Honda BR-V

Overview

Honda has been known to be the master of making small vehicles and packaging them just great. The package part of it doesn’t involve kitting them generously and apart from the US, there is no other country, not even hometown Japan, where the big H will actually provide for goodies even in the base cars. That not withstanding, let’s get back to Honda’s business acumen of making small cars. One such example here is the Honda BR-V. A vehicle which is in its first generation currently and was built on the extended platform of the Amaze sedan, the BR-V makes for a nice seven-seater SUV. Anyone on a tight budget will definitely appreciate this Honda. In fact, one of our staffers immediately booked the SUV as he was on the lookout for something compact yet spacious for his family of five. There are four trims on offer - 1.5S CVT, 1.5S CVT Modulo, 1.5V Navi CVT and 1.5V Navi CVT Modulo. So based on this positive sentiment, we started out the review.

Interior & Features

The cabin of the Honda BR-V is done in black upholstery, unlike the Mobilio which can be optioned with a cheerful-looking beige colour. The top-spec model gets a 7-inch touchscreen system complete with navigation whereas, the base units have to make do with dial type controllers. Honda could have made a better use of integrating in Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, however, the BR-V doesn’t get either. It makes use of Miracast to mirror the phone. The touchscreen sensitivity itself isn’t too great and some of the graphics feel garish and old school. That being said, there is one thing you will quickly observe in the BR-V and that is the space. It is the forte of any Honda car and the BR-V isn’t any different. This seven-seater can easily carry as many people and some of their luggage. It is by no means a Toyota Innova but except for the third most row where putting in grown-ups may not be a good idea, it’s all good. Front and second-row passengers have ample seating space and the seats can be folded in a variety of configurations to liberate additional space from the existing 223 litres.

In terms of features, Honda offers a push button start, manually adjustable driver’s seats,  automatic climate control and rear AC vents.

Exterior

The Honda BR-V has a slight difference in the way it looks from the Mobilio. The connector grille is a tad different and the face is also a bit stout. There are projector headlights and below them, within the headlamp enclosure sits the daytime running lamps. The airdam is wide but not so much as that of the competitors. The fog lamps are regular units and they look well proportioned too. The BR-V measures 4,456 mm in length, is 1,735 mm wide and 1,665 mm tall. The wheelbase stands at 2,662mm. 195/60 R16 tyre size looks tweeny but the alloy wheel design is sporty enough. Towards the rear, you can see the thin connector which is nestled between both the tail lights. The rear seems a bit jacked up in comparison with the front. Opt for the Modulo kit and one will get front and rear lower garnish, side skirts, LED DRLs on the bumper and tailgate spoiler.

Ride & Handling

Honda uses relatively simple suspension components for the BR-V. These include MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The suspension is tuned to be on the stiffer side and this aids in the handling department with the BR-V belying its 201mm ground clearance to corner enthusiastically. The handling, as a result, is predictable and you know where to draw a line. The ride quality irons out most of the potholes, except for the bigger ones where the car does let the occupants know that it just passed over one. The  NVH from the engine could have been better controlled as at high speeds, one can clearly hear the motor in the cabin.

Honda typically tunes its steering wheels to be on the lighter side and the BR-V ain’t any different. However, when you venture out on the highway, it weighs up nicely. The brakes too are sharp and likable as they bring the SUV to a quick stop through the top-heavy feel can’t be ruled out. Honda has given the BR-V disc brakes in the front and drums at the rear.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

Honda makes use of its tried and trusted 1.5-litre petrol engine in the BR-V. The engine is mated to a CVT from the Earth Dreams technology basket. On select few trims, Honda offers paddle shifters too. We found this engine to a loud performer, akin to other Honda CVT-equipped cars. With 120 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque, the car has to move a lot of real estates around. At part throttle, the car moves eagerly. However, with a couple of people on board, it is apparent that the CVT could do with more tuning. Overtakes have to be executed with caution. A manual transmission would have worked in this case as it will have at least given the driver to select the gear by himself. The BR-V isn’t out of the pack efficient too - 10.2 kmpl in the city and 13 kmpl on the highway.

We managed to hit a top speed of 160 kmph with the Honda BR-V with a couple of revs left.

Braking & Safety

The Honda BR-V comes to the customers without any fancy safety dragnets. What’s standard are dual airbags, ABS, EBD, Hill Start Assist and Vehicle Stability Assist. Of course, there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the second and third row while speed-sensing locks too are standard. In the ASEAN NCAP rating, the BR-V scored a perfect five. However, it may be noted that the trim tested had EBR and ESC added to its kitty. Our BR-V will do good to score 3.5 or 4 stars.

Verdict

The Honda BR-V is a decently efficient urban runabout which can do the occasional highway run without any issues. However, sans cruise control, it will be quite a workout for the right leg on the open stretches. There is a lot of space inside the cabin and enough cubby holes to store stuff around. The SUV handles enthusiastically too while the ride quality is passable too. We though wish Honda quickly updates the engine with additional firepower. At Php 1,030,000, the Honda BR-V justifies the Bold Recreational Vehicle tag justifiably.