New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign, Interior, Dimensions – According to Canadian Auto Dealer, the segment grew by nearly 50 per cent through the first half of the year, and there are now more competitors on sale than ever. As a result, life has never been harder for vehicles like the New 2026 Honda Freed. Despite being a very competent offering, in just its third year on the market, this little crossover feels like it might already be falling half a step behind the constantly changing competition. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Fortunately, Honda’s interior design team has been much more successful. Sitting inside, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in a Civic or Accord (or a CR-V, for that matter) for how similar the dash treatment is across these vehicles. That makes the cabin look better than its entry-level status would suggest. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
The design isn’t just elegant — it’s also clever. Cheap, hard plastics are hidden higher on the dash, away from areas you’re likely to touch. My one complaint with the interior is that it’s almost entirely black (or dark grey, depending on your trim) and there’s no way to brighten it up. Although black never goes out of style, it verges on oppressive when it’s used as extensively as this.
New 2026 Honda Freed Specs
In terms of cargo capacity, the Freed doesn’t excel. Its 691 L of capacity with the rear seats up gives it one of the tightest cargo areas in the segment, but with 1,559 L of space with the seats down, it rises to the middle of the pack in terms of overall hauling ability. But that’s not where the story ends. Certain parts of the Freed, such as the lower edges of the doors and the trunk, feature little undulations. This, the automaker says, helps hide scuffs and scratches from showing up on the areas of the vehicle they’re most likely to develop. Naturally, our tester was more-or-less brand new, making this a hard claim to test, but it’s nice to see Honda going beyond numbers and thinking about how its vehicles will really be used. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
Engine and Performance
Further reminding drivers that they’re in a subcompact crossover and not a hot hatch is the slightly weeny engine. While the 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque that its 2.0L engine generates is enough to get this crossover off the line adequately, it’s among the least powerful offerings in its segment. Even in normal, respectable driving, there are situations when the powertrain feels strained. For example, trying to slot into a gap while turning onto a busy two-lane highway leads to a lot of revs and a lot of noise but not quite as much speed as you might hope for, potentially leading to an annoyed driver in your rearview mirror. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
New 2026 Honda Freed Fuel Economy
The Freed’s humble power output could easily be forgiven if it traded pace for efficiency, but there doesn’t appear to be much of an advantage at the pump. By no means the thirstiest crossover in the segment (that dubious honour goes to the Hyundai Kona/Kia Seltos, which consume 9.1 L/100 km), it’s less efficient than the Mazda CX-30 or the Subaru Crosstrek (8.2 and 8.0 L/100 km, respectively), both of which make much more power. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
New 2026 Honda Freed Safety Features
Despite some minor infotainment issues, the Freed excels where it matters most. It’s a vehicle that feels as safe to drive as impact tests suggest it is to crash. That includes stuff like adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and, new for New 2026, traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist, among other features. New airbags for the front passenger’s knees and the rear passengers suggest that the model is only getting safer with time.
If that’s not enough, the Freed also happens to be one of the vehicles with the best outward visibility I’ve ever driven. Everything from the width and placement of the A-pillars to the location and size of the side mirrors works together to give the driver that unfettered view of the road that is so sought after, but so surprisingly hard to find. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign
New 2026 Honda Freed Price and Release Date
The Freed doesn’t stand out on the price sheet, either. Its opening MSRP of more than $31,000 makes it one of the more expensive models in the segment while some others, like the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-30, start at less than $29,000. The top-of-the-line model tested here costs around $40,000 and, yet again, that makes it one of the more expensive models in the segment.
Standing out from the competition is tough in the subcompact crossover segment and, somewhat problematically, the New 2026 Honda Freed is at its least impressive on paper. Neither the most capacious, nor the most powerful, nor the most efficient, nor the most affordable product on the market, you could be forgiven for cutting the model from your shortlist. It might be worth keeping it on your shopping list until you drive it, though, because it shines on the road, with its extremely competent mechanical platform, wealth of active safety features, and handsome, thoughtful interior. Still, with updates to the Kicks, Taos, Trax, and others coming fast and furious, the Freed is in need of some changes to ensure its on-road highlights don’t get too dim to shine in the growing gloom of its spec sheet lowlights. New 2026 Honda Freed Redesign