Honda Freed Hybrid HE7 Review: Almost Free from Flaws

What we like:

Superb practicality

Clever interior packaging

Reasonably responsive and efficient

Comfy

What we dislike:

Quality of locally-fitted options let it down

Kah Motor traditionally has been behind the curve when it comes to offering hybrid versions of the Freed, versus its parallel importer competitors.

This time, it’s different. It’s finally bringing the Freed Hybrid (or more accurately, the e:HEV variant) to the market comparatively early in the product cycle. This will help it gain a foothold over buyers who gravitate towards buying from an authorised distributor, which I reckon is the majority of them. Kah Motor’s Freed will be localised (no Japanese menus for example), which is an added bonus, but it is really spec-dependent as we will delve into later.

The Freed Hybrid looks absolutely on-point. Its tablet-like daytime running front lights look achingly cool, while the ‘devil’s ear’ tail lights on the previous Freed has been banished in favour of simpler cube lights. The cleaned-up look is a huge improvement and makes the Freed at least as interesting as the funky Toyota Sienta.

Its interior is also a masterclass in typical Honda design, a clear demonstration of logic, usability and plain genius. Honda’s seats are the stuff of legend, and in the Freed there are a few configurations to play with. One is combining the second row of seats with the third to create some sort of a mega lounge. Second is folding up the 2nd row seats (in true Magic Seats fashion) and stowing the third row seats onto the window pillars to create a huge storage space. Of course, if you decide to use all 3 rows of seats, there is still decent luggage space.

Aside from little thoughtful features like convenience hooks and sunshades, the HE7 version as tested here also comes with rear air-conditioning vents and USB-C charging ports on the front seat backs. Less enjoyable is the locally-fitted leather on the seats, dash and door cards, which feel quite artificial. I actually prefer the cloth on the more affordable HS7 trim. I am also not a fan of the third-party infotainment screen, all the more jarring in this day and age.

However, you will quickly forgive all of this when you drive the car. Honda is famous for its engines, and the one here is as smooth as it gets for its class. The e:HEV drivetrain is fairly responsive and is enjoyable to use. However, it doesn’t seem that much more efficient than the previous Freed, clocking in around 18 km/l during the weekend test drive. The Editorial team thinks the Sienta Hybrid can probably do slightly better.

On the move, the Freed Hybrid is confident and comfortable, feeling it could manage everything you could possibly throw at it. It’s pretty much everything you want in a small MPV, a truly compelling product.

At just under $170k for the HS7 and just above for the HE7, the Freed was priced significantly below the competition - at least momentarily. The word in the industry is that others quickly adjusted their pricing in response to something more comparable. If nothing else, the Freed has brought itself to the fore again, keeping the segment lively.

Photos by James Wong

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