Honda Brio Debuts in the Philippines

The Honda Brio has been sold in the world’s major markets for three years since it was first introduced in 2011, and it’s about time it came to the Philippines; as the adage says “better late than never.”

The Brio is a five-door subcompact hatchback, which holds a close resemblance to its stable mate the Honda Jazz- only smaller. Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), the local importer and distributor of Honda products in the country, promised to launch it in the second half of 2014; between August and September.

Engine and performance

The Honda Brio has two powerplant options- a 1.2 liter iVTEC inline-four gasoline engine and a 1.3 liter iVTEC inline-four gasoline engine. The 1.2L engine produces 87 horsepower and 109 Nm of torque, while the 1.3 liter engine (available in Indonesia only) provides 98 horsepower and 127 Nm of torque.

Performance wise, the Brio can run at a top speed of 160 kph and can accelerate from 0-100 kph in just 12.5 seconds. Its 4-speed automatic variant and 5-speed manual variant have a fuel efficiency of 16.5 k/l and a 19.4 k/l, respectively. Some variants of the Brio abroad are equipped with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Design and suspension

"Brio" is an Italian word meaing "cheerful and energetic". It adopts a front engine, front wheel drive layout and has a 92.3 inch wheelbase. It has a curb weight of 920 kilos and is equipped with standard 14-inch wheels.

It uses a Mac Pherson suspension on its front struts with torsion beam rear, allowing a lower luggage floor. This design makes the Brio cheaper than the Jazz. The car’s cabin is also spacious with foldable rear seats that increase luggage space. It is also expected to have in-car WiFi accessible through a large multi-information display on its dashboard.

Safety features and amenities

The Honda Brio is built in Thailand and interestingly was first marketed in the Asean region, before hitting larger markets like the United States, China and India. This car series also has a sedan (called the Amaze) and a Multi-purpose (MPV) variant.

Honda has equipped it with standard features found on all of its models like an anti-lock braking system, airbags, front pretensioner seat belts, and electronic side airbags. Its front body is designed to absorb impact energy from collisions, which gives better protection.