The Honda BR-V has received a mid-life facelift after slightly over three years in the market. The first country to receive the update is Indonesia, where the seven-seater goes up against the Toyota Rush, Daihatsu Terios and Mitsubishi Xpander/Nissan Livina. All are three-row Low MPVs with SUV-inspired styling.
It’s clear where the inspiration for this facelift comes from. The BR-V’s CR-V-inspired front end receives a black bar across the nose to replace the previous chrome one. There’s still one thin chrome strip linking the headlamps, but the visual effect is of a larger, bolder grille. The projector headlamps appear similar, but there are new (for Indonesia, we already have it) LED daytime running light strips.
It might look similar at a glance, but the bumper has been re-profiled. The side borders now have a vent-like look and they point up towards the headlamps, as opposed to inside towards the grille. The fog lamp surrounds and silver “skid plate” look a lot more elaborate than before.
Those changes are mimicked at the rear, which gets a fancier-looking silver “diffuser” section and bumper side borders that are now filled with vertical reflectors. The reflectors were previously at the lowest part of the bumper, flanking the “diffuser”. The bridge linking the tail lamps is now in chrome. Rounding up the exterior changes are new design 16-inch two-tone alloys.
Inside, the dashboard design remains, but Indonesia now gets a Civic FD-style steering wheel that matches Malaysian-spec BR-Vs. Look closer and you’ll find new tweeter speakers, new dashboard trim (brushed grey piece on the passenger side) and an auto function for the air con, which Malaysian BR-Vs already have.
Honda aimed for a sportier feel, and the top spec car’s black-themed cabin gets black leather-trimmed seats with a red spine. That’s matched with red leather pads on the door armrests, and leather wrapping for the steering and gear knob, with red stitching. Honda Indonesia also highlights thicker second row seat cushions and a new centre headrest for the middle row. There’s also a driver seat height adjuster, which we already get here.
New equipment for the Indonesia-spec BR-V includes an eight-inch “floating” capacitive touch screen head unit with WebLink (smartphone mirroring) and keyless entry with push start. However, the airbag count is still two, supplemented by ABS, VSA and hill start assist.
No change to the powertrain, which links up a 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine (120 PS, 145 Nm) with a CVT automatic or six-speed manual gearbox. Unlike the Rush/Terios, power goes to the front wheels.
Four variants of the 2019 BR-V facelift is available in Indonesia – the S MT at Rp 238 juta (RM69,347), the E MT at Rp 252.5 juta (RM73,563), the E CVT at Rp 262.5 juta (RM76,477), and the Prestige CVT you see here at Rp 279.5 juta (RM81,432).
Six colours are available, and they are Tafetta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Coffee Cherry Red Metallic and the signature Premium Amber Metallic seen here. The latter two hues are reserved for E and Prestige trim levels.
GALLERY: Pre-facelift Honda BR-V Special Edition in Malaysia
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I agree, the Game Changing X70 is the best buy thanks to the value for money pricing with incredible specs. If the BR-V comes here with expensive price, then Honda will for sure Game Over.
Here we go again. Why would you compare with this B segment suv with C segment suv? Why not Perodua Aruz? or others B segment suv? jeez….
No need to layan nimrod with no brains to think. He would compare an Accord with City and complain why Accord cannot sell more units than City. Let him fester his stupidity.
Indonesia got manual transmission
and still ugly as ever.
There’s not much what a facelift can do when the basic design is bad to start with.
this car is way better than Aruz. the driving pleasure is excellent and more powerful too. After all, it’s Honda and you know it will exceed your expectations.
With 2 airbags?
Better buy Aruz or Rush than this BR-V. After all, it’s Honda and you know that the quality is terrible.
Honda, please bring this game changer now. A lot of people have been waiting for this game changer because of it’s top quality, tough design and powerful engine. Moreover, this is also one of an excellent choice for people who is still afraid of China quality. Furthermore, this facelift have made the game changer even more tempting and will attract more buyers who like an SUV with affordable price.
I am still waiting for you to confirm Honda got 25,000 bookings for BR-V. Where is it?
wow…six speed manual gearbox being offered there
i would buy this car with manual in a heartbeat if being offered here
Manual aaa? Aiyaaa.. Bad traffic jammed lagi mau manual?
funny thing is hardly see any BRV on the road today compared to the days when it was newly launched
You need glasses.
The best 7 seater suv ever.. Long live honda
Ah meng: BRV the best SUV ever.
Land cruiser: Am I a joke to you?
People that know about cars: BRV is not a SUV, dude. It’s a MPV designed to look like one.
Ah meng: I don’t care. Honda for life!
Everyone else: Fanboy spotted!
Ah meng says: So? Your little brother Rush/Aruz pun sama.
Land Cruiser: Erm….. (cabut lari!)
this car need a big overhaul to continue survive. AEB, 6 airbags, hill start stop assist, is the basic now. this car still even missed out gearbox light- at night can only depends on speedometer to know the gear.
now, it’s more like a glorified MPV instead of a Soft SUV.
it’s full spec still not as complete as low spec X70 or Aruz Rush. Can only compete with 1.5AT Alza, Ertiga low riding MPV.
The dashboard has an indicator on which gear is currently in and honestly who looks at the gear when you’re driving. I also prefer cars not having airbags. So two is too many. What brv is lacking is paddle shifters . I also hope that the engine can pushed the torque to 155nm with 135hp
Ugly.
The BR-V does not compete in the same market with Livina / Xpander in Indonesia. BR-V lies within the LSUV segment, with Rush / Terios and the recently launched DFSK 560 as its only competitors. Livina / Xpander go up against Avanza / Xenia, Ertiga, Mobilio, and Wuling Confero (although the latter is priced within the LCGCs price range, and Wuling Cortez as a Medium MPV competes directly price wise) within the LMPV segment.