Honda BR V First Drive

2016 Honda BR-V 1.5 Petrol Review: First Impressions and Image Gallery

Honda BR-V - First Drive (2)

It is probably the worst time to be in Rajasthan as the mercury is soaring at 42-degrees. If it wasn’t for the really efficient air-conditioner on the Honda BR-V, throwing all its power to keep the cabin temperature in check, our boy Ayan Ghosh probably would have turned into a cake. He will report a detailed drive experience soon but till then here are the first impressions of the all new Honda BR-V 1.5-litre iVTEC petrol.

Now that engine sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It is the same motor that propels the Honda City sedan and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. The new six-speed gearbox is an absolute joy to row, says Ayan, with short throws and precise shifts, taking tractability to a whole new level.

Honda BR-V - First Drive (3)

The 1.5-litre iVTEC engine is a gem in itself with a well spread out torque curve. The engine, at 1,200 RPM on fourth gear cruises at 20 kmph with absolutely no engine knocking. The redline on the iVTEC stands at 7,000 where it sounds absolutely fantastic though the sound might get slightly intrusive if you’re not in the mood. The top-end does take a hit but the car still manages to cruise at 140 kmph and above quite comfortably.

The steering is light at low speeds but it weighs up nicely when needed. The light clutch is delightful and enhances the drive experience further. The ride quality, especially at low speeds, is quite praise-worthy and well damped but a few thuds do manage to make it through, nothing much that should bother the occupants though. The 210 mm of ground clearance is a boon and the new BR-V goes over almost anything that normal roads throw at it, and even mild off roading.

Honda BR-V - First Drive - Interiors (11) Honda BR-V - First Drive - Interiors (9)

Interiors are spacious with a large enough third row to accommodate passengers below 6 feet tall, although knees still point skywards. Accessing the third row is fairly easy too with one touch tumble second row. Adding to the comfort of the passengers is the roof mounted AC vents for the second row. On the hind side though, there is no touchscreen centre console, navigation and the absence of a rear view camera.

All-in-all, the new compact SUV is quite fun to drive and if it wasn’t Ayan’s suffering in the hot weather of Rajasthan, we would have been absolutely jealous of him for his experience with the new SUV. We’ll wait for his inputs on the diesel model and update this page very soon. Meanwhile, you can check out the new Honda BR-V in greater details through the image gallery below. Do let us know your views about the new compact SUV through the comments section below.

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