Comeback kid is hitting right note

I clearly remember in primary school that one of my teachers used to drive a sky-blue Honda Ballade.

He was seen as one of the top guys as his Ballade was always clean and he took great pride in it.

My friends and I were once lucky enough to get a ride home from him. About two years ago, I met the same teacher and he still had the same car.

Though it had lost some of its youthful sparkle, it was still running and as he drove away he waved at me. This is not just a touching story, but serves as an introduction to the new addition to our MotorMania long-term fleet.

We will be having the Honda Ballade for some time and will be able to see if this machine lives up to the name of its predecessors from the '80s and '90s. When Honda started independently importing cars it scrapped the Ballade name in an attempt to create a market for the Civic. This left a void among Ballade fans for many years.

And since the Civic has now evolved into a more luxurious car, there was a need for a smaller and more affordable sedan.

Instead of just bringing in the Honda City, Honda decided to give it the Ballade name, I guess hoping to evoke some loyal feelings from former fans. This new Ballade is a feisty one. It comes only with a 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine in either automatic or manual guise, ours being an auto.

Obviously not meant to be a speedster, the car does, however, have a kick. It is also not that heavy on the pocket. The Comfort costs R184900 and the Elegance R193900.

Although it's hardly sex on wheels, it is really not a bad looking car. On the Elegance, the 16-inch alloy wheels and the chrome door handles make it look even more prestigious among its peers.

It has great standard features, such as air conditioning, power steering, electric windows iPod and USB-compatible sound system.

It also comes with a built-in Bluetooth system, which felt like an afterthought to me, set up on the top right part of the car and not very user-friendly. Honda has also been consistent in opting for the futuristic dashboard you will find in the Civic and Jazz Hybrid.

Although the seats are a bit low and can only be adjusted back and forward, it is not a bad drive at all.

We look forward to spending more time with this reinvented legend. By treating the name Ballade with the respect it deserves, Honda has not disappointed us - so far.

For the next few months expect updates on how the legend has been letting us know that it is back!

The Specs:

Engine: 1.5 i-VTEC

Power: 88kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 145Nm at 4800rpm

0-100km/h: 13 seconds (achieved)

Top Speed: 185km/h (claimed)

: 148g/km

Fuel consumption: 7.0l/l00km(tested)

Price: R196900

We like:

The strong Honda brand

Perfect for everyday use

Packed with safety features

We don't like:

Automatic box is very sluggish