Honda Brio 2019 - What to expect?

The Honda Brio is one popular hatchback from the Japanese automaker in the Philippines. And now, the second generation model of the car is here to spice things up. It will be imported from Indonesia, and the features and specifications are quite the same.

The second generation 2019 Honda Brio had been revealed in Indonesia back in August 2018. This is the same model that went up on display at the 2018 Philippine International Auto Show. Aesthetically, it looks quite similar to the one on display at the show and is also a part of the Indonesian market. It is slated to be available in three variants - RS, E and, S and are to get the same mill, albeit with some changes in the name.

Hence, before the car launches in the Philippines on April 23, let us talk about it and see what to expect from it.

In terms of the exterior

The 2019 Honda Brio continues to be the cute little hatchback it had been back in its new days, but the design language has matured a lot over time. The front bumper looks muscular now with the mesh design. The way the thick chrome strip extends from the headlamps is quite commendable. The front fenders are highly sculpted, and there is a body defining line at the side. The highlights at the rear are the roof spoiler-mounted stop lights and curvy bumper.

The top of the line model would ride on 15-inch alloy wheels with 185/55 profile tyres while the lower trims will have 14-inch wheels with thinner 175/65 profile rubber. Fog lamps are standard across the entire trim level. However, there is no projector headlamp setup and halogen is standard. All of this is expected to be a complete copy from the Indonesian model.

How good is the interior?

The second generation Honda Brio feels good within the interior as there is a lot of legroom for all the occupants. There is a headrest for everyone, including the one in the middle of the rear seats. There is an all black theme on the dashboard and the seat covers, which looks classy, though the seat configuration can be changed to Ivory too. The dashboard holds a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display that is compatible with iPhones and iPads, Bluetooth, etc. There is also a USB, port and Hands-free telephone connectivity.

Having said that, all the other trims, except the top end, has a 2-DIN system on the dashboard with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Though the Philippines market is also most likely to get the same setup, adding a touchscreen display for the “E” trim would make a lot of sense for the prospective buyers.

Engine performance

The 2019 Honda Brio is likely to be powered by the same engine for all the trims, including the RS. There is the 4-cylinder SOHC, 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that gets the PGM-Fi fuel delivery system. The total power output from the motor is 90 PS at 6,000 rpm, while the peak torque lies around 110 Nm at 4,800 rpm. This is the same engine that is present in the Indonesian model. However, the company continues to offer the 1.3-litre motor to replicate the older generation from the domestic market.

The base variant of the hatchback does not get the option of CVT and there is just the 5-speed manual unit. But barring that, the bigger trims, that is, the E and RS, have the 5-speed manual transmission as well as the Earth Dreams CVT gearbox.

Ride quality and safety

The Honda Brio 2019 does not feel any different than the previous generation model in every aspect, and this has been the case with the old model as well. The engine feels very smooth, just like any other i-VTEC engines from Honda. However, the amount of torque produced by the engine appears to be a little on the lower side, and the driver might feel a lag in the grunt. However, once the car moves on to the higher speed band, the power delivery becomes smooth and stable.

The new Honda Brio will have all the basic safety and braking features covered all across the trim list. ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is standard fitment, and so is the dual front airbags. Side impact beams provide additional sturdiness to the car.

Summary

The 2019 Honda Brio is said to continue the legacy of Honda cars in the Philippines. The newest model is very attractively designed and would kill its competition any day. And with the number of features that are offered all around, it is definitely one of the safest bets in the given price range in the hatchback segment.

All that users would want is to get the 1.3-litre engine instead of the 1.2-litre, so that the power production is better and there is more torque available.