We now have the first full view of the Honda BR-V, which made its world debut in prototype form at the 2015 Gaikindo Indonesian International Auto Show (GIIAS) back in August. A short closed-loop drive of the car at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan offered the first look at the seven-seater SUV’s interior.
The photos are of what looks to be a Grade E example, albeit still under the guise of a Prototype plate, that was doing static duty at the short presentation of the car. The grade is one of three that will be available for the car when it begins selling in Indonesia next year – badging at the rear alludes to that.
A recap of details initially mentioned during the vehicle’s launch. The BR-V – which is essentially a crossover variation of the Mobilio MPV – measures in at 4,455 mm long, 1,735 mm wide and 1,650 mm tall, with a 2,660 mm-long wheelbase. Other relevant numbers include a 1,500 mm front and rear track, as well as 200+ mm of ground clearance.
Only a single engine choice for the BR-V, and that’s the 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC four-banger as seen on the City sedan and Jazz hatchback, with output numbers being 120 PS at 6,600 pm and 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm.
In terms of grade variants, the range’s baseline version is the 1.5L S, which is only available with a six-speed manual transmission. The midline 1.5L E, meanwhile, will be available with manual or CVT options, while the high-spec 1.5L Prestige will only come with a CVT.
All will ride on 16-inch alloys as standard (dressed with 195/60 series tyres), and general equipment across the range includes projector headlamps, fog lamps, powered side mirrors and double blower air-conditioning (with dedicated roof-mounted vents plus controls for the rear cabin). The second-row seats (60:40 split-folding and sliding) get a one-touch tumble feature, while the third row seats are 50:50 fold-down and tip-forward units.
Cabin space appears to be very decent, with the last row fitting 175 cm-tall adults just fine, albeit with the seat base mounted quite low relative to the floor. Two seat back angles are available here. Honda claims the BR-V’s last-row accommodation is the best in its class. All seven seats get three-point safety belts. No vanity mirror lights or rear dome light (there’s only one up front) ate fitted here, though. The boot goes without illumination too.
On the base S, the audio system is made up of a double-DIN head unit, and from the E on the car gets a 6.1-inch display audio monitor. The E also adds on LED position lamps, audio steering switches and a multi-information display, as well as chrome-finished door handles and side protectors.
The Prestige, meanwhile, gets all the E has and adds on VSA, hill-start assist and an aerokit, as well as a nanoe ioniser. Safety equipment across the entire range is made up of dual airbags, ABS and EBD as well as Isofix mounting points. A spare wheel is mounted under the car.
Six exterior colours will be available for the car, with three new shaded being introduced for the SUV (Misty Green Pearl, Passion Red Pearl and Lunar Silver Metallic). The other three colours are Crystal Black Pearl, Taffeta White and Modern Steel Metallic.
First impressions of the car are generally positive – the plastics look decent enough, and space for the rear-most seats isn’t too shabby, though of course with the seats in use cargo space is pretty much nipped. Folded-down, and with the second row tumbled, there’s ample utility room.
Not much to go by from the short drive at Motegi (not on the track itself, mind you), with just two laps on a circular route offering the first dynamic takes of the car, beyond noting that the BR-V handles quite well. It corners quite flatly and tracks well; counterpoint to that is that the level of ride feels a bit on the firm side.
Power would best be described as adequate – the 1.5 litre mill is again willing, but there’s the usual laggy response associated with the CVT when you want to get the car going fast quickly. This is less noticeable at low to intermediate in-gear take-up.
Perception issues may come about, given that potential buyers may look at the correlation between the available zip and the size of the car. Still, the drive was too brief to form any fixed conclusion, so we’ll have to wait to see how it performs in more accurate real-world conditions. There’s no doubting that it drives well though.
The BR-V will be priced between 230 to 265 million rupiah (RM68k to RM78k) depending on variant when it goes on sale in the republic next year; production kicks off in January 2016 at the PT Honda Prospect Motors plant in Karawang.
It was reported earlier that the crossover was set to make its way to Malaysia eventually, and the presentation and drive effectively cements that thought – the question is when exactly.
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Poor man’s CRV.
Poor is the new version of “SMART”
This “Hot Cake” hitting M’sia market !!!
