Honda BR-V, Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid, Toyota Avanza: which is the best vacay-ready MPV?

With the “ber-months” upon us, many families, friends, and even workmates begin planning reunions, out-of-town vacations, and even team-building events. That said, one of the best vehicles to bring to such occasions is the trusty multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) — not only can it carry up to seven passengers, but it can also haul a decent amount of cargo. 

The Honda BR-V is one of the most sought-after models in the segment, but how does it fare against other segment staples, which we have listed below: 

• Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid
• Toyota Avanza

To find out how these MPVs stack against each other, let’s first size them up: 

	Honda BR-V	Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid	Toyota Avanza
Overall dimensions (length, width, height; in millimeters [mm>)	4,490 x 1,780 x 1,685	4,395 x 1,735 x 1,690	4395 x 1730 x 1700
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,700	2,740	2,750
Ground clearance (in mm)	207	180	190

Per the above numbers, the largest among the listed vehicles is the Honda BR-V. This means that the nameplate offers good road presence whether it’s cruising on the expressway or leisurely passing through provincial roads.  

It also excels in terms of ground clearance, which means that it can give drivers added confidence when driving over potholes, speed bumps — or if you’re driving in rural areas — some rough patches of roads. 

Conversely, the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid is the lowest and shortest of the bunch. These measurements make it a more nimble ride and one that would work well with low clearances on several mall and hotel parking spaces in the metro. The low center of gravity also makes the MPV a great automobile to drive on the freeways, which are common roadways taken by excursionists looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of city living. 

Striking the ideal balance between the two is the Toyota Avanza. It offers an overall size, wheelbase, and ground clearance that would work when driven in both urban and rural areas. Its adequate clearance from the ground also makes it a balanced MPV, allowing for good drivability in both low and high-speed situations. 

Among all MPVs, it has the longest wheelbase, which may be attributed to its good ride quality. 

Now that we have the vehicles’ dimensions out of the way, let’s go ahead and check out their exterior appointments. 

Exterior 

Outside, the Honda BR-V boasts a handsome-looking fascia with a broad grille (with large horizontal slats) flanked by sharp-looking headlamps. At the center is a chrome garnish decorated with the brand’s emblem at the center. The lower latticework — integrated with the front bumper — is fitted with a honeycomb pattern with likewise large openings. These are bordered by fog lights housed in black trims. 

To its sides are claddings in the form of blacked-out wheel arches as well as side sill garnishes and lower door protectors. The side mirrors also get a black accent, while the pillars also enjoy some black treatment. In a similar fashion, the roof rails also get a dark finish. 

The Honda BR-V rides on 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped with 215/55 Bridgestone tires.  These are chunky enough to handle road imperfections and improve the MPV’s ride quality. 

At the back, the Honda BR-V gets a decent-sized glass with a built-in wiper topped with a discreet roof-mounted spoiler. A pair of taillights that follow the same sharp-looking design at the front can be found on each side of its hydraulically-assisted tailgate. It also gets a durable-looking rear bumper that seems to hug the lower portion of the vehicle. And oh, there are reflectors in both corners of the said bumper. 

As for the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid, the nameplate carries a modest fascia — ideal for those who prefer to fly under the radar. At the fore is a decent-sized chrome grillework adorned by the marque’s logo at the center. Onto its sides are halogen-projector headlamps with an automatic function. 

The lower front bumper has a black trim with horizontal air vents. The black garnish extends to the cheeks of the vehicle to house its front fog lamps. 

Its side profile is highlighted by blacked-out pillars, chrome door handles, a pair of side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a set of 15-inch two-tone wheels wrapped in 185/65 radial tires. 

There is a black window accent on the rear end of the MPV, which gives the impression of having a floating roof. 

Its hind side surprisingly packs character thanks to its aggressively-styled taillamps that extend to the vehicle’s tailgate. There is also a discreet spoiler with a built-in stop lamp. The rear bumper shares the same color as the automobile’s body with reflectors on each side. 

Finally, the Toyota Avanza offers would-be owners with a boxy MPV that boasts plenty of sharp angles and straight bodylines. The front of the vehicle evokes a dependable vibe thanks to its large grille with cheese grater-like meshwork. Taking up much space of the vehicle’s fascia, the snappy-looking headlamps appear to be pushed back on the borders of the fascia and creates an aggressive appeal. 

Much of its styling appears to be focused on the fore since the sides of the Toyota Avanza looks clean with the only features that pop out are its blacked-out pillars and two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels shod in 195/60 series tires. Nevertheless, the view from this angle makes the vehicle look mature and muscular, also thanks to the strong horizontal bodyline that also gives it a stable stance. 

At the back, the Toyota Avanza offers similar features as the two aforementioned MPVS like a decent-sized window for ease of maneuvering, combination taillamps, a wide tailgate, and a bumper that echoes the looks offered by its front end — with reflectors for added visibility of course. 

Winner 

We will be giving this round to the Honda BR-V because it offers a good blend of sportiness, elegance, and ruggedness to its owners. Many would also appreciate its longer body and elevated ground clearance, which adds an extra layer of confidence to owners who might be passing through bumpy roads on their way to their favorite vacay spots. 

