Honda BR-V

Explore the cabin and you’ll be greeted with a spacious one that is clad with leather in a mix of black and red that further enhances its sporty aura. 

This car is also packed with various technology features that will definitely give you full control over the car. The top-spec level gets a 7-inch touchscreen system that is complete with navigation while the standard units have dial type controllers. Unlike other cars in its class that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the BR-V uses Miracast to connect mobile phones.

You may find the touchscreen display a little bit slugging and slowly responsive while the graphics are kind of outdated and can definitely be improved.

One thing that can at least make up for these shortcomings is the cabin space and the cargo capacity of 223 liters. 

Other interior features of Honda BR-V include a push-button start, manually adjustable driver’s seats, automatic climate control, and rear air conditioning vents.

The new front chrome grille design gives prominence to Honda BR-V’s tough appearance and distinguished style. Meanwhile, the newly designed 16-inch alloy adds to the bulky and muscular stance of the car that makes it look more aggressive than ever.

BR-V’s 1.5 V CVT variant earns a chrome side garnish and a shark fin antenna as additional features. As for the lighting system, it features projector-type Halogen headlights with Daytime Running Lights or DRL.

The 1.5 V CVT and 1.5 S CVT differ in terms of length and height. The V trim is 4456 mm long while the other one is 4453 mm long. While the V trim is taller at 1677 mm and S trim is only at 1666 mm tall, they share the same width which is 735 mm.

This car is equipped with MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The suspension was tuned to be in the stiffer side of the car that has a 201 mm ground clearance to aid handling better when cornering. It has an Electric Power Steering Wheel (EPS) with mode, audio volume, and channel controls.

When it comes to NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness insulation, this car seemed to be a little problematic especially when at high speeds.

It is equipped with 1497cc SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder, 16 valve gasoline engine that can fire up to 120 horsepower at 6600 revs per minute, and a maximum torque of 145 Nm at 4600 rpm. Honda blessed its engine with i-VTEC or Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control technology to give additional control over intake valves at low medium throttle levels. It also enhanced the low-end and partial throttle response from the engine. This engine can also provide better driving performance by having more versatility. Thanks to VTEC design’s standard benefits of high end open throttle power while providing better engine operation at low and partial throttle.

BR-V shifts gears through CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission and uses belt and pulley system. This means that the gears were replaced by two pulleys connected by a belt. In this manner, the engine turns one pulley while the other pulley is connected to the rest of the transmission then sends power to the 16 inch newly designed alloy wheels of the BR-V.

This kind of set-up made the Honda BR-V a fuel efficient car since CVT makes the car’s engine run at the most efficient revolutions per minute within a range of varying speeds. 

It is also equipped with Honda Earth Dreams technology that doesn’t just make the car more fuel-efficient but also environment-friendly because of low emissions.

For the braking department, Honda employed ventilated discs and drums for the front and rear, respectively.

As for the safety features, the BR-V is equipped with standard airbags, immobilizer, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), hill start and vehicle stability assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts, speed-sensing locks, and seatbelt reminder. This car is safe to drive, in fact, this car has scored a perfect five in the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Lastly, this car has a multi-view Reverse Camera with Guidelines for maneuvres especially when parking.

Honda BR-V’s design may be very alike with the Mobilio but it is definitely a kind of car that has more to offer other than just the design. The fuel efficiency is a good thing to highlight but also the engine performance is something to consider. It may not be the kind of compact crossover SUV that has a lot of advanced tech and safety features but it has some pretty decent ones which can already make your driving experience better. This car is ideal for small families who would like to have a car that is just enough for daily commutes and long trips but for an affordable price.