BUYER'S GUIDE: 2019 Honda BR-V

The 2019 BR-V, Honda’s entrant to the highly-competitive and possibly overcrowded compact SUV market, is now available in the Philippines. Ever since it debuted locally back in 2016, this seven-seater has inspired the love of many Filipino buyers with its winning combination of high-tech features and affordable pricing. So how does the latest version differentiate itself from the previous iteration? We find out in this 2019 Honda BR-V Buyer's Guide.

Specification

Honda streamlined the BR-V for 2019, bringing down the number of trim options from four to just two--the 1.5 S CVT and the 1.5 V CVT, with the former serving as the standard and the latter as the top trim. Both come equipped with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine harnessed by Earth Dreams Technology CVT to produce 118 hp and 145 Nm of torque. Ground clearance is a tall 201 mm, perfect for your neighborhood's flood-prone streets. Six paint choices are on offer, including Platinum White Pearl (1.5 V CVT only, for an additional PHP20,000), Passion Red Pearl (1.5 V CVT only), Taffeta White (1.5 S CVT only), Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Premium Amber Metallic.

Exterior

The 2019 BR-V receives a few minor tweaks to its exterior, most prominent of which is the bigger Solid Wing Face front grille. The rear bumper has also been redesigned to look sportier. A new set of alloy wheels have also been thrown in for good measure. This version still mirrors the Mobilio's stance, albeit with a bit more bulk and sharper character lines.

Interior

Not much has changed in the interior save for some tech updates, particularly the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and a reverse camera with guidelines. The overall color theme remains black with steel accent splashes here and there, but the 1.5 V comes with additional red trimmings on the seats and door panels. Lovers of the previous BR-V will still see the 2+3+2 seat configuration as well as the 60:40 splitting second-row seats.

Space

As a seven-seater car, the two front-rows provide ample seating comfort, but the third does feel cramped as head-, leg-, and elbow-room all feel a bit constricting. Sure, two adults can fit back there, but expect complaints at the end of the trip. As for cargo space, the BR-V holds 223 liters, which goes up to 470 liters with the third-row seats folded.

Safety

When it comes to advanced safety features, Honda cars are often the hands-down winner in their segment, and the 2019 doesn't disappoint. To start with, there's the G-Force Control (G-CON) which absorbs and disperses the force of impact away from the vehicle's occupants. Standard safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), vehicle stability assist (VSA), hill start assist (HSA), Speed Sensing Auto Door Lock, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Verdict

Prices for the 2019 Honda BR-V are as follows:

• 5 S CVT – PHP 1,035,000.00
• 5 V CVT – PhP 1,155,000.00

These are fairly the same prices as the previous year, and with all the updates, it certainly looks like the latest BR-V provides better value for the money.