Now in its sixth generation, the top-selling, multi-award-winning Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle somehow manages to be the best it has ever been. Let’s see how.
Read more
GLEANER JAMAICA
The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck that offers a unique blend of car-like ride comfort, utility, and technology.
The brand has long ditched the design concept of the first-generation Ridgeline, which had no dividing line between bed and cabin. Now, it more resembles a traditional pick- up, with a large bed with a number of features that make it more versatile such as a built-in trunk, which can also be used as a cooler. Adjacent to this is a hidden compartment that stores the spare tyre.
Once I entered the vehicle, I realised how spacious it felt due to the huge centre console, which acts like an island between driver and front passenger.
There are also individual armrests mounted on both front seats and a secret storage compartment that can hold a medium-sized handbag in the centre console. Nonetheless, with all of this, I still felt like at 6.55 feet, it was wider than most pickups, and I was right, with the standard bearer Toyota Hilux being narrower at 6.05 feet wide.
The leather front seats are supportive and well-cushioned, with side bolsters and adjustable lumbar support for the driver. The rear seats are spacious enough for three adults, but what really stands out for me is how innovative Honda is with creating more storage compartments. The 60/40 split rear-seat configuration can be folded up from the floor, which allows for a medium-sized mountain bike to be placed upright in the second row.
When the seats are placed down, a hollow space exists between the base of the seat and the floor, which is ideal for storing delicate items like fruits.
The interior is well-appointed, with soft-touch materials and a modern design. The dashboard is easy to use, and the controls are well-placed. The Ridgeline also comes standard with a number of features, including a rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a six-speaker sound system. A quirky, but nifty feature is the conversational mirror. It is a concave mirror that is incorporated into the sunglasses holder in the overhead console. When it is in use, it allows the driver to have eye contact with the rear passengers and is excellent for parents who want to monitor kids.
The Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The driving options, such as reverse or neutral, are controlled by buttons instead of a traditional gear lever.
The Honda Ridgeline has one of the best rides in the midsize pickup truck class. It’s smooth and comfortable on the highway, and it handles well for a pickup. It shares its unibody chassis with the Odyssey, Passport, and Pilot, and has independent rear suspension. This gives the Ridgeline a more car-like ride than its competitors, which typically have body-on-frame construction and solid rear axles.
The all-wheel drive system helps to keep it planted on the road in all weather conditions and improves handling, with little to no body roll.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline is a great choice for buyers who want a comfortable and versatile midsize pickup truck. It’s not the most powerful or capable truck on the market, however it will be able to handle light-duty towing and hauling.
Pros:
Car-like ride comfort
Spacious and comfortable interior
Versatile bed with a number of features
Standard safety features
Available advanced safety features
Cons:
Not the most powerful or capable truck on the market
Single engine option
Price of tested model: $12.6m
Price Range/ Options:
Engine: 3.5 litre V6
Torque: 262 lb-ft at 4700 rpm
Transmission: AWD, 9-speed automatic
Fuel tank: 73.8 litre
Body Type: pickup
Competition: Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Mazda BT50, VW Amarok, GWM P Series.
GLEANER JAMAICA
The 2023 Honda HR-V is a completely redesigned small SUV that offers a lot of value and shares its platform and engine with the Civic. This time around, Honda went for a new rugged appearance as it abandoned the curves from the previous model.
Now, the HR-V is all about sharp angles and a tank-like silhouette.
I always wanted to test the HR-V, and I was fortunate to get the Hybrid version. This model is a new addition to the Honda line-up, and it offers a number of advantages over the standard HR-V. There is also more technology, like an automatic gate lift, which is quite common, however, Honda does something different with a walk-away feature. This allows you to press a button, and once you have possession of the key, the tailgate will close automatically when you are walking away.
The interior is covered with leather, which provides soft touches on all the interactive areas such as the steering wheel and the dashboard. The seats are also wrapped with leather that is perforated and is heavily padded with cushions. The headrest has a concave design and was one of the more comfortable ones I have felt. The creature comforts continue to the driver’s seat, which is fully electric, with the option to provide thigh support.
Leave it to Honda to come up with nifty features, like the conversational mirror that is found in the Ridgeline and Pilot. While this is not included in the HR-V, the company incorporated their ‘magic’ folding-seat mechanism. This is where the base of the rear seats can be folded upward to create more space, a truly ingenious feature that gives Honda the edge from many other brands.
