Carscape Team
The definitive station wagon “Shuttle” that combines stylish driving and fuel efficiency. The shuttle is especially recommended for those who prefer a tall SUV, those who prefer a compact car such as the Fit to be small or narrow, and those who want to ride a stylish station wagon.
The station wagon was once very popular due to its sedan-like driving performance and spacious luggage room. However, it has recently lost its presence due to being pushed by SUVs and minivans. In such a situation, this time, let’s thoroughly review the Honda Shuttle, a valuable domestic station wagon with a 5-number size that is easy to handle.
The popularity of imported station wagons is stable
Today, SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) are popular. User tastes tend to change, and while SUVs are popular, there are body types whose popularity is declining. That’s the station wagon.
However, the popularity of station wagons is declining only for domestic cars, and imported station wagons boast a stable popularity even now that SUVs are prospering. On the other hand, domestically produced station wagons are Subaru Levorg, Toyota Corolla Touring, and Mazda 6 Wagon in three number sizes. And in the 5 number size, there are only Toyota Corolla Fielder and Honda Shuttle. This time, we will thoroughly review the valuable Honda Shuttle as a 5 number size station wagon with excellent handling.
Good to run, good to use, and 5 number size
Like the sedan, the appeal of the station wagon is its low center of gravity and comfortable ride, as well as its convenient luggage space that can flexibly change depending on the amount and size of the cargo to be carried. The higher the vehicle height of SUVs and minivans, the higher the center of gravity of the vehicle, which tends to increase the swaying of the front, rear, left, and right when turning curves, starting, and stopping. However, if the center of gravity is low, not only is there less unnecessary shaking, but there is also the advantage of being less affected by crosswinds at high speeds. In the case of the shuttle, it is a model that achieves high convenience with such high running stability and a body size that matches the Japanese road conditions of 5 number size.
Based on the previous generation Fit, if it is a 2WD vehicle, a multi-story parking lot is also OK
The current Shuttle was launched in May 2015 as the successor to the Fit Shuttle. Based on the predecessor Fit, a popular compact car model, the body size of the Shuttle is 4400mm long, 1695mm wide and 1545mm high (1570mm for 4WD vehicles). Since the 2WD vehicle has a total height of 1550mm or less, it is compatible with multi-storey parking lots that are often found in urban areas.
Despite its compact body with a total length of 4,400 mm, it has a top-class luggage space of 570 L for five passengers, and a maximum of 1,141 L for two passengers with the rear seats folded down. In addition, the seat backs of the rear seats are equipped with a multi-use basket as a space for storing small items, which is a feature of high utility.
Affordable petrol Vehicle and Fuel Efficient Hybrid
The powertrain to be installed is a 1.5L in-line 4-cylinder petrol engine + CVT that generates a maximum output of 132ps and a maximum torque of 155Nm. There are two types: a 1.5L petrol engine that generates a maximum output of 110ps and a maximum torque of 134Nm, and a sports hybrid i-MMD that combines a motor that generates a maximum output of 29.5ps and a maximum torque of 160Nm with a 7-speed DCT. The drive system is 2WD (FF) and 4WD for both 1.5L petrol and hybrid. At the time of its debut, the fuel efficiency was 19.4 to 21.8 km / L for petrol vehicles and 25.8 to 34.0 km / L for hybrids in JC08 mode.
Partial improvements in 2017 significantly improve safety performance
In August 2016, the shuttle was partially improved, with LED interior lights and equipment expansion for some grades. Partial improvements in 2017 included the adoption of LEDs for the fog lights and enhanced smartphone connectivity for the installed audio. In addition, Honda’s advanced driving support system “Honda Sensing” is standard equipment on all models to improve safety.
This system uses millimeter-wave radar and a monocular camera to recognize the situation in front of the vehicle, and brake and steering control technology work together to support safe and comfortable driving and accident avoidance. In addition to collision avoidance support functions such as automatic braking and erroneous start suppression functions, steering control “LKAS (Lane Keeping Assistance System)” that assists driving along the center of the lane, and even if you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, It is also characterized by a full range of functions that reduce the burden on the driver and support comfortable driving, such as “ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)” that maintains an appropriate distance between vehicles. The fuel efficiency of the latest model is WLTC mode, which is close to the actual fuel efficiency, and the petrol vehicle is 17.2 to 19.4 km / L. The hybrid has excellent fuel efficiency of 20.4-22.8km/L.
Light footwork and class-leading large luggage space are the greatest advantages
I have test-rided Shuttles with a long model life many times, but the greatest advantages are the light footwork and class-leading large luggage space. The one I test drove this time is a hybrid, but the smoothness of acceleration and excellent fuel efficiency are still impressive. When ACC is activated on the highway, the fuel efficiency exceeds 20km/L without doing anything. In addition, like a station wagon with a low center of gravity, even when driving on winding roads with many curves, it ran smoothly according to the steering wheel operation.
I want you to notice the high convenience of the station wagon
It is said that Kenyan’s use station wagons when they go on vacation or rural areas with a lot of luggage. In order to run in such tough places, a station wagon with sedan-like driving performance and high loading capacity is probably the best. Station wagons are on the verge of falling out of favor with the decline of sedans among Japanese cars, but if a car that is as powerful as European cars are made, there may still be a possibility that it will regain its popularity.
*The content of the article is based on information as of June 2021.
You can also read : Honda CR-V fuel consumption in Kenya
