Honda tweaks popular Ballade brand

Freshly launched in South Africa, where it is already being declared Honda’s best-selling sedan since 2012, the new Honda Ballade goes on sale in Namibia this month. With improvements in every aspect, from its exterior and interior design to engine specifications – the latest version of Honda’s sporty sub-compact flagship is a step closer to driving perfection. The car sports a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, with the driver offered the choice between a five-speed manual and an automatic, constantly variable transmission (CVT) offering with seven “virtual” gears. As such, a recent test drive proves the model’s aims of careful balancing driving pleasure and fuel efficiency. Aesthetically speaking, the new Honda Ballade sports bigger dimensions and improved cabin space, although larger passengers may still find the interior space a bit cramped, especially when sitting behind the steering wheel. Nevertheless, its interior is designed around the driver, with a modern seven-inch touch-screen display controlling audio, phone and data comfortably using the simplified steering wheel controls. Marked as able to reach 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, the top-of the range Elegance model reaches a top speed of around 190 km/h. Honda boasts of improved performance, fuel economy and lower emissions, thanks to newly employed technologies that allows for reduced internal friction, weight reduction and improved valve-timing. Standard technologies such as anti-lock braking (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EDB) come standard, complemented by a feature called Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), which assists the driver in retaining control in extreme situations, using both traction and electronic stability control. Another feature, Hill Start Assist, makes starting the car on an incline easier, while preventing it from rolling back. The 2014 Honda Ballade is currently available at Pupkewitz Honda, in both the 1.5 Trend and 1.5 Elegance derivatives, ranging in price from N$196 000 to N$236 000.