Indonesia gets all-new Honda BR-V, are we next?

MANILA: As it opened pre-order books for the all-new BR-V in Indonesia, Honda said the crossover was "developed specifically" for that market. 

More than 255,000 units of the first-generation BR-V have been sold worldwide, with Indonesia accounting for 30% of the total, according to Honda Indonesia. The seven-seater crossover model has also received awards in that country.

Here in the Philippines, no official word has been given about the next-gen BR-V's arrival, but we suspect that it could arrive in the near-future, considering the statement given by President and CEO of Asian Honda Masayuki Igarashi.

“Indonesia is an important market for Honda in Asia and Oceania both for sales and production," Igarashi said. "Therefore, Honda continues to develop and improve products and services for customers around the world."

Another clue is the discount promos Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) previously rolled out for the current BR-V. We can assume that HCPI is allotting space in its dealerships' stock rooms for the new car.  

Second, HCPI has phased out the BR-V's MPV sibling, the Mobilio. Consumers today are drawn SUVs, crossovers, or a car resembling the sort, and the company cited this reason for discontinuing the MPV. The BR-V's sales advantage over the Mobilio is another reason behind this move. 

And so to give people what they want, Honda has styled the second generation more like an SUV, rather than an MPV on stilts and body cladding. The styling elements were previewed by the N7X concept. 

Up front, the BR-V wears a chunkier and longer hood, which is complemented by the car's wider stance, chrome grille, and LED lights. On the sides are shoulder lines which stretch from the headlamps to touch the tail lights.

The side profile now looks boxier for the SUV look, while the kink at the rear greenhouse seems to be a nod to the first generation. More SUV garments include roof rails, body cladding, and skid plates at both ends. The car rides on 17-inch alloy wheels.

One of the biggest upgrades is the addition of safety features, now with six airbags as standard across the variants, at least in Indonesia. The top-trim Prestige variant also includes Honda Sensing, which comes with Honda LaneWatch, autonomous emergency brakes, adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, lane-keeping assist, and front departure alert.

Inside, the redesigned dashboard and instrument console carries two analog dials behind the steering wheel, along with a 4.2-inch color multi-information display. The infotainment system takes the form of a seven-inch touchscreen display that has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Passengers in the BR-V's three rows of seats are given charging sockets. The comfort quotient is taken higher with an armrest for the first two rows, while leather upholstery is exclusive to the BR-V Prestige.

With 121hp from the 1.5-liter mill, Honda Indonesia said the BR-V is the most powerful in its class. The engine also nets 145Nm of torque, and is paired to a CVT and a six-speed manual. It's possible the crossover retains the front-wheel drive setup. 

Pricing for the car is expected to start around 260 million Indonesian rupiahs (roughly P927,000). 

Photos from Honda Indonesia

Also read: Honda City hatchback is segment best-seller with 189 units sold since Apr. launch