2019 Honda BR-V: First impression

Honda has finally launched the 2019 BR-V in the country. Despite being an all-new model, it is a facelift only. That is why you are going to find a lot of features on this seven-seater quite familiar. But, as they say, something is always better than nothing, the 2019 Honda BR-V is welcomed with open arms. Let us find out a bit more about this new Japanese SUV and see what are the changes that Honda has made on its popular family-oriented SUV.

Exterior

As we said earlier, the new BR-V is a facelift and thus, doesn’t come with a plethora of changes. It continues to charm you with its complete-family-car-type looks with the same silhouette. It has the same pair of headlights with a distinctive shape. They are projector units with halogen bulbs. Honda has added a pair of LED daytime running lights which make the already good-looking BR-V even better.

Also, the SUV looks sportier than before. Perhaps, we can't really imagine how a slight change in the design of a vehicle can impact the car’s whole stance. The 2019 Honda BR-V also shows off its new front grille that now features a pair of chrome strips which uplift the tough and distinguished design of the vehicle.

The set of fog lamps at the front get a neatly designed housing. The side profile is also very much similar to that of the old model, however, due to the addition of the new 16-inch alloy wheels, things have improved. There is also a shark fin type antenna. Not much has been changed at the rear of the new BR-V and we think there wasn’t any change needed as well. Don’t you think so? The two-piece combination tail lights are one of the factors that help you to identify the BR-V in the crowd. The roof-mounted spoiler keeps the sporty look intact at the rear end. The rear bumper has also been revised slightly.

Interior

If you have been in the cabin of the outgoing model of the BR-V, then you will feel right at home in the new one. Honda has kept the changes to a minimum. The first thing that you would notice as soon as you enter the cabin is the red accents on the leather seats. This red accent has also been carried to the steering wheel, door panels, armrests, and gear shift knob. This freshens things up a bit. Also, the new ‘Dark Steel’ parts here and there look nice and premium.

The biggest addition to the 2019 Honda BR-V specs sheet has to be the seven-inch touch screen infotainment system that now supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. So, now you can easily integrate your smartphone with the vehicle and enjoy the useful features. There is also the inclusion of a reversing camera whose feed will be displayed on this seven-inch screen only. This would make parking easier. As far as the cabin space is concerned, it remains untouched and the BR-V can accommodate seven people easily. Also, the ingress and egress on the last row are easier thanks to the one-touch fold-to-tumble second-row seats.

Engine and transmission

Things under the hood of the 2019 BR-V remain untouched. You will find the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine that produces 120 PS of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 145 Nm of peak torque that kicks in at 4,600 rpm. All of that is transmitted to the wheels via Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology CVT. This combination ensures a mix of performance and fuel efficiency.

Safety features

There are no changes in this department as well. Some of the safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), ABS, and dual front (driver and passenger) SRS airbags.

If you disliked the BR-V in the past, chances are that your opinion wouldn’t change because there aren’t any serious additions on the 2019 model to make a big impact on your brain. However, if you liked the BR-V in the past, then you are going to like it even more. That’s how we would like to wrap up our first impression of the 2019 Honda BR-V. Oh, about the price, the 2019 Honda BR-V price starts at Php 1.03 million for the base model, while the top-end variant will set you back by Php 1.15 million.

Also Read:- Honda BR-V and Brio fuel economy test conducted by HCPI