Another one is the dedicated AC vents for the front passenger and driver, which has a multidirectional airflow option. This means that rather than blasting a concentration of air straight towards the person, the air is spread out.
To my surprise, there are rear AC vents, which are not common in small SUVs, and also, for the rear passengers, there are tweeters on the side door.
Infotainment system: The HR-V Hybrid comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. In addition, there is a wireless charging station below the climate controls.
Speaking of climate controls, the HR-V Hybrid comes standard with dual-zone climate control. This means that the driver and passenger can each set their own temperature.
Cargo space: The HR-V Hybrid has 25.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. This expands to 58.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This is more cargo space than many other SUVs in its class.
The hybrid model gets better fuel economy, thanks to its combination of a 1.5-litre turbo gasolene engine and two electric motors, which delivers 129 horsepower and 187 Nm of torque. It also has a more refined ride, thanks to its unique suspension setup, which can give a floaty ride.
The HR-V Hybrid can switch between three driving modes – Econ, Normal and Sport – as well as adjust the level of energy recovery and deceleration using paddles behind the steering wheel. I found the acceleration to be quite adequate, especially when in Sports mode. For a small SUV, it was able to move swiftly when needed, taking a little over 10 seconds to go from 0 to 62mph, and having a top speed of 106mph.
Where handles are concerned, the HR-V manages effectively through corners, with a stable and secure feeling, and a well-weighted and precise steering. With an impressive ground clearance of 7.7 inches, you won’t be able to go around corners at maximum speeds without some body roll. On the flip side, the batteries are under the seats, and with this favourable ground clearance, it gives the driver some confidence when going through water.
Overall, the driving experience of the 2023 Honda HR-V Hybrid is good where performance and comfort is concerned.
Price of tested model: $7.995m
Options: HR-V LX $6.859m, HR-V EX $7.385m
Engine: 1.5 litre
Torque: 187 Nm
Transmission: FWD or AWD:
Fuel tank: 40 litres
Gas consumption: 13.3 km/l
Body Type: small crossover SUV.
Competition: Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-3 and Suzuki Vitara
Vehicle provided by ATL Automotive Ltd, atlautomotive.com
Sparks flew as the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R was launched on Saturday, April 22, at the Sky Deck, AC Hotel, Kingston.
“We’re elated to have this car. We’ve been waiting for it. After seeing all the reviews we’re so excited that it’s finally here now on Jamaican soil so that we can offer it to customers,” Vasil Lee, assistant general manager — ATL Honda, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.
Read more
With gas prices soaring higher each day, automotive manufacturers have been noticing a growing demand for more multipurpose vehicles (MPVs). These are usually seven seaters that place an emphasis on carrying a lot of persons in a comfortable manner. For this reason, they have a noticeable longer wheelbase and a higher roof line.
Honda picked up on this trend and started manufacturing the BR-V in 2016, with the first generation model looking like a slightly altered CR-V. The design language was similar, with a front fascia that was almost identical.
Read more For 2023, Honda has finally moved into the space setting itself as the standard with the all-new BR-V.
Read more
HONDA Jamaica celebrated 25 years under the ATL banner, on Saturday, June 4 at the Hope Zoo, St Andrew, with the release of two all-new first-time models — the HR-V Hybrid and the BR-V sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Read more
ATL goes electric! – The ATL Automotive Group, Jamaica’s leading automotive dealership, continues to champion electric vehicle (EV) awareness through the launch of the ATL Automotive It’s Electric website.
Read more
January 11, 2022 — DETROIT
The all-new 2022 Honda Civic, the 11th generation of America’s most popular compact car, has earned the prestigious 2022 North American Car of the Year award. Civic was honoured by the North American jury of automotive journalists for the third time, with the 10th-generation Civic winning in 2016 and 8th generation taking the top honor in 2006.
Read more
Honda, through local dealer ATL Honda — a division of the ATL Automotive Group — will debut the Honda City in April. The 2021 City will be an updated version of the ever- popular sub-compact sedan, first introduced in 2009.
“We’re absolutely excited to have the new City added to our Honda line-up. We know customers will also love it because of its practicality, affordability and its excellent resale value when they’re ready to upgrade to their next Honda model,” Petrena Purser, general manager of Honda Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.
Read more
