda CR-Z.

What's new on the Freed?

2012 Honda Freed Hybrid

2012 Honda Freed

2012 Honda Freed Hybrid interior

On the standard Freed, we should expect new rims depending on the grade, a revised front grille, new side view mirror, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, standard three-point ELR seat belts, Plating + Clear rear combination lamps, headlight garnish, and impressive cosmetic updates on the Freed's G Aero variant. Now, they dropped the 5-seater Freed Flex variant and this model's available only in 6-seater and 7-seater variants.

The standard Freed is powered by a L15A (1.5L i-VTEC) engine that produces 118PS/6,600rpm of power output and 144Nm/4,800rpm of torque output. FF variants come with a CVT that provides them 17.0km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle. On the other hand, 4WD variants of the Freed come with the 5-speed automatic transmission that provides them 14.0km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle.

You will be able to distinguish the Freed Hybrid from the crowd of its unique front grille, HYBRID badge on the side and rear view, unique rear lamps, and the 1.5L i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) that provides 24.0km/L of fuel econmy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle (21.6km/L on JC08 cycle).

Available in seven color variations such as Premium White Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Super Platinum Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Premium Blackish Pearl, Cobalt Blue Pearl, and Premium Blue Opal Metallic.

What's new on the Freed Spike?

2012 Honda Freed Spike Hybrid

2012 Honda Freed Spike

2012 Honda Freed Spike Hybrid interior

It was been there last year but the upgrades on the Freed Spike keeps this utility minivan updated such as new rims, new side view mirrors, standard armrests, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, standard three-point ELR seat belts, and ECON button.

The standard Freed Spike is powered by a L15A (1.5L i-VTEC) engine that produces 118PS/6,600rpm of power output and 144Nm/4,800rpm of torque output. FF variants come with a CVT that provides them 17.0km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle. On the other hand, 4WD variants of the Freed Spike come with the 5-speed automatic transmission that provides them 14.0km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle.

You will be able to distinguish the Freed Spike Hybrid from the crowd of its unique front grille, HYBRID badge on the side and rear view, unique rear lamps, and the 1.5L i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) that provides 24.0km/L of fuel econmy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode test cycle (21.6km/L on JC08 cycle).

Available in seven color variations such as Premium White Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Super Platinum Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Premium Blackish Pearl, Cool Turquoise Metallic, and Premium Blue Opal Metallic.

My comment:

The addition of the Hybrid lineup on the Honda Freed and Honda Freed Spike really tries to keep this minivan update even when these two Honda minivans updated with new extras. Those minivans can be highly essential to the average Japanese families, especially the soccer moms everywhere.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Freed Spike

While we are waiting for the Freed to arrive in the Philippines, the JDM Honda Freed uncovered its "big brother" and this sportier version is the fresh fit for the long Japanese summer getaway, despite the scorching hot weather Japanese families faced.

With temperatures rising from the streets of Tokyo and most Japanese people are heading through the hot springs, beaches, and other famous destinations, Honda has just unveiled the Freed Spike, the newest addition to the multipurpose Freed minivan.

It seems that the naming is quite obviously a "fan service" because the Freed Spike is the main successor of the squarish Honda Mobilio Spike, but the looks remain an oddity. The new Freed Spike sports the same Freed rear side and the front side combines the sporty look of the StepWGN Spada and Zest Spark, resulting into an unique sports MPV for the adventurous Japanese people on the go.

What covers most in the Freed Spike is the unique interior. At its first glance, the interior is most likely the Flex version of the Freed, which means it can only sit five people inside. Despite the capacity, the Freed Spike has a wide array of seating arrangements, with the optional rail and the cargo tray, so you can find out which arrangement is perfect for your next adventure. For those who are looking for some fun at the sun, the Freed Spike is your perfect adventure partner. It can be perfect not just for adventure, but great for small business owners as well. Imagine various possibilities when you are with the Freed Spike, which is hundreds of possibilities you can do with it!

The Freed Spike is equipped with the well-balanced 1.5L SOHC i-VTEC engine that produces 87 PS of power output, the fuel economy of 14-16.4km/L, and it includes two available transmissions such as the 5AT and CVT as well.

My thoughts about the Freed Spike:
Still as plain as the Mobilio Spike it replaces, but the Freed Spike has a wide array of seating arrangements that can be mixed and matched for your adventurous purposes. With these seating arrangements, you can find which suited for your next adventure, like for instance; on a beach trip, a hunting trip, a trip to the hot springs, a rescue mission, a delivery, or various trips you can do for the Freed Spike. We might or we might not be getting the Freed Spike to the Philippines but despite this, the Freed Spike is the good match for the scorching hot summer vacation in Japan.