As for the interior, Honda have taken the easy way out. Instead of revamping the bits and pieces, they simply assigned the Amaze’s dashboard to the Mobilio. Moreover, the front seats will also remind you of the Amaze’s contribution to the cabin. The dials are the same and so are the switches. Plastic quality is good, but small things like panel gaps and textures are something that need desperate attention. One impressive thing about the interior is the abundant space. The first two rows of seats are super-comfortable with a lot of knee-room and, surprisingly, the third row has enough knee-room even for six-foot tall people. With the third row in use, there is still enough space to fit two small suitcases in the boot and when you fold the third row, there is enough boot space to haul a small refrigerator.
With respect to features, the Mobilio has a simple stereo system with AUX and USB connectivity, steering-mounted controls for audio and a-c vents for the second row that can throw cold air right up to the third row. Apart from these, the two-tone (beige and black) scheme looks good and gives the cabin a roomier feel. I wish Honda had paid greater attention to the quality of the plastic used and the fit-and-finish of this car, for it would have elevated the overall quality of the cabin.
Honda have not stinted in the powertrain department. The Mobilio gets the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that powers the Amaze and the City, but instead of a lower output, as in the Amaze, Honda have retained the same tune in the City. This means you have access to 100 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, just the right amount of propulsion power for the Mobilio. Delivering this power and torque to the front wheels is a smooth-shifting five-speed manual gearbox with short throws. However, the engine is still a smidge low on the refinement count. NVH levels are bearable, though better sound insulation would have made things much better. Anyway, it is still a very good engine with smooth and linear power delivery and fabulous bottom and mid-range power. The 200 Nm of torque kicks in at 1,750 revolutions per minute but you can feel it arriving much earlier. This gives the car incredible driveability. In the city, I was hardly using the first gear even while doing 10 km/h. This clearly indicates how well engineered this diesel motor is.
