What's a Ballade?
The Honda Ballade is a five-door compact sedan. While not always known as the Ballade (it was known as a Civic Sedan for quite some time), it has evolved to become one of the safest compact sedans on our roads today.
With its re-introduction as the Honda Ballade sedan in 2011 (see image below), it was well-received by the public and motoring media alike, and included safety features such as ABS, EBD, Emergency Brake Assist and four airbags.
The Ballade may look compact, but Honda is highly skilled at creating large cabins inside of small body shells, and the Ballade is no exception. The 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol-engine is known for its longevity and offers sufficient power for both highway and city driver. In the latest Ballade, Honda rates its average fuel economy to be in the region of 5.8 litres per 100 km, but we reckon 6.5-8 l/100 km is the going rate, depending on your driving style. With the 2012 Ballade facelift (see below), Honda also added curtain airbags to protect rear occupants, as well as vehicle stability control.
In 2014, the all-new second-generation Ballade was introduced, with a new CVT gearbox and loads of added convenience features, as well as more interior space, thanks to a longer wheelbase.
In 2015, Honda saw fit to add a new Flagship Executive model to boost the local Ballade offering. Features included larger 16-inch alloys, integrated indicators, and full leather upholstery.
In 2017, the Ballade underwent another facelift with a spec upgrade, which included a redesigned front- and rear bumper, grille, and new wheel designs. Daytime running lamps were also added and the entire cabin was upgraded, while the amount of comfort features was increased, overall. ISOFIX child anchors are now standard across the board.
The long and short of it?
The Ballade is an absolute winner if you're a young driver or couple starting a family, or even if you're retired. Anyone who's looking for quality and safety on a budget should find the Ballade to be a truly smart buy. For access to these above-mentioned safety features, we recommend a 2011 model or younger.
Take a look below to shop Ballades within your exact price range:
1. Honda Ballade models for R50 000 and under
2. Honda Ballade models between R50 000 and R100 000
3. Honda Ballade models between R100 000 and R200 000
4. Honda Ballade models priced from R200 000 to R250 000
5. Honda Ballade models priced from R250 000 to R300 000
6. Honda Ballade models between R300 000 and R350 000
Pricing for the new Honda Ballade (correct as per May 2020) is as follows:
- Honda Ballade 1.5 trend, R262 200
- Honda Ballade 1.5Trend auto, R289 900
- Honda Ballade 1.5 Elegance, R305 500
- Honda Ballade 1.5 Elegance auto, R322 600
- Honda Ballade 1.5 Executive auto, R349 600
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