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Interior 

Inside, the Honda BR-V offers a wealth of features for its occupants. The range-topping VX variant packs some leather seating as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a leather shift knob.  

The driver gets a 4.2-inch full-color thin-film transistor instrument cluster while passengers can enjoy its seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. 

Here are some of its other notable features: 

• Automatic air conditioning system 
• Smart entry system 
• bottle holders, cup holders 
• Power windows 

Meanwhile, the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid gets a homey cabin — something that vacationists might find comforting while taking on a long journey. 

There is no option for leather upholstery, but the fabric coverings prove to be comfortable nonetheless. A leather steering wheel is available for the model, which also gets some faux wood trims on the dashboard, the said steering wheel, and on some surfaces of the door cards. 

Tech-wise, the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid packs an instrument cluster that combines both analog gauges and a small digital meter. It is complemented by a floating 10-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. 

Check out its other interior appointments, which we have listed below: 

• Electric windows 
• Automatic air conditioner with physical controls 
• Center armrest with sliding function 
• keyless push start system 

Lastly, the Toyota Avanza ensures that its occupants remain comfortable inside its spacious cabin. Although packed with plenty of hard plastics and fabric seats, the interior remains a good place to be in whether one goes on a short trip to the nearby hotels on the outskirts of the metro or on long trips to some secluded resorts in the provinces. 

Past the MPV’s urethane steering wheel is a 4.2-inch instrument panel while at the center of the dashboard is an eight-inch display audio with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. 

Other notable features of the Toyota Avanza include: 

• Push start ignition system 
• Manual air conditioning system 
• Bottle holders, cup holders 
• Urethane shift lever 
• Lever-type parking brake 

Winner 

We give out this round to the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid. Having a larger infotainment system definitely helps keep passengers engaged when on long trips. Likewise, the faux wood trims make the experience inside the cabin more warm. 

Powertrain 

Under the hood of the Honda BR-V is a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

Per Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated, the said setup produces the following output: 

Maximum power output (in horsepower [hp>)	119
Maximum torque (in Newton-meters [Nm>)	145

On the other hand, the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid uses a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a mild-hybrid system, which aids the MPV in standing starts and acceleration. Instead of providing some propulsion by using electric power, the mild-hybrid system helps to slightly minimize fuel consumption by lowering the workload of the engine. 

Married to a four-speed automatic transmission, the powertrain system makes the following figures: 

Maximum power output (in hp)	102
Maximum torque (in Nm)	138

As for the Toyota Avanza, the multi-purpose automobile’s range-topping model uses a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a CVT. 

Owners can expect to get the below numbers from the powertrain: 

Maximum power output (in hp)	104
Maximum torque (in Nm)	138

Winner 

Judging by the numbers produced by their respective powertrain systems, the clear winner of the round is the Honda BR-V. 

Interested in bringing home a new MPV? Check out our exclusive offers for the following models:  Honda BR-V Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid  Toyota Avanza

Safety 

In terms of safety, the Honda BR-V offers the below technologies: 

• Airbags
• Seatbelts 
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) 
• Vehicle stability assist 
• Hill-start assist 
• Emergency stop signal 
• Reverse camera with guide lines 
• Speed-sensing door locks 
• Honda lane watch 

It is also worth noting that the Honda BR-V is equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, such as: 

• Adaptive cruise control 
• Collision mitigation braking system 
• Lane keeping assist system 
• Road departure mitigation 
• Lane departure warning 
• Auto high beam 
• Lead car departure notification 

Not to be outdone, the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid packs the below features: 

• Seatbelts 
• Airbags 
• ABS
• EBD
• Electronic stability program 
• Hill hold control 
• Reverse parking sensors 
• Reverse parking camera 

Finally, the Toyota Avanza offers the following safety technologies: 

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts 
• ABS 
• Vehicle stability control 
• Hill start assist control 
• Blind spot monitoring 
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Rear camera
• Parking sensors 

The Toyota Avanza also gets the Toyota Vehicle Security System, which adds an alarm, immobilizer, and an indicator system to the aforementioned safety features. 

Winner 

Since all three MPVs offer almost similar safety features, we will call this round a tie. 

Pricing 

Below are the variants of the aforementioned nameplates, alongside their respective price tags: 

Honda BR-V

Honda BR-V S	P1.165 million
Honda BR-V V	P1.295 million
Honda BR-V VX	P1.4 million

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid 

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GLX

P1.178 million

Toyota Avanza 

Toyota Avanza J	P844,000
Toyota Avanza E MT	P959,000
Toyota Avanza E CVT	P1.061 million
Toyota Avanza G	P1.071 million

Winner 

Price-wise, as well as variant-wise, the winner of this round is the Toyota Avanza. The MPV allows many aspiring families and car buyers to enter the segment with a model priced under P1 million. 

Verdict 

The winner of the three-way comparo for the best vacay-ready MPV is the Honda BR-V. We have found most of its features for the use-case scenario, when compared to its list rivals, to be better for taking relaxing trips. 

It will be a great pick for anyone wanting to bring along family members as well as friends and workmates to some scenic spots and fun places outside the city. 

Also read: 

Toyota Avanza G CVT: Dashingly dependable

Honda BR-V S CVT: all about that ‘base’

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid: modest mover

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