Honda’s New BR-V, The Better Choice?

Honda has released their all-new second-generation BR-V, and it's a stunner…loaded with Honda dependability.

Honda Motor Southern Africa has just released their all-new, second-generation BR-V in a move that looks to cement the brand’s presence in South Africa's 7-seater SUV market and shake a few feathers in the process.

Compared to the outgoing model, this new BR-V has been improved on so many fronts, from the exterior and standard features, to the technology and increased interior space. In a nutshell, Honda has pulled out all the stops.

Starting with the exterior, Honda has given the BR-V a far more SUVish look as opposed the first generation’s MPV like shape, while also adding a tougher and more robust appearance. Apart from the completely new look, Honda has also made the BR-V 35mm longer and 45mm wider, which doesn’t give the vehicle an overwhelmingly large feel, but it does free up some interior room.

As part of the redesign, Honda has also improved the BR-V’s lighting, equipping it with LED daytime running lights and headlamps, while at the back, the blended LED taillights give the BR-V a very clean appearance and its it nice break from the vertical lights running up the C-pillar which Honda used to love so much.

To finish off the BR-V, Honda offers two wheel designs, a 16-inch variant for the Trend and Comfort models, while the Elegance gets a set of 17-inch wheels.

Once you’ve done ogling the outside, it’s time to settle down into the driver’s seat, where you will notice that Honda has ditched their old ways, adopting a fresh, uncluttered approach to the BR-V’s dashboard design. Couple that with the soft-touch leather-like materials on the contact surfaces, and the inside of the BR-V is actually a very nice place to be.

Materials and design aside, one of the BR-V’s most significant features is the fact that its a 7-seater, this means that you get a second row of seats which spit 60/40 and a third row which splits 60/40. Another rather nifty feature of the BR-V is that there is still some usable luggage space even with the third row up, but naturally, once you fold them down, the BR-V can swallow a lot of luggage.

With comfort, space and design all in its favour, the BR-V’s interior has another trick up its sleeve, it's loaded with all the bells and whistles we have all come to expect. So, it comes as no surprise that the BR-V is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and they’re both controlled by the brand new 7-inch touch screen infotainment system.

Underneath the BR-V’s skin is an all-new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC which produces 89kW and 145Nm of torque, which in my opinion, seems a little underpowered for a 7-seater vehicle, and maybe Honda should have gone for a turbocharged variant instead? When it comes to gearbox choices, Honda offers the Trend specification BR-V with a 6-speed manual while the Comfort gets the options of either a 6-speed manual or CVT, and finally, the top of the line Elegance is available exclusively with the CVT.

Despite the lack of the power, the BR-V's fuel economy is where the 1.5 really shows it value, giving the car a combined cycle of 6.8 litres/100km when matched to the manual gearbox, while the CVT equipped models with give you 6.3 litres/100 km.

Moving onth safety features, Honda has not skimped on the BR-V, equipping the model with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Anti‑lock Braking System (ABS), ISOFIX child seat anchors and dual front and side airbags. If you opt for the Elegance model, you get all that PLUS curtain airbags and Honda’s SENSING suite of technologies which includes:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS).
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
• Auto High-Beam (AHB).
• Lane Watch Camera (LWC).
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Price wise, Honda is offering the BR-V from R379,000 for the Trend manual, R409,900 of the Comfort manual, R434,900 for the Comfort CVT and R459,900 for the Elegance CVT. Those prices are extremely competitive, a top of the line SUV for under R500,000!  All models also get a 5-year 200,000km warranty, with the Comfort and Elegance including a 4-year 60,000km service plan as standard, and finally I can't forget about the 3-year AA roadside assistance plan.

So, would I buy a new BR-V? Looking at the price and the spec, you will struggle to find anyone who doesn’t think that this Honda is a good deal.

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