The Honda BR-V
Honda’s upcoming compact crossover will take a crack at India’s burgeoning compact premium SUV segment. Based on the same platform that underpins the Brio, Amaze and Mobilio, the Honda BR-V was first showcased at the Indonesia International Auto Show in August 2015. The BR-V will be launched in India in the next fiscal, while it will be showcased in the country for the first time at the 2016 Auto Expo in February.
The USP of the BR-V is that, unlike its prime rivals, the Hyundai Creta and the Renault Duster, it will be a genuine seven seater; which doesn’t come as a surprise because it’s essentially a Mobilio MPV on stilts. The new compact crossover, meant specifically for the Asian markets will be introduced in the Indonesian market first, followed by a launch in other countries such as Thailand and ours. The BR-V will hit Indonesian showrooms early in 2016.
Design
If you’re wondering why the BR-V looks like a Mobilio dressed for a camping trip, it’s because Honda wanted exactly that. A Mobilio was hastily brought to the tailor’s, and specified with a few outdoorsy bits and bobs. The seven-seater crossover measures 4,455mm in length, 1,735mm in width and 1,650mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,660mm, which make it significantly longer than both the Creta and the Duster
The Mobilio’s snub nosed fascia has been given more volume with a less raked bonnet, slender headlamps, a new, chrome heavy grille and a “3D effect” front bumper. The latter hosts a trapezoidal air dam, while the two-part grille has a thick slat of chrome running across, juxtaposed with a slim slat running below. All the inlets, including the ones around the circular, chrome ringed fog lamps are filled with mesh inserts.
The best bits about the squared off Mobilio face are these svelte headlamps, which feature projector illumination and DRL strips that are positioned to be a visual continuation of the lower slat of the grille.
The rear end features new tail lamps which are bridged by a reflective strip running across the base of the large, Mobilio sourced rear window. The “3D effect” bumper makes its presence felt here as well, and is jewelled with a chrome appliqué for the number plate recess.
The BR-V features chunky, yet subtle body cladding that goes around the lower portion of whole car, highlighted by wheel arch trim, along with front and rear scruff plates. The BR-V rides on 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped around with 195/60 tyres.
The BR-V comes with a ground clearance of 201 mm, which isn’t far off from both the Duster and Creta’s 205 mm of clearance. To compensate for the higher centre of gravity, Honda has widened the BR-V’s front and rear tracks by 25mm each.
The interiors, especially the dashboard bears a striking resemblance to the Jazz hatchback. Things look rather functional and clinical, while the sea of grey is only broken by small islands of dull silver inserts, which are few and far in between. Maybe they should have used the Jazz’s steering wheel too, but they chose the Brio/Mobilio’s ugly wheel instead.
The centre console does host a touch-screen equipped infotainment system, but Honda’s touch controlled climate control settings are missing. We reckon things will be fixed in the Indian variant.
Like all Honda cars, the BR-V will be ace when it comes to practicality. On the offing are second row seats with a 60:40 split that fully tumble down, and an usable third row with a 50:50 split that can be folded flat. While official specifications are still awaited, the BR-V should pack in Mobilio levels of boot space
Engines
For India, the Honda BR-V compact crossover will be powered by the familiar 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. While the diesel engine will be the 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit found in all of Honda Car India’s line-up except the Brio, petrol power will be bought by the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine that does duty in the City, Mobilio and Amaze.
The diesel engine, good for 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque in its current state of tune is speculated to be paired to a six-speed manual transmission. Honda is said to be fine tuning the power delivery further, but we came away impressed with its linearity when we drove the Jazz earlier this year. Fuel efficiency for the diesel variant is expected to hover around the 25 km/l mark. As for the petrol engine, it makes 119 Ps and could be clubbed to a CVT, while a five- or six-speed manual transmission should settle the purists.
Honda BR-V Image Gallery
Images: Bunny Punia / CarDekho
i think it s very beautiful ….it s time to celebrate with the Honda Br-v and also when compared to other cars like creata,duster ect.. according to the millage also it s very beautiful(25 km around) for diesel.