[R35553H]

Honda Indonesia just launched the car on June 29th. I thought I won't see the car until Jakarta International Motor Show on the middle of this month but I got lucky and spotted the car then test drove it at a local mall last wednesday (Indonesia time and date).

As a previous owner of Sport Auto GE8 and current driver of a MT GD3, I like having that extra torque, up 1 lb-ft from the venerable L15A I-Vtec engine, compared to the same engine in my GE8. The throttle response was much smoother and has a better progressive feel compared to my old car. Unfortunately, it does not come with the paddle shifter and shifting into D3 is available only with a press of a button (very odd setup!). For some reason, Honda put the footbrake on top of the dead pedal instead of the usual on top of the throttle setup ala American Odyssey. I found this setup is rather annoying when you are trying to put your feet there while the vehicle at stationary.

The interior is setup almost like the Civic with the instrument sitting on top of the dash where if the adjust the steering to the upmost end, the top edge of the wheel covers the lower half of it. Oh by the way, the steering only offers up and down movement not forward and aft like in GE8 (another minus point in my book!).

The seats are supportive but not hugging like in GE8. I guess the driver seat was meant for a personal chauffeur like many of us in Indonesia have but the same goes with the rest of the chair in the car. The interior only comes with two tone: dark grey for the dashboard, half dark grey and cream for both the forward and aft driver side and passenger side doors. The fabric is soft to touch compared to the ones on GE8 which gives the Freed an expensive feeling. No wonder they call it as "Baby Alphard" (Alphard is the hottest selling Toyota minivan only available on Japan and South East Asia region).

I will try to attempt a second test drive with more people in the micro van to get a better feel when load is involved while driving later this weekend of which I will try to take more pictures as well (I was in a hurry last wednesday).