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Honda Mobilio RS proves fuel efficiency
With the imminent increase in the price of subsidized fuels, fuel efficiency is a phrase that prospective buyers of family cars will mention to their car dealers and it is what Japanese firm Honda wants to achieve through its low multipurpose vehicle, the Mobilio
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ith the imminent increase in the price of subsidized fuels, fuel efficiency is a phrase that prospective buyers of family cars will mention to their car dealers and it is what Japanese firm Honda wants to achieve through its low multipurpose vehicle, the Mobilio.
On Saturday, PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) held its fifth 20-kilometers per liter of fuel (km/l) saving challenge, a race where the participants are challenged to drive as efficiently as possible until they can achieve a fuel consumption of at least 20 km/l.
The race covers 55 kilometers, starting from Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and finishing at Taman Budaya Sentul City in Bogor, West Java.
Reporters and prospective buyers were given a chance to drive the Honda Mobilio RS with automatic transmission, which was launched in June, to prove its efficiency. Other participants drove their own Mobilios.
The car's flashiest feature is its whirlwind-inspired 15 inch alloy wheels. Its interior has a similar feel to the Nissan Grand Livina.
While automatic cars lag when compared to those with manual transmission when stepping on the accelerator, the 1.5L i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine-powered RS is even less responsive than the Honda Jazz or its competitor the Toyota Avanza, with automatic transmission. There is a delay when pushing the accelerator, making it harder to maneuver in Jakarta's crowded traffic.
The Mobilio's fuel consumption is probably among the best in its class. Tabah Yudhananto, a 35-year-old private employee, who won the race, recorded a fuel consumption of 23.7 km/l using his Mobilio Prestige. For the automatic Mobilio RS, the record was 22.4 km/l.
The winner, however, was not driving in normal conditions as he did not use air conditioning and drove at a constant speed as much as possible.
'I usually consume around 12 to 13 km/l in Jakarta's traffic conditions,' Yudhananto told reporters on Saturday, saying that he usually commuted from Jatiwarna in Bekasi, West Java, to Slipi in West Jakarta.
'The planned increase in subsidized fuel prices is an opportunity for cars with advanced technology in fuel consumption. One of which is Honda, which is known for its fuel-saving cars,' said HPM corporate communications manager Yosep Swasono Agus. (ask/nvn)
