Honda Vezel review in Kenya

Compact SUV sparked by Nissan Juke

The popularity of SUVs is heating up around the world, including Japan. In Japan, compact SUVs that are easy to handle are very popular, and many models are ranked high in new car sales. Here, let’s introduce Honda Vezel, a compact SUV blockbuster model that appeared in December 2013 and won the No. 1 SUV sales volume in 2014 and 2015.

The compact SUV was sparked by the Nissan Juke, which appeared in June 2010. Although it had a rather eccentric design, it was a big hit as a model that combines the good handling of a compact car with the sportiness of an SUV. Seeing the success of the Juke, compact SUVs were released one after another from manufacturers such as Subaru XV, Honda Vezel, Mazda CX-3, and Toyota C-HR.

Four years after its release, it remains one of the best-sellers

According to the new car sales data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association in November 2017, the C-HR ranked 12th with 6001 units, the XV (including the Impreza) ranked 16th with 4294 units, and the Vezel with 3735 units. Ranked 19th. While the C-HR and XV are fresh models that have not passed a year since their appearance, the Vezel that appeared in December 2013 is a model that has already passed four years. Why is Vezel able to maintain such stable popularity? There are three main reasons for this.

Full line-up with hybrid and 4WD options available

First of all, it is a fulfilling lineup that allows you to choose 4WD even for hybrid vehicles. The powertrain installed in the Vezel is a model that combines a 1.5L inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a CVT, and a hybrid model that combines a 1.5L inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine + motor with a 7-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission). 2 types.

And it is possible to choose between FF and 4WD drive systems for all models except the sporty model RS. In the case of the C-HR, which is currently very popular as a compact SUV, the hybrid vehicle is only FF and the 4WD is a 1.2L turbo engine. It can be said that Vezel’s strength is that you can choose a hybrid vehicle that achieves low fuel consumption of 27.0km/L for FF vehicles and 23.2km/L (hybrid) for 4WD vehicles regardless of drive system. In addition, the fact that we have set a grade that is particular about running, RS, is also the reason why we have acquired a wide range of users.

Spacious and user-friendly interior space inherited from the Fit

Next is the excellent packaging. The body size of the bezel is 4295mm in length (4305mm in RS), 1770mm in width (1790mm in some parts) and 1605mm in height, which is a compact SUV itself. When you get in, you’ll notice that the front seats of the vezel, which focuses on ease of driving, are positioned higher than the sedan + 100 mm, so you can see a very good view.

And by adopting Honda’s unique center tank layout, which is the same as the best-selling compact car Fit, the rear seat has a space where a person with a height of 185 cm can sit comfortably, and in this respect it has a big difference to rival cars.

In addition, the luggage compartment height is 83 cm and the floor length of the luggage compartment floor is 80 cm when five passengers are on board, ensuring class-leading luggage space capacity. Various seat arrangements such as utility mode, tall mode that flips up the seat surface of the rear seat, long mode that reclines the front passenger seat, etc., depending on the amount and size of luggage to be loaded, boasts the ease of use of the fit that became the base.

High safety performance that assists the driver

And the third is high safety performance. Vezel is equipped with Honda’s advanced safe driving support system “Honda Sensing” as standard equipment on major grades. Honda Sensing, which uses two devices, a monocular camera and a millimeter-wave radar, has collision mitigation brakes, adaptive cruise control (ACC) that follows the vehicle ahead on the highway, and emergency response when there is an obstacle ahead. Eight advanced functions, such as the erroneous start prevention function that suppresses acceleration, support the driver’s driving.

Impressive ride comfort and excellent quietness

Impressive riding on the Vezel is the comfort of the ride. It employs elaborate mechanisms such as “amplitude-sensitive dampers” that provide both ride comfort and steering stability, and “performance dampers” that reduce the deflection and micro-vibrations that occur while the vehicle is in motion. Because there is In addition, it uses the same soundproofing materials as the high-end model, so it achieves excellent quietness.

In this class of SUV, adults may feel oppressed when riding in the rear seat, or the luggage space may be insufficient, but Vezel does not have such dissatisfaction at all. It means that the body with a total length of about 4.3m has been devised so much. The only disappointing thing is that it’s 1605mm tall, so it can’t be parked in multi-storey parking lots, which are often found in apartments in urban areas.

Let’s introduce the recommended grade of such Vezel. The gasoline car is a sporty grade RS Honda Sensing that has been polished to run. The interior, which uses ultra-suede that feels good on the skin, not only gives you a sense of craftsmanship, but also enhances your sports mind. Hybrid Z Honda Sensing pursues quality with performance dampers and combination seats for hybrid vehicles. Equipped with reverse interlocking door mirrors, etc., it is highly convenient, and even if you choose 4WD, the deterioration of fuel consumption is kept to a minimum.

The reason for the best-selling is the flawlessness

Vezel is a compact size, but it has a spacious interior. And that’s why it’s reigning as a best-seller because of its impeccable car manufacturing that achieves three things: excellent fuel efficiency and even higher levels of safety.

You can also read : Nissan Juke fuel consumption in Kenya