Honda Brio Amaze vs Kia Soluto - Which one to buy?

Hatchbacks are not everyone’s cup of tea. Even though these are affordable vehicles, their cramped cabins and less-than-generous trunk spaces leave some people wondering if they are actually worth their price.

Thankfully, we’ve got mini sedans like the Honda Brio Amaze and Kia Soluto. These five-seaters are sold for under a million, which makes them equally great options if you’re on a budget. Unlike hatchbacks, they have extra room for passengers and cargo while retaining their compact size.

Brio Amaze is Honda’s entry into the subcompact sedan segment. It debuted in 2014 and is currently in its second generation. Compared to the all-new Honda Amaze which launched in India, it leaves a lot to be desired. However, it is still an attractive option, all pros and cons considered.

The Soluto is a newcomer in the compact car segment, but it has already gotten Kia off to a fresh start. Shortly after its introduction, over 1,400 units were sold in the Philippines from January 2019 to June 2019. The model accounts for 60 percent of Kia’s total car sales within that period and helped the company grow their year-on-year sales to more than double.

We’ve already given you reasons to buy the Brio Amaze. But will it hold up to the newer Kia Soluto? Today, we’ll compare Honda Brio Amaze and Kia Soluto to see which subcompact sedan reigns supreme.

Dimensions

Kia Soluto is less compact than Honda Brio Amaze, albeit for some valid reasons. For instance, its longer body gives it 75 liters more cargo space than the Brio Amaze. Soluto also has a wider wheelbase so it can provide more shoulder room. The only advantage that Brio Amaze has is that it’s slightly taller and provides more headroom.

As for the ride height, both measure equally from the ground at 150 mm. While not as impressive as the 160 mm ground clearance on Toyota Wigo, it should be adequate for traversing Philippine roads.

Despite their differences in size, Soluto and Brio Amaze are still compact cars which you can drive around the city. You should be able to make your way around tight spaces such as parking lots and heavy traffic with either vehicle.

Exterior

For a budget-friendly car, Brio Amaze looks quirky. It shares a front end with the smaller Brio but instead of a single slat, all variants come with dual-chrome grills. It has a distinctive stout hood which helps set it apart from its rivals. Although it has that ‘love it or hate it’ vibe when you view it from the sides. Because of this, we think that the Soluto is better-looking upfront. The tiger-nose grille – which comes as a standard with Kia vehicles – adds elegance to its overall design.

Both cars try to punch above their class. If you opt for higher trims of Brio Amaze, Honda will throw in 14-inch alloy wheels and body-color-matched door handles and side mirrors. Higher-end variants of the Soluto get a similar treatment from Kia, but with chrome furnishes and the addition of faux air intakes.

Features wise, the only advantages that Kia Soluto has are electronically-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn signals. That is, if you buy the EX variant of Soluto. Honda Brio Amaze offers more practicality for Filipino buyers overall, as it is equipped with rain-sensing wipers.

Interior

Brio Amaze was made to look like a mini limousine on the inside. While there is heavy use of hard plastics and fabric upholstery, it isn’t aesthetically disappointing. Some of the things we love about it are the beautiful layout and comfortable seats, which include a foldable armrest for the rear passenger row. The driver’s seat has limited adjustability, but this is compensated by the tilt-adjustable steering wheel.

The Soluto has an equally impressive interior with nicely-textured plastics. Its highlights include an illuminated trunk and driver’s seat armrest. However, the seats are covered in leatherette instead of the usual fabric. The material certainly adds luxury to an otherwise affordable vehicle, as does the leather steering wheel on Kia Soluto EX. Unfortunately, these materials are heat magnets under broad daylight and take minutes to cool down.

The rounded dashboard and traditional instrument panel on Kia Soluto does make it look archaic. Thankfully, there is a 7-inch display and 6 speakers on all variants. Brio Amaze falters in the entertainment department and only offers advanced audio systems and up to 4 speakers on higher-end models. Even the built-in navigation on Honda Brio Amaze V Navi falls short of amazing. Soluto can offer the same feature through smartphone connectivity via Waze.

Kia Soluto provides more interior space than the Brio Amaze, partly due to its larger dimensions and the absence of a center console. The difference is not that great though, especially when you take the riding experience into consideration. Try hopping into them blindfolded and it almost feels the same. Both vehicles can give you a smooth ride with excellent noise, vibration, and harshness insulation – even if you come across potholes.

Engine

When Honda launched Brio Amaze, it was the only subcompact sedan with a four-cylinder engine. It seems that Kia has caught up with the Soluto in this respect. Although performance-wise, it only provides better torque.

The 1.4-liter engine allows the Soluto to pick up speed more quickly than most cars in the same segment. But Honda Brio Amaze can do it faster given its max power output of 100 hp.

These two contenders run on gas, albeit surprisingly fuel-efficient for gas-guzzlers. Honda Brio Amaze has an average fuel consumption of 20 kmpl in the city and up to 33 kmpl on highways. Kia Soluto takes up 12 to 15 kmpl in the city and anywhere from 19 to 20 kmpl on highways.

In spite of its smaller fuel capacity, Honda Brio Amaze can go a long way with its impressive fuel efficiency.

Safety

Honda Brio Amaze has a sturdy and impact-resistant build – something it owes to the G-CON Body Structure. It is also equipped with basic safety features, although it doesn’t have anything remarkable to offer.

Kia’s mini sedan is equipped with a rearview camera that can help you when parking or driving in reverse. The only thing it’s lacking is a security alarm, which is available on higher trims of Honda’s offering. Soluto also doesn’t have an immobilizer which is a standard on the Brio Amaze.

Price

For the most part, Honda Brio Amaze and Kia Soluto are equals in that they are equipped with necessary features. As expected, you can get more bang for your buck by opting for their range-topping variants. Namely, these are Brio Amaze V Navi and Soluto EX. With the latter, you don’t have to spend Php 755,000. You can get the MT variant of this top-spec model instead of Php 710,000. 

If you’re on a strict budget and don’t want to spend more than Php 700,000 on a mini sedan, you can either buy the Honda Brio Amaze E for better safety or Kia Soluto LX MT if you would rather get the full suite of entertainment features at a bargain. But if budget isn’t a concern, Kia Soluto EX AT is the way-to-go as it offers additional features and design elements not found in lower-end variants.

Regardless of the model and make, these compact cars are ideal for small families and young professionals. Brio Amaze and Soluto are both great options for those who want to save on money without sacrificing the comfort and utility of a sedan.

Also read: Honda Brio Amaze - Top 5 features