Honda Brio (2015)

Synopsis

Honda has made a new entry in the affordable car market in India with a cheeky small car - the Honda Brio. Since its September launch, the Brio has been very well welcomed by the Indian market and is tagged as a premium practical hatchback. In India, the Honda Brio is the second hatchback offering after the Honda Jazz that is already in the competitive small car market. With the Honda Brio’s advertising phrase, “Love is a beautiful feeling, only when it’s returned. Honda Brio loves you back!” it captures a fair share of the small car industry in India. With the high expectations, Honda has given the Brio some exceptional features so that it is able to surpass other small cars in terms of sales.

Exterior

The Honda Brio has a simple neat design and a beautiful forward inclined position which makes it attractive to buyers. The outstanding styling and stunning design will definitely increase its demand not only in India but in other countries as well if the offerings of this car go beyond India in the future. The slogan alone will captivate some but for those who are more about function than form they may not cling to the words of the slogan too much. The rear has a one of a kind design and would be one of the selling features of the car as it further steps up its looks. It has back lights placed at the lower end and the rear is all made with glass. This concept of an all glass back is something rarely seen in the segment and that is what makes it looks unique in the small car market.

The Honda Brio is going to surely compel people to admire those little details that can be found on the rear glass that features a smoked out effect and lamps that are lined low. Overall, it has an extraordinary small car look. When it comes to the front features, the upper grille falls between the two crystal headlights and with a beautiful rear that is bigger and more appealing to the people who really love the aesthetic appeal of a car will gravitate towards this one. While the design has some of the elements of the Honda Jazz both the front and the rear are distinct enough to set the Brio apart. In terms of styling Honda Brio is seriously a looker with its aerodynamic design theme and full glass rear hatch, it is one of the best looking small cars in India. It will compete head-on with the Maruti Ritz, Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat and Ford Figo. Honda Brio beats all these cars when it comes to styling and overall looks.

Interior

The Honda Brio has a lot to show off in terms of its exterior design but when it comes to its interior this has not been compromised. It is designed to have a very spacious, exceptional and safe interior with materials that are made of top quality. It has a 5 passenger seating space with an under-four meter length and sufficient width. It guarantees a large interior and appropriate foot space. With this size, the Brio is easier to handle and is dependable like its elder sibling ‘Honda Jazz’. The Honda Brio does not only contain exceptional interiors but also outstanding features. Honda Brio has sufficient legroom and headroom, interior are in single tone beige in the low-end variants and dual-tone beige in the high-end Honda Brio variants.

Comfort and Convenience

With its spacious interiors, the Honda Brio is comfortable for all passengers. The boot space of the car is very small which makes it capable of having room for small suitcases and a few bags. Its boot and fuel filler are remotely functional with convenient tinted glass and folding rear seats. The vehicle also includes cup-holders and a comfortable head rest that is very ideal for long drives. The front seats include head and legroom area to ensure the comfort of the passengers. The driver seat is also adjustable while the rear seats have good enough space so one can be comfortable even for long journeys. Like Honda Jazz, it also comes with manual controls for air conditioner and driver seat adjustments. It does not have a rear defogger though. These missing features are just one of the ways the Honda Company was able to cut the costs down in order for it to have an affordable price in the market to make for better competition.

The Brio has stylish and modern seats, electrically adjustable ORVMs, sporty style steering wheel and chrome garnishing air vents that sums up the stunning overall look of the interiors. The vehicle is also smartly designed to concentrate on the storage space and comfort of the passengers. The cabin has a spacious design with a good amount of space at the front. There are front and rear cup holders in the central console for added convenience not only for the passengers but for the driver as well. A headlight high, adjustable feature is also included and you are also reminded if the headlights are still on with the ‘headlight off reminder’ feature. The Honda Brio is also loaded with exceptional interior features such as rear view mirrors that can be electrically adjusted, front power windows in the base variant, front and rear power windows in other variants, front seats with integrated headrests and projector halogen head lights. Furthermore, you can also read the fuel you consumed through the ‘fuel consumption display’ feature.

Music System

The Honda Brio (on high-end variants) features a 2-DIN integrated music system with aux-in plus USB port. It also includes steering mounted audio controls, AM/FM radio and front and rear speakers with amber colored illumination. The music player of the Brio is positioned horizontally on the instrument panel.

Engine and Gearbox

Like the Honda Jazz, the Honda Brio is also powered by an 1198cc, SOHC, i-VTEC Petrol engine and this 1.2 litre engine makes it efficient when it comes to fuel consumption. It is powered with a maximum power of 88 bhp at 6000 rpm with a peak torque of 109 nm at 4500 rpm. Its impressive power and torque are exceptional when compared with other cars in the segment. The powerful engine houses a SOHC system which avails comfortable breathing of the engine leading to better fuel efficiency and more power. With its 1198 cc displacement, it is considered as one of the best in the B segment when it comes to engine performance. With the engine’s modern i-VTEC (Intelligent Variable Timing and Electronic Lift Control) feature, it guarantees a powerful performance and uses less fuel. With its PGM-Fi four cylinder fuel type supply system, it delivers extreme engine performance. The superior engineering of the Honda Brio’s engine makes it stand out when it comes to fuel consumption and great performance. The power and torque figures make it a great car to use from the hatchback segment. Honda recently launched the Brio Automatic which sports a five-speed automatic transmission and is available in one variant - VX.

Acceleration and Performance

Honda Brio 5 speed manual transmission which makes it capable enough to deliver an 88 PS of peak power at 6000 rpm and a 109 Nm of peak torque at 4600 rpm. The engine can certainly deliver very well on city roads because of its high torque at low rpm. Due to its lightweight body and powerful engine, the car can deliver a fair amount of acceleration. The Honda Brio can deliver an average acceleration of 100kmph for only 16 seconds and has a maximum speed of 185 kmph.

