Not too long ago, Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated (HCPI) launched the BR-V in the country.

At some point, it became the brand’s top-selling model in the Philippines and has attracted a strong following thanks to its distinct sport utility vehicle styling paired with multi-purpose vehicle space and comfort. To top it all off, those who opted to get the Honda BR-V enjoyed the aforementioned benefits plus the proven quality and reliability that the marque’s cars are known for.

So, is the Honda BR-V that good? Here’s our take on the V variant of the brand’s sensational seven-seater.

Handsome hauler

At a glance, the Honda BR-V V is definitely a looker. The seven-seater shares similar mature, modern, minimalist design cues with other Honda nameplates like the Civic, HR-V, and CR-V.

Its front end is adorned by a bold-looking grille flanked by full LED headlamps. Below it is a latticework with large honeycomb patterns and LED fog lamps on each of its sides. There are also black trims that line the lower front bumper of the fascia that extends to the front wheel arches.

Speaking of which, the Honda BR-V V flaunts blacked-out wheel well linings, black door claddings, dark-colored pillars, as well as black trims on its power-adjustable and folding side mirrors. It also boasts some chrome and silver touches found on the vehicle’s side sill garnishes, door handles, window surrounds, and roof rails.

Its side profile also offers a sharp vertical beltline that makes it look stout and stable. It rides on 17-inch wheels wrapped in 215/55 tires, allowing it to clear the ground by 207 millimeters — something many drivers can appreciate now that the rainy season is upon us.

At the back, the Honda BR-V V looks sexy and sculpted with smooth curves that taper from the abovementioned beltline up to the roof. It has a discreet spoiler with a high-mount stop lamp, a large enough rear glass with a wiper, LED taillamps, a rear camera, and a rear bumper with reflectors and a diffuser.

Chrome badging comes in the form of the Honda emblem, BR-V nameplate, and the i-VTEC stamp on its manual tailgate.

We received nods of approval from friends and onlookers who found the seven-seater a dashing family carrier. With its subtle mix of sharp angles and straight lines, the Honda BR-V V does not scream mommy car and is something that fathers who pay particular attention to the vehicle they drive can get onboard with.

Sleek, comfortable

Two words best describe the cabin of the Honda BR-V V: sleek and comfortable.

Reinforcing the first word are on-fleek interior appointments such as black leather seats, a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel, a shift knob with a leather cover, as well as a dashboard with black leather-like plastic finish and stylish chrome appliques.

Similarly, the door trims have some leather upholstery with white stitching and hard plastics. Likewise, the headliner of the seven-seater is also finished in black, which sort of makes the cabin look cavernous and is less likely to show dirt, dust, and smudges.

I like that the interior is easy to clean making the Honda BR-V V a vehicle that’s not painful to maintain.

The driver is faced with an instrument panel that uses both analog and digital gauges with relevant driving information that is easy to understand. The instrument cluster is complemented by a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with wired Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto.

Integration of navigation applications as well as music streaming services is seamless with audio directed to the vehicle’s acceptable six-speaker sound system. Sometimes — although we hate to admit it — these small and seemingly unimportant things can make one’s driving and ownership experience more enjoyable.

In the areas of comfort, all seven seats of the Honda BR-V V not only offer ample cushioning but also come with some form of recline function. That means those fit enough to sit in the third row can still enjoy both short and long drives.

Further, third-row occupants have their own USB charging port and bottle holders. The same goes for those sitting in the second row, who will also enjoy having their own rear ventilation on top of a pull-down armrest, bottle holders on each of the doors, and a dedicated USB charging port. This means they won’t have to fight over whose turn it is to juice up their phones or handheld consoles as both rows get their own means of charging.

We’ve driven the Honda BR-V V in and out of the city. My passengers — which include a three-year-old toddler and a senior turning 87 — felt comfortable and were able to sleep during the trip. That’s braving both city traffic under the scorching sun and expressway speeds with heavy rains.

Impressive performance

The Honda BR-V V is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. On paper, it makes as much as 119 horses with 145 Newton-meters of pulling power.

It means that it has enough “oomph” to propel the vehicle even with six passengers accompanying the driver. In our case, it ferried four full-sized adults (who by the way are not of slim build) and one toddler. With two persons sitting at the front, two in the second row, and one little munchkin in the third row, it did not feel like it lacked power and even felt like it had more to give.

The Honda BR-V V has its force evenly distributed over the rev range allowing it to generate enough “grunt” to give the driver confidence for overtakes and offer some level of peppiness even at higher speeds.

Additionally, the transmission felt smooth and refined — which combined with the spirited engine — made the seven-seater a fun family car to drive.

Stopping power comes from ventilated disk brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. It is supported by MacPhreson struts at the fore and a torsion beam setup at the back. Despite the standard brake and suspension system, it still felt able when taking on turns and bends with some noticeable body roll — a showcase of how rudimentary yet refined Japanese engineering is.

Standard safety technologies

Speaking of things that are standard, the Honda BR-V V gets a host of standard safety features like seatbelts with reminders, airbags, an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, security alarm, an immobilizer, and an emergency stop signal.

For those traveling with tots, the seven-seater has ISOFIX tethers.

In addition, the Honda BR-V V gets a remote engine start feature, walk-away auto lock, speed-sensing door locks, a reverse camera with line guides, and a handful of parking sensors.

Unfortunately, Honda Sensing is available only for the range-topping VX model.

Variants, pricing

The Honda BR-V V sits as the second-best variant in the hierarchy. Below is the nameplate’s family roster:

BR-V S M/T: P1.09 million
BR-V S CVT: P1.15 million
BR-V V CVT: P1.295 million
BR-V VX CVT: P1.39 million

Verdict

The Honda BR-V V is a solid option for car buyers who do not want to splurge on top-of-the-line models. For under P1.2 million, those eyeing to drive home a capable seven-seater can get above-average features and a solid powertrain system.

I personally loved spending time with the Honda BR-V V and wouldn’t mind using one as my daily. It ticks all the right boxes for growing families who want a ride that can keep up with their needs.

Photos from Juan Paulo Papa

Also read:

More than modest: Honda Brio V CVT

Refined ride: Volkswagen Tharu SEL

Fancy family MPV: Hyundai Stargazer X