Local prices, engine specs, performance, fuel economy data, reliability and safety listings for every car
sold in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait!
The Accord is of one the best midsize sedans available. It may not be best in class for every little thing, but its all-rounder package makes it popular among consumers. The Accord was enlarged and redesigned for the 2008 model year,
and will now be offered in a Japanese-built sedan form and American-built coupe
form. The coupe debuts in the middle of 2008. Both versions will be offered with either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder or a 3.5-litre V6.
The 2.4-litre in the coupe has a bit more power than the one in the sedan. Only
the basic 2.4-litre sedan will get a five-speed manual, while all the other
trims get a five-speed automatic only. Standard features on all models include power door mirrors with LED indicators, power windows,
cruise control, CD/MP3 player with steering wheel controls, dual front airbags,
ABS brakes, head restraint system and keyless entry. Optional features available
in higher models include 17-inch alloys, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, sunroof,
CD changer, leather, power driver's seat, fake wood trim and fog lamps.
Big
interior, tight build, fuel economy, ride quality
Bad
Dull
styling, engines lack torque, expensive with options
Honda City
With Honda going for premium prices nowadays, the City is about as low as you can go in the Honda range. It is touted as the perfect `urban` vehicle, with its small exterior and tall interior. There is now a choice of two engines, namely a 1.3-litre four-cylinder with either a five-speed manual or a gearless CVT automatic, or a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with a gearless CVT that can imitate a seven-speed gearbox using wheel-mounted buttons. Standard features on the base 1.3-litre model include multi-reflector headlamps, 14-inch steel wheel, air-conditioning with heater, power windows, electric power steering, radio CD player with 2 speakers, cup and card holders, dual airbags and side door beams. Upgrading to the 1.5-litre adds 15-inch alloy wheels, hidden radio antenna, rear 60/40 split seat, rear tip-up seat function, driver seat height adjuster, power locks, electric mirrors, 2 more speakers for the CD stereo, fake wood-finish consoles, keyless entry and ABS brakes.
The new Civic is a breath of fresh air in the crowded compact class. Honda once led the class with quality and style. It lost its way for a while, but now it is back in form. The redesigned Honda Civic is the most futuristic compact car on the market. There is more power from just one 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine choice, with either a manual or an automatic. Improvements include better ride and handling, and better interior packaging. The Civic offers important safety features such ABS brakes and airbags, though not all might be standard in some markets. Standard equipment include power windows, tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, rear window-integrated radio antenna, air conditioning, power mirrors, central locking, a centre console with sliding armrest, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 and WMA playback, and the funky digital dashboard. Options include a power moonroof; a 60/40 split folding rear seatback, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Competitors:
Hyundai Elantra
Nissan Tiida
Toyota Corolla
Price Range
Dhs 54000 - 67000 (US$ 14670 - 18200)
Body Styles
4-door sedan
Weight (kg)
1199 - 1274
Version
Performance
Engine
Gearbox
Power (hp)
Torque (Nm)
Fuel Econ (l/100km)
0-100 kph (sec)
Top Speed (kph)
1.8 I4 FWD
5M/5A
140
173
6.7-6.9
8.9-10.4
194-205
Good
Sleek looks, futuristic cabin, fuel economy
Bad
Basic automatic, pricey with options, engine noise
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a roomy little soft-roader that is convenient and easy to drive on the streets, but no hero on the rough stuff. There are lots of features, and the cabin is fairly spacious. It rides as smoothly as a car, especially since it is based on the Civic. It offers the cargo versatility of a sport-utility vehicle, an upright seating position, and all-wheel drive. The styling was radically revised for 2007, with marketing folks referring to it as the "Aerosport" SUV. The CR-V comes with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine lifted from the Accord, with a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include air conditioning with micron filtration, AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 capability and optional 6-CD changer, an adjustable steering column, power mirrors, power windows, and power outlets, along with front airbags, integrated keyless entry and alloy wheels. Side airbags are optionally available, as are a moonroof, leather seats, adaptive headlights and other features.
