Honda South Africa has finally decided to enter the highly competitive entry-level market with its Brio budget car. And not a moment too soon – every major manufacturer has a player in this market and it accounts for 24 per cent of total car sales. Honda, used to catering for more mature buyers, is now keen to tempt a student audience towards the Honda brand.
EXTERIOR
At a glance, you could mistake the front of the Brio for that of the current Jazz, but head to the rear and you will see it is anything but. The rear styling, with its predominantly glass hatch and low-slung brakelamp arrangement, may not be to everyone’s taste but it is distinctive and I don’t think it hurts the look of the Brio at all. It’s a cute car and Honda has achieved what it set out with this design, which was to make it memorable and appealing to younger buyers.
INTERIOR
Honda’s decision to go with a beige interior is perplexing – while it may look quite upmarket it potentially dates the car and I could already see marks and stains on the fabric of this brand new launch model. Colour scheme and seat material aside, the cabin is compact and modern with touches of silver and chrome and perceived quality is such that you don’t feel as if you’re stepping into a cheapest-of-the-cheap entry-level car. It is surprisingly spacious with sufficient storage space in the cubby, as well as three cup and two bottle holders. The only potential drawback is the boot space which amounts to a rather miserly 161 dm3, compared with its Volkswagen Polo Vivo rival’s 270 dm3. But with the Brio’s seats folded down you will get a more useable 519 dm3 of utility space. One ergonomic drawback is a steering column that only offers height adjustment, which can make finding the right driving position a bit tricky for taller folks. The Brio is well equipped with such features as an MP3-compatible audio system with USB and AUX inputs and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, air conditioning and electric windows among the standard fitment items. When it comes to standard safety features, the Brio comes equipped with dual front airbags and ABS with EBD.
ON THE ROAD
The 1,2-litre i-VTEC engine develops 65 kW and 109 N.m of torque and is peppy enough for city driving. As long as you keep the revs up and drop a cog or two up steep inclines you shouldn’t have a problem. The clutch tends to take a bit high but it’s something you quickly adjust to. The steering is light and perfect for city driving. It was easy to weave around the windy bends of the Constantia Nek Pass in Cape Town and strong enough to cruise with the traffic on the M3 freeway. The ride is pliant while wind and road noise seem to be well suppressed. The 1,2-litre engine is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic option is also offered. The claimed fuel consumption for the manual model is an impressive 5,6 L/100 km with the COs emissions claimed at 133 g/km.
SUMMARY
Given the sales success of Volkswagen’s Polo Vivo on our local market, it’s fair to say that the Brio has a tough fight on its hands. Having said that, the Brio reasonably priced and sports enough features for it to find a place for itself in what is a very tough market segment largely aimed at younger buyers. Honda also has a very good reputation for reliability and after-sales service, which will help with sales and give those considering the likes of the Toyota Etios some food for thought.
Specifications:*
Model: Honda Brio 1,2 i-VTEC Comfort Manual
Engine: 1,2 16-valve in-line 4 cylinder
Power: 65 kW at 6 000 r/min
Torque: 109 N.m at 4 500 r/min
0-100 km/h: 12,2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 5,6L/100 km
Fuel tank capacity: 35-litres
CO2: 133g/km
Top speed: unknown
Price: R119 800
Service plan: 2 years/30 000 km
Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*According to the manufacturer
