Honda Brio

Overview

At a time when all the premium manufacturers were trying their best to crack the code of the compact hatchback segment to increase their respective market shares in developing markets. It was a challenge for Honda to follow the trend, the manufacturer was only known for making mid-size sedans and SUVs. However, it all changed with the introduction of Brio, with which Honda showed that it can maintain its basic principles of quality, durability, and reliability in the compact segment as well. The Brio, with its peppy engine and compact dimensions, became one of the darlings of small families who perceived it as the first car. Currently, Honda offers Brio with only one petrol engine option in the Philippines, with the car being available in the color options of Taffeta White, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Brilliant Sporty Blue.

Interior & Features

While the Honda Brio somewhat manages to look a bit appealing from the outside, the interior layout looks a bit dated and somewhat appalling. Considering the fact that it is a Honda, the Brio somewhat disappoints with the very staid looking cabin layout, with the lack of features being an Achilles heel here.

The round themed steering wheel feels nice and easy to use in a car of this size, however, the instrument console behind the steering wheel is very simple looking and lacks the modern feel of the current crop of new generation cars. The typical Honda trait of an asymmetric layout of the centre console has been carried forward in the Brio as well, however, it looks very plain jane with low rent dials for AC controls. The touchscreen music system, however, adds some newness to the otherwise dated looking dashboard. The Brio comes with only the essential features like steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls and electrically adjustable rear view mirrors on board, with the car lacking many modern features which one takes for granted in current times.

The Brio, however, compromises the lack of modern appeal with the amount of space it has to offer on the inside. The car somewhat manages to sweep off your feet with the legroom and headroom it offers for both front and rear passengers, despite having compact dimensions on the outside.

Exterior

With the Brio, Honda tried to follow a slightly different path in terms of styling, as this little hatchback looks very different from the sophisticated and conventional looking sedans which Honda makes globally. However, while the design was highly appreciated for its distinctiveness at the time of its launch, a couple of design elements surely made it look slightly awkward for some.

At the front, the Honda Brio looks a bit conventional with a short nose comprising of a small front grille with a thick chrome slab to make it feel complete from the front. The headlamps are large, but their design could have been sharper and more modern, as the lack of LEDs or projector units make them feel very simple. The front bumper with large black grille panel AND small fog lamps do add some bulk to the otherwise short looking car.

From the side, the Brio looks quite unique, with sharp profiles at the upper and rear portions and crisp character lines flowing on the side doors giving it an athletic appeal. However, we would have like to see a better design for the otherwise staid looking alloy wheels here as well as the black finish for the B-pillar, which makes the car look very price-conscious.

The rear portion of the Honda Brio is what makes the car look stand out from the crowd, with a very unconventional full glass door for the rear hatch. While this aids in increasing an airy feel on the inside, it does look toyish and gives it an awkward feel when one views it from the rear. However, the clear lens pattern for the angular rear tail lamps looks quite good, while the rear roof spoiler adds to the sportiness of the overall design.

Ride & Handling

Given its compact dimensions and its light-weighted nature, it is pretty obvious that the Honda Brio is a very capable machine. It is very easy to manoeuvre in all conditions, thanks to its very small turning radius of 4.5 meters. The conventional suspension setup of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear has been tuned for a slightly stiffer setup, which makes it a spirited handler in the hands of both amateur and professional drivers.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

Like all the Honda cars, the Brio too comes with a very refined and punchy petrol engine. In this case, it is a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol motor. The engine packs in enough grunt, with maximum power output rated at 100 bhp, while the peak torque is 128 Nm. The engine comes paired to two gearbox options – a 5-speed manual on the basic S variant and a 5-speed automatic gearbox on the S and V variants.

Braking & Safety

Even at the very basic price point at which the Honda Brio is available, the entry-level offering covers up the very basics of safety equipment. The list includes dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and seatbelt reminder for the driver. It is understandable that more complex electronics would have increased the cost of the Brio, however, the glaring omission of parking sensors is a big miss here.

Verdict

With a quirky but loveable design, the Honda Brio manages to score some points when it comes to looking distinctive in the otherwise monotonous segment of entry-level compact hatchbacks. However, one could not deny the fact that car has remained unchanged for more than half a decade now, which is why it has begun to show its age both inside and outside, and the lack of comfort and convenience features make the car look basic as well. Nevertheless, where the Honda Brio excels is in the mechanical aspects, with the amount of space, performance and handling hitting the sweet spot, thus making the Brio a practical car despite lacking the modern appeal of current generation cars.