Mileage

With its superior engineering, the Honda Brio is fuel efficient and environmentally friendly with a fuel tank capacity of 35 litres and a PGM-Fi fuel type supply system. With its 1.2-litre, i-VTEC petrol engine with 4 cylinder 16 valves and Single overhead camshaft (SOHC), the Honda Brio can deliver an ARAI certified mileage of 19.4 kmpl for the manual version and 16.5 kmpl for the automatic version.

Safety Features

The Honda Brio has left nothing to the fly when it comes to safety features. Even if it is practically made for everyone, the company still provides the best to car buyers when it comes to safety. It contains two airbags for front passengers including one Driver’s side Intelligent SRS (i-SRS) and an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). The i-SRS has a gas release control valve that allows you to deploy the air bags quickly thereby keeping it inflated and maintaining the safety of the driver. The Brio’s ABS system with EBD also has a Brake Assist feature to improve your control over the vehicle. The vehicle is also based on G-Force Control Technology which makes it robust and crash resistant during collisions. In the event of a crash or collision, the Brio’s seat belts allow the body to keep its position or place because of its pretensioners safety feature. With the rigorous crash tests conducted by the Honda Crash Test Facility before releasing the car into the market, your safety is guaranteed if you choose to purchase and drive this car.

Suspension and Brakes

The Honda Brio comes with an ABS system with ESP (Electric Stability Program) and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) which makes it very reliable and dependable. It also includes an electronically-powered steering wheel with a McPherson Strut front suspension system. The front wheels are fixed to a special ventilated rotor for the disc brakes while the rear wheels are seated to a drum which houses the brake shoes.

Ride and Handling

With its 5 speed manual transmission, the Honda Brio guarantees easy handling and control when it comes to driving even on zippy acceleration. The vehicle includes a broad wheelbase and a solid body that guarantees you an overall control of the vehicle when driving. It also includes an electrically powered steering for easy handling of the vehicle. The tilt of the steering is also adjustable with a keyless entry feature. However, some says it delivers a harsh ride during low speeds but it delivers a good ride when a constant speed is kept at 90 to 100.

Shades

Honda created the Honda Brio with eye-catching colour options. The hatchback is available in six shades to include: Rallye Red, Energetic Blue, Urban Titanium, Taffeta White, Alabaster Silver and Crystal Black Pearl. Indeed, Honda has put in enough colors so that everyone can find their perfect car.

Accessories on Offer

To enhance the vehicle’s look, Honda lets you choose to have one of two official accessory packages available. These are the Active package and the Mode package. The Active package includes a tail gate spoiler, side step illuminated garnish, door visor, floor mats, chrome exhaust pipe finisher and wood finish for the central console. On the other hand, the Mode package includes: protectors for the front/corner as well as chrome door protectors, side step illuminated garnish, rear cargo protector and side protector.

Value for Money

Honda Brio is priced competitively in the market and thereby is considered as the most cost effective and most affordable Honda car in India. Even if there are some missing attributes, Honda has put in exceptional features and striking colours that makes it a good enough trade-off as it is more economically priced though some things are missing.

Reasons to Bu

With the company’s good reputation and after sales service, the Honda Brio is definitely a sure fire hit. If you are looking for a hatchback with great interior space, a stylish design and a vigorous drive then the Brio is the right one for you. With its smart design and practical features this is a hit with many of the customers who already own it.

Verdict

Honda has definitely taking pricing and marketing methods and strategies into account while manufacturing this car. With its affordable price, multiple features, safety features, fuel efficiency, powerful and reliable engine, superior engineering, top build quality, spacious interiors and reputable name, this car is a good catch. Many would be able to fulfill their dream of owning a Honda by purchasing this car. There are those who have deeper pockets that may not want to purchase this car since it is missing some features which they may be able to find in another car that is priced at a higher cost. But the bottom line is this is an affordable car and there is no going around that fact. The vehicle has a very refined engine that generates a great performance with stylish design and good looks. However, it lacks a solid feel and delivers a harsh ride at lower speeds. Nevertheless, it is an overall good quality vehicle, great value for money, excellent engine with a great mileage.

Variant-wise Feature List

E

Body coloured front and rear bumpers, halogen head lights, front grille in chrome finish, Steel wheels with hub caps, antenna, fold-able rear seats, amber colour illumination, Engine Immobilizer, driver side seat belt reminder, day and night RVMs, high mounted stop light, Full size spare tyre, electric power steering, air-conditioner with heater, central locking, Tachometer, front power windows, fuel consumption display, Front and rear cup-holders in center console, front door lining pockets, Headlight height adjuster, headlight off and ignition key off reminder, Front and rear cup-holders in center console and front door lining pockets.

EX (in addition to the features of E variant)

Body coloured door handles, full trim wheels, Body coloured outside rear view mirrors and Integrated audio system with USB port and aux-in, AM/FM radio.

S (In addition to the features of EX variant)

Steering mounted audio controls, front and rear speakers, Chrome air-vent rings and gear shifter ring, silver steering wheel garnish. Key-less entry, rear power windows, front power window auto down, Accessory power socket, seat back pocket, vanity mirror and electric ORVMs.

V (In addition to the features of S variant)

Front and rear mudguards, tilt Steering, i-SRS airbag for driver, SRS airbag for passenger, ABS with EBD, Front seat belt pretensioner with load limiter, Alloy wheels, front fog lamps, silver inside door handles and dual horn.

VX (In addition to the features of S variant)

Rear Defogger and Driver's seat height adjustment.

Honda Brio vs. Hyundai Grand i10