Honda has given us a sneak peek at the new Freed in Japan. This minivan is now in its third version, and it’s got a fresh look, hybrid all-wheel-drive options, and some cool features that we wish other cars had too.
The Freed is a bit smaller than the Honda Odyssey we have in America. Honda went for a simple design with straight lines and LED lights. It’s not the flashiest, but it’s functional. The coolest part is what’s inside.
The Freed has all the latest safety gadgets, like Honda Sensing, and it can connect to the internet with Honda Connect. But what really stands out are all the storage spaces inside. It’s also got a low floor in the back, which makes it easy to load things in, like wheelchairs. And there’s even a version with a front seat that swings out to help people in wheelchairs get in and out more easily.
Another neat thing is that there’s no big center console between the front seats. So, if you get the six-seater version, the people in the front can easily get to the back row. And if you choose the two-row version, there are side panels in the back that you can move around to make more space in the trunk.
You can get the Freed in two different styles: Air and Crosstar. The Air is more like a regular minivan, while the Crosstar looks more like an SUV. There are lots of options to pick from, too.
You can get it with two or three rows of seats, front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, and seating for six or seven people. All the versions with all-wheel-drive use Honda’s hybrid system, but we’ll have to wait until it comes out in June to find out more about the engine and how much it costs.
We probably won’t get to see the Freed here in the US, but we think Honda’s made something great with this minivan. Since there are so many SUVs out there and not many hybrid minivans, we’d be happy if Honda ever decides to bring it over.
