Honda Brio – Hits and misses

2019 Brio was launched recently and is the most affordable car from Honda and one of the cheapest hatchbacks in the Philippines. There’s no doubt it’s a budget-friendly option. But with a starting price of Php 598,000 you’d have to wonder – does the 2019 Honda Brio give bang for your buck?

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of the brand new Honda Brio so you can see for yourself.

Design

The good: Honda’s mini subcompact hatchback gets a noticeable facelift for its second generation. The front fascia now resembles Honda Mobilio with sharp hood lines, a glossy black wing grill, LED cat-eye headlights, and a sporty front bumper. The character lines on both sides are still there, minus the curves.

The redesigned cabin looks more like Honda BR-V and Honda Jazz. Perhaps the most obvious change is the sharp and angular dashboard which matches the exterior. If you purchase the Honda Brio RS variant, you’ll get orange accents on the dashboard, doors, and seats – adding a burst of color to the dark grey cabin.

Overall, the new Honda Brio features a sportier, more aggressive design that we can’t help but fall in-love with.

The bad: Sadly, the rear end loses its distinct style. The chrome tail lights are gone. The flat glass tailgate has been replaced with a metal one. It now has a conventional-looking rear that is almost hard to tell apart from other hatchbacks.

Hard plastic is used throughout its interior as well, though we can’t really complain since Brio is an entry-level vehicle. But if it’s any consolation, the plastic material is textured and doesn’t look cheap. It’s also tough enough to withstand daily use.

Comfort

The good: Honda replaced the cramped bucket-style front seats on the Brio RS. The top-spec model now boasts front seats with adjustable headrests, proper backrests, and larger cushions for better support and comfort. The backseats may seem flat but their cushions are surprisingly soft.

There’s also more headspace and legroom on the rear thanks to the longer wheelbase. To top it off, the second-generation Honda Brio has a good noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) isolation considering how affordable it is.

The bad: The driver’s seat is missing a height adjuster. So while finding a comfortable driving position isn’t difficult, drivers less than 5’6” might have limited road visibility. Buyers who opt for lower-priced variants such as Honda Brio S and Honda Brio V will also get the same bucket-style front seats as the previous generation.

In spite of its compact size, the air conditioning struggles to keep the cabin cool during hot weathers. This wouldn’t be a problem in cooler countries like Japan. But this is the Philippines we’re talking about, where days are mostly hot and humid.

Function

The good: Brio’s new rear may be aesthetically disappointing, although it does serve a purpose. Honda made the design change to provide more cargo space and a lower liftover height so it’s easier to load things in the back. The 258-litre cargo space is already impressive for the car’s size. However, you also have the option to increase the cargo space to 710-litre by folding the rear seats.
It’s not a full-featured car but the mini subcompact has some decent features including:

• Speed-sensing door locks
• Air conditioning controls
• 12V power socket
• Automated up-down driver’s window
• Power-folding side mirrors

RS and V variants of Honda Brio will have a 7-inch infotainment system mounted on the centre console. It’ll be equipped with AM/FM Radio, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. The driver can easily take control of the system using the audio switches on the steering wheel.

The bad: There’s no volume control knob, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto even on the Honda Brio RS. If you buy the base Honda Brio S model, you’ll also miss out on the 7-inch touchscreen display.

Performance and Handling

The good: Honda Brio has the perfect combination of a short wheelbase, front-wheel drive, and light steering. While it has a smaller engine, a 992 kg curb weight allows for easier handling. It has a decent performance on both short and long drives. It also handles corners and tight spaces pretty well. For better grip, the top-range Honda Brio RS is fitted with Bridgestone Potenza tires.

The bad: The new Brio is mated to a smaller 1.2L gas engine which delivers 89 hp and 110 Nm of torque. It isn’t underpowered, but it is less powerful than the 1.3L engine on the previous model. This becomes evident once you try to overtake vehicles on the highway. When hitting the brakes, we also noticed that it takes a while before it comes to a full stop.

Safety

The good: Much like Toyota Vios, Honda decided to equip all variants of Brio with similar safety features. These include:

• Dual SRS airbags
• Immobilizer
• Seatbelt reminders for front passengers
• Four five-point seatbelts for front and rear passengers

The bad: Middle-seat rear passengers only get a lap belt, which makes them vulnerable during head-on collisions. The hatchback also lacks ISOFIX child seat tethers.

Fuel efficiency

The good: Honda Brio has an excellent fuel efficiency of 14 kmpl on city roads with no traffic, and up to 20 kmpl on highways.

The bad: Once you get stuck in traffic, the hatchback’s fuel efficiency drops to around 7.5 to 10 kmpl.

Pricing

The all-new Honda Brio comes in 4 variants. Check out the Brio price range below:

• Honda Brio 1.2 S MT – Php 598,000
• Honda Brio 1.2 V CVT – Php 658,000
• Honda Brio 1.2 RS CVT – Php 730,000
• Honda Brio 1.2 RS Black Top CVT – Php 735,000

Given new Brio specs and price range, the 2019 Honda Brio is a worthy contender to Chevrolet Spark, Kia Picanto, Mitsubishi Mirage, and JAC S1.

Also Read: Honda to increase prices from 1st July 2019