Competitors:
Chevrolet Captiva
Ford Escape
Toyota RAV-4
Price Range
Dhs 82000 - 90000 (US$ 22300 - 24500)
Body Styles
5-door wagon
Weight (kg)
1591 - 1613
Version
Performance
Engine
Gearbox
Power (hp)
Torque (Nm)
Fuel Econ (l/100km)
0-100 kph (sec)
Top Speed (kph)
2.4 I4 4WD
5A
166
218
9.4
10.5
185
Good
Utility, headroom, manageable size, ride
Bad
Off-road prowess, no V6 option, oddball styling
Honda Jazz
Honda claims that the new Jazz rewrites the small car concept, offering benchmark space, functionality, style, performance, fuel economy and world class safety. It is at least partially true, considering the car was created by two design teams, one from Japan and another from Germany. Their innovations have led to a vehicle which is fun to drive and versatile too, though very dorky to look at. It is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with only an automatic from 2006, but it is the space that Honda is touting. During the design process, every part of the Jazz was examined for space efficiency. Engineers have even located the fuel tank beneath the front cabin floor to make efficient use of cabin space. Therefore by centrally locating the fuel tank, Honda has boosted body rigidity, increased crash protection in all directions as well as improved protection of the fuel tank. Jazz has a range of standard features that include driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, CD player and unique "Magic Seats", though it does skimp on interior materials, and power windows are only available for the front.
A leader of technology back in the early 90s, the Legend is Honda's forgotten fullsize luxury car, back again for another beating in a tough market that runs on badge snobbery. Completely redesigned a few years ago, it only reached the GCC for the 2008 model year. Powered by a capable 3.5-litre V6, it feeds power to the all-wheel-drive platform through a five-speed automatic that includes paddles for manual shifting. The Legend comes all the usual luxury features such as leather, 17-inch alloys, power accessories, cruise control and the like. Some of the more unique ones include Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS) that swivels the HID headlights up to 20 degrees as the car turns, while the "Super Handling" all-wheel-drive system does extremely well to hide the platform's front-wheel-drive origins. Safety features include stability control, dual front airbags, front-side airbags, and side-curtain airbags over all four doors. Noise reduction technology sends an opposite phase signal through the car's audio system to cancel out engine noise. Too bad the car looks like an economy car, while having to manage with a V6 in a field that takes V8 motors for granted.
The MR-V has been freshened for 2006 with a new front end along with enhancements to some interior features of this midsize 4WD. The MR-V is a typical Honda, with its trademark practicality, efficiency and reliability. It is built on the Accord platform, but drives like a tall and lumpy car with a smooth ride. It is not the best choice to take out into the desert as it lacks low-range gearing, but it can manage some light-duty work better than others. Capable of seating up to eight passengers, the MR-V is far from a small vehicle. The standard 3.5-litre V6 is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The power gets to the ground through the front wheels in normal operation, switching automatically to four-wheel-drive when slippage is detected. The MR-V still manages to deliver decent fuel economy. Interior includes all the usual power accessories. Safety features include ABS brakes and frontal and side-impact airbags. It is built in the United States alongside many other Honda products.
The Odyssey is a best-seller in America, but has yet to make an impact in this region, where 4WDs rule. The Odyssey has a car-like ride and handling quality since it is based on the Accord. It is powered by the same fuel-efficient 3.5-litre V6 engine as the MR-V, mated to an automatic. The interior features a clever seating system that can accommodate up to eight passengers. The Odyssey comes standard with side curtain airbags, electronic stability control and ABS brakes, as well as power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, power sliding doors, tri-zone climate control, a stowable second-row PlusOne seat, in-dash CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, cruise control, power driver seat controls, alloy wheels and other features. Leather upholstery is available, as is a power moonroof and heated front seats. The Odyssey aims to be more of a luxury cruiser than a basic family or labour hauler.
Competitors:
Chrysler Grand Caravan
Ford Freestar
Toyota Previa
Price Range
Dhs 110000 - 130000 (US$ 22990 - 35300)
Body Styles
5-door minivan
Weight (kg)
2033 - 2095
Version
Performance
Engine
Gearbox
Power (hp)
Torque (Nm)
Fuel Econ (l/100km)
0-100 kph (sec)
Top Speed (kph)
3.5 V6 FWD
5A
244
339
10.5
9.2
187*
Good
Versatility, spacious, decent fuel economy
Bad
Size, price, unimaginative styling
Honda S2000
The S2000 is a small two-seat roadster that can easily chase the likes of the snobby Porsche Boxster. It is a technological innovation from Honda, whose aim with this car was to pump as much horsepower out of a small 2.0-litre engine as possible, without any turbo or supercharging trickery. The S2000 is said to drive like a superbike, because big horsepower from small displacement with a narrow powerband and extremely high rpm produces a very frantic experience. Driving it slowly, shifting the manual at low rpm apparently results in very weak performance in traffic. The latest model has refinements to the engine and suspension put in place back in 2005. Recent changes to the S2000 include more shoulder and elbow room, and some body tweaks, most notably new headlights with a triple-beam design. Interior features are basic, but include leather upholstery, electric power steering, starter button, power windows, power mirrors, remote central locking, air-conditioning and a pathetic radio cassette stereo with 2 speakers.
