Honda BR-V: Know its competitors

There are many reasons why the Honda BR-V is amongst the best in its segment. One of them is that it is a seven-seater. Honda has somehow managed to fit in a third row in the BR-V which isn’t the best place for accommodating full-grown adults. It would be wise to let the kids have the seats at the back.

Apart from that, the BR-V looks fantastic with its signature Honda grille and projector headlamps. The black interior offers generous space and has a seven-inch touch screen infotainment system.

The Honda BR-V specs boast a 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 120 PS of maximum power and 145 Nm of peak torque and is mated to Honda’s Earth Dreams technology CVT. Both the BR-V variants come with this engine and transmission combination.

With all that and much more, the Honda BR-V price starts at of Php 1.03 million which brings us to the topic of this story, BR-V’s competitors. We have got a few names in mind that fit in the similar price bracket and are worth having looking at.

Mitsubishi Xpander

The Xpander has been received extremely well by the Filipinos, so much so that Mitsubishi had to increase its production to meet the growing demand. One of the reasons for the Xpander’s success is its exemplary design.

It features high-mounted sleek DRLs that merge with the chrome-laden nicely contoured front grille. Mitsubishi likes to call this its ‘'Dynamic Shield' design language. The headlights on this MPV are located below the DRLs and on the bumper.

The interior on the Xpander is very spacious thanks to the ‘Omotenashi Principle’ that the company follows. There is a seven-inch touch screen infotainment system that offers Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, and Easy Link smartphone connectivity.

You also get cruise control and 12V power outlets for both the second and third row. There is only a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder MIVEC petrol engine listed on the Mitsubishi Xpander specs sheet. It churns out 105 hp of max power at 6,000 revs and 141 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 revs and comes mated to either a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Mitsubishi Xpander price starts at Php 999,000 and it is available in 4 variants.

Toyota Avanza

The 2019 model of the Avanza was launched earlier this month. It was a much needed and timely upgrade. The new Avanza gets a completely revamped front end with a split LED headlamp setup along with a new and more prominent chrome grille. Toyota has also tweaked the front bumper to add a hint of sportiness.

You can identify this new Avanza even from the rear thanks to its revised tail lights and tailgate chrome garnish. Another addition to the 2019 Toyota Avanza specs is the new 6.8-inch touch screen infotainment system. There’s also the new digital controls for the AC. The rest of the interior remains the same in terms of space and features.

Under the hood of the new Avanza is a 1.3-litre engine that produces 96 PS of power and 121 Nm of torque. There’s also a 1.5-litre engine with 104 PS of power and 136 Nm of torque. For the transmission, there’s the 5-speed manual and the 4-speed automatic to choose from. The 2019 Toyota Avanza price starts at Php 731,000.

Suzuki Vitara

Suzuki Vitara is one of the best looking models in its segment. The front end has been done very nicely with a pair of sleek headlamps and a chrome grille. The front bumper houses LED fog lamps. The side profile is marked by a noticeable shoulder line and stylish alloy wheels.

The Suzuki Vitara price starts at Php 913,000 and the SUV is available in 3 variants. All the 3 variants are powered by the same 1.6-litre engine that produces 115 bhp of maximum power and 156 Nm of peak torque. There is only a single 6-speed automatic transmission on offer.

The Suzuki Vitara specs list features essential safety features like front, side, and curtain SRS airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability program, hill hold assist, front and reverse parking sensors with reverse camera, etc. From the 3 colour options, our favourite is the Atlantis Turquoise Pearl Metallic.

Hyundai Kona

Just like the Xpander, the Hyundai Kona gets an unconventional and separated headlight design which makes the LED daytime running lights sit above. Also, the cascading front grille doesn’t fail to attract attention. The Kona impresses us with its side view as well the gorgeous alloy wheels.

The rear end is again very engaging. The Hyundai Kona specs show a 2.0-litre Atkinson engine which produces a max power of 149 PS at 6,200 rpm and a peak torque of 180 Nm at 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The interior on the Kona is in an all-black theme with materials of an okay-ish quality. There is a floating-type radio display with a mono LCD screen which supports AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. For the single variant available in the Philippines, the Hyundai Kona price is Php 1.12 million.

The SUV is available in 10 exciting colours - Red, Phantom Black, Acid Yellow, Blue Lagoon, Ceramic Blue, Chalk White, Dark Knight, Lake Silver, Tangerine Comet, and Velvet Dune.

These were some of the top competitors of the Honda BR-V. Out of these, which one would you prefer? Do let us know if you have any other name in mind which you think should have been a part of this story.

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