The next-generation Honda Ballade has arrived on South African shores and we attended its local launch in Cape Town.

Honda is one of those brands which always does well. Its products are always good and have picked up a reputation for quality and reliability. The Honda Brio is the cheapest model you can buy in the range, but what if you require more space and practicality? Enter the Ballade. Badged as the Honda City, I first saw this latest version of the car in India, at the 2014 Auto Exhibition.

The Ballade has not had it easy. Due to the tsunami which smashed Japan thereby hitting the automotive component suppliers, and a massive flood in the Honda Thailand factory, Ballade stock has been severely hampered. That’s all in the past though, and there’ll be plenty units to go around.

This car is vastly different to the outgoing model both in terms of looks and features, and initial impressions are good. For detailed specifications and pricing about the new Honda Ballade, click here. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor with a few minor tweaks is fitted and it comes with a choice of either a five-speed manual ‘box or a CVT clutchless transmission. There are two trim levels available, Trend and the kitted-out Elegance.

The car rides on the same platform as the Honda Jazz, which isn’t a bad thing considering how good the little Jazz is. The new Ballade looks refreshingly modern and is bigger. It’s a little longer, boasts a longer wheelbase and is a little taller. The boot capacity has grown, but so has the opening – meaning it’s easier to load cargo.

Honda Ballade driving impression

We left the airport vicinity and headed out towards the Winelands. I opted for the CVT-equipped vehicle first and when driven slowly, the car is refined and quiet. It’s only when you’re in a hurry that the CVT noise becomes a little intrusive and the car feels hindered. That said, the benefits of fuel economy outweigh any minor gripe about CVT gearboxes. Honda claims the CVT-equipped Ballade will consume just 5.9l/100km.

Honda manual gearboxes have always been a pleasure to drive, and the 2014 Honda Ballade is no exception. It’s smooth, precise and a joy to use. After a quick vehicle swop into the manual Ballade, we tackled the mountain passes into Stellenbosch and the car had a small sporty edge – something the younger market will appreciate.

I like the new look of the Honda Ballade interior. It’s modern and simple to use, and the Elegance model features some very fancy technology. There’s a multi angle reverse camera, cruise control, two USB ports, HDMI port as well as a touchscreen interface which resembles a tablet.

Touchscreen infotainment

This full-colour 18-inch touchscreen links to your Apple or Android smartphone through the HDMI port and diagnostic port. You can download apps such as satellite navigation, internet radio and you can even diagnose problems and see car settings by using DashCommand. For a performance person, seeing car temperatures and parameters is fascinating and I hope this system makes its way into something a bit more sportier than a Honda Ballade. Honda Civic Type R please!

Honda Ballade summary

The Honda Ballade is rather pleasant to drive and the current Honda clientbase will no doubt consider the vehicle when it comes to upgrade. It goes up against the Toyota Corolla Quest, Nissan Almera and Hyundai Accent, and given its features and practicality, would make for a great buy. Pricing starts from R195 900 and this includes a three-year or 100 000 km warranty, a four-year or 60 000 km service plan and a year’s worth of free roadside assistance.