Today, Honda Cars India has entered the competitive SUV segment with BR-V (Bold runabout vehicle) which is based on modified Brio platform. Showcased the last year’s GAIKINDO Indonesia followed by 2016 Delhi Auto Expo it will take on Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Hyundai Creta. Honda BR-V has an edge over its rivals with three row seating configuration as rivals come with only five. BR-V shares silhouette with Mobilio MPV but gets beefed up stance and better interiors. Here is all you need to know about new BR-V:-
Price:
The Honda BR-V has managed to undercut its rivals as the base petrol variant starts at Rs. 8.75 lakhs and it goes up to Rs. 11.84 lakhs for the top spec VX manual version. The CVT trim is available for Rs. 11.99 lakh. The base diesel E version comes at Rs. 9.90 lakh while VX is offered with 12.90 lakh. All the prices are of ex-showroom Delhi.
Engine Details:
The BR-V is front wheel driven SUV and shares powertrains with Mobilio MPV and City sedan. The first engine choice is a 1.5L i-VTEC petrol mill which is rated to deliver 117bhp of power and 145Nm peak torque; it is linked to a newly developed six speed manual transmission and exclusive CVT (Continuously variable transmission) gearbox with paddle shifters. The petrol manual delivers an ARAI certified mileage of 15.4 Kmpl while automatic is good for 16kmpl.
The other choice of engine includes tried and tested 1.5l i-DTEC diesel which is good for a max output of 98bhp and 200Nm of torque, linked to a six speed manual transmission. The diesel mill returns ARAI certified mileage of 21.4 Kmpl.
Space and Dimensions:
While competitors are only five seaters, Honda BR-V comes with seven seats along with comparatively better dimensions. The SUV is 4453mm long making it longest in its vary segment, 1735mm wide and 1666mm height. The BR-V has a wheelbase of 2660mm while ground clearance stands at 210mm. The BR-V has 223-litres of boot space with all three rows up while it can be enlarged to 691-litres by folding down the last row seats.
Exterior and Interior:
Even though Silhouette is similar to Mobilio MPV but it gets several distinct elements to differentiate it from Mobilio. The front is based on carmaker’s new Xciting H design philosophy with ample use of chrome. There’s a new face bearing thick chrome slat flanked by crisp projector headlamps with LED light guides. The dual grille with massive air dam, Skid plates and round fog lamps adds to the SUV-ish character of the vehicle. The side profile has been spruced up with black body cladding, chrome lining under the windows and strong 210mm of ground clearance. The rear side is a bit quirky may not be of everyone’s taste, it features with horizontally slated tail lamps with thin strip joining the tail lamps, faux skid plate and curvy boot.
The inside story has been slightly premium as compared to Mobilio with features like automatic climate control with roof mounted AC vents, leather packed steering wheel, gear knob and armrests. It sports a 2 DIN audio system with bluetooth though absence of touchscreen system could disappoint many buyers. Other features include leather upholstery for seats, height adjustable driver seat, sliding second row, 60:40 seat spilt, Smart entry with push start, tilt steering, 3D MID cluster with average fuel consumption display, trip meter, outside temperature display etc.
Colors:
Apart from Carnelian red pearl shade, BR-V also comes with Taffeta white, Urban Titanium metallic, golden brown metallic, Alabaster Silver metallic and White Orchid pearl shade.
Safety:
Honda has made dual front airbags and ABS (Anti-lock braking system) as standard across the range. The Top variants sports electronic brake force distribution (EBD), impact sensing auto door lock, front seat belt with pretensioners and load limiter, engine immobilizer, vehicle stability control and hill start assist.