Will smoke other competitors of its class..
honda salesman alert
This will send Avanza and Rush back to their motherland (Indonesia)
Will come to bolehland?
Yes and it will be pricey or No because Exora will die !!!
If yes..
It will failed like Freed..
What a hideous thing, they can’t even get that window line straight.
Oh boy… the back… ugh. Why they did have to spoil it with that horizontal strip across the back door?
Otherwise, it doesn’t look to shabby.
1.5L engine to ferry 7 people… Will suffer the same original exora fate
True…same goes to alza, avanza :) among most popular 7 seaters car in malaysia
and rush… this vehicle is actually a direct rival to rush.
Agree. And at least the Exora is 1.6 with turbo + higher bhp & torque…
for honda malaysia to cut cost, i suggest to intoduce a single full spec variant in either manual or cvt….
they cn introduce lesser basic models later on…..
people hauler are very popular in sabah n sarawak….im sure current crops of alza / avanza owners would something snazzier to upgrade to thats japanese…
In future, they will fix with 1.0 turbo engine for fuel & emission.
Competing against Exora?
and rush… this vehicle is a direct rival to rush.
This car will be price above city and below hrv. Maybe…
Probably around 85k-90k~
my take is BRV will not come to Malaysia. as BRV is meant for low cost range while Honda Malaysia is focus on “premium” product range. Moreover, it will instantly kill HRV sales and Honda Malaysia would like it to happen. See Brio, Brio Amaze, Mobilio, these are the nice models in Thai and Indonesia, but none of them in Malaysia.
And recently they shelf the city hybrid idea in Malaysia market. Quite dissapointed. Maybe the fuel price drop does some effects, or simply Honda thinks that Malaysians doesn’t entitle for a direct injection engine.
1.5l with 4 adult naik genting
can or cannot?
1.8L la pleaseeee
or 1.5L diesel.
At least this 1.5L won’t suggest the owner to modify the slope like some 1.6L CVT.
HR-V in Indonesia comes with another option of 1.5L engine, which is not available in MY. Only 1.8L CVT is available here.
Therefore, Honda MY will adopt the same strategy for BR-V, as we are particular about engine size. Small engine capacity would not attract Malaysian buyers.
It stretch too much for honda suvs…it will dents the image of crv and hrv.
Got pictures of the second blower? I’m unable to find it in the gallery.
why aa last row not 50:50 split?
1.5NA is not suitable for a 7 seater that has 16″ wheels(2.0E Camry also 16″).
Hopefully Honda M’sia will give it either 1.8L NA or that turbocharged 1.5L. If not, FC will suffers.
Based on current Honda line-up, this BR-V seems will cannibalise Jazz & HR-V sales.
Dual front airbags?!?! That’s it??
It seems Honda & Toyota really are short changing us when it comes to safety!
Why should we settle for less?
It’s 6 airbags minimum or bust!
I’ll give this a miss…..
BRV should bring to malaysia coz open new market to compete with toyota avanza-mpv and nissan grand livina-mpv. BRV is aim for customer who want 7seater or more space and suv more sportier
car price in malaysia doesn’t tally with the quality and specification offered, while people in other countries always enjoy what they have paid for and get the latest and newest automobile model and technology.
when come to this situation, auto company always facing difficulties on car pricing because there were so many overpriced model and automatically close the opportunity for any new model to penetrate the segment.
our car industry are not liberalize yet and we have lost to thai and indo for a very long time.
easy to say, BRV and HRV should be priced under 100k.
Is it a remake of Honda Freed.
i suggest the 2nd roll of seats come with 3 head-rest for an MPV 7 setters. at least if sit 7 people, the 2nd roll middle setter can rest their head.
i definitely will buy BRV if its price somewhere between rm75k to 85k
It looks pretty outside but the inside n technology used is always slower n lacking in comparison with other similar size n generation. Take sienta for example, they have multicolored car info which comes with neat digital speedometer… Sliding door for easier access to the back row, third row can hide under second row, spare tyre below the boot rather than under the car. Lastly, service quality in comparison between Toyota and Honda has a big difference. Price of servicing too! My two cents as owners of.both manufacturer…
This car fails crash test . Only 1 star ANCAP !
engine 1.5L is under powered when the car is fully loaded. Exora Bold can tapau easily when uphill.Don’t buy this junk.