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In pics: Honda BR-V

The Honda BR-V will mainly be used as a family runabout and it is imperative that the crossover SUV have a good level of ride comfort.

By :  arka sengupta
Update: 2016-05-24 03:00 GMT
Honda has marked its entry in the highly competitive compact SUV segment.
As we mentioned earlier, the Honda BR-V comes with a diesel engine. And of course, like with all other compact SUVs in the market today, a petrol engine too. Both are 1.5-litre units that get a 6-speed manual gearbox (with the petrol also getting a CVT gearbox and paddle shifters). The diesel is a turbocharged four-cylinder unit makes 100PS of peak
But most owners might use the rear seats a lot more and in terms of legroom, the BR-V outclasses almost everything else. The middle row also gets a 60-40 split and a one touch folding setup which makes getting access to the last row very easy.
Now, with a third row of seats, one cannot really expect a lot of boot space, but the BR-V does have enough space for a coupled of small bags and if you really had a lot of luggage, you could always fold down the rear row.
The third row, which comes with a 50-50 folding option and one might assume it to be as cramped as some of the other SUVs that have seven seats. However it could fit two adults with relative (but slightly cramped) comfort if the journey is short.
One of the biggest aspects of the BR-V that everyone keeps talking about is the fact that the BR-V is a seven seater SUV.
Honda BR-V: Second Row AC vents
Honda BR-V: Glovebox
Honda BR-V: Button start and smart entry
However, if you are a city slicker and like me spend about three hours a day stuck in traffic, then you have to consider the CVT gearbox.
The new 6-speed gearbox is as good as the old 5-speed and has short and very precise shifts along with a good clutch action which makes it ideal for start-stop city traffic.
You get a very horizontal theme with slim AC vents and an accent piece on the dashboard. And you get climate control on the top of the line variants instead of a set of conventional knobs.
Honda BR-V: 3D Speedometer with multi-information display
Coming to design and equipment, there are sections that impress and then there are sections that disappoint. Let us start with the positives. Personally, I like the simple and clear layout of the BR-V although some might argue that Honda has lost it's flamboyance in recent years.
Front seats are comfortable and have adequate comfort levels with good padding.
So lets talk about seats, space and comfort levels first before we talk about design. For starters, the BR-V is genuinely spacious when it comes to comparing it with other cars of its category.
And talking about stopping, the BR-V comes with disc brakes up front and drum brakes at the rear with ABS as a standard feature on all models. And unlike some of the other Honda cars in the past which were a little under-whelming in the braking section, the BR-V's brakes have good bite and feel under normal and heavy braking.
.And for a change, Honda has actually provided a really good looking set of large 16-inch wheels that come with a polished finished on the top of the line version that we have here.
Honda BR-V: Rear Section Close-up
The Honda BR-V gets no automatic headlamps, automatic wipers or cruise control. Truly a disappointing move from Honda India.
When it comes to handling, the BR-V is like any other Honda just enough neutrality to be ballistic levels of fun in the right hands. Steering feel is great and the steering feedback is good enough to make the driver know exactly what both front tyres are up to at any given time.
We also like the very well detailed headlamps that get a slash daytime running light, a projector headlamp and a separate module for the halogen high beam.
But the Indian customer is more than these power numbers the Indian customer is all about the fuel economy number. And in that aspect, the BR-V does score high with a figure of over 21kmpl (according to ARAI).
Of course, everyone is going to be most concerned about the diesel engine and the tried and tested 1.5-litre engine is most certainly going to loose all games of Top Trumps' when compared to its rivals on the basis of power and torque figures.
Makes you think though, if Honda or some optimistic aftermarket dealer decides to offer a lighting package that could light up this whole strip here (that currently is only a piece of design), it could result in a signature look for the BR-V making its appeal a lot higher.
The CVT on this car gets a paddle shifter option. Now, in general Drive' mode, the CVT behaves like any other whiney CVT out there. But push it into Sport' and you can go through gears with the paddles giving yourself a very Jenson Button-ish feel.
Honda BR-V: Static Image
Now, usually I have a very clear love it or hate it' relationship with design, but somehow neutrality is the stand I will take here.
What Honda could have done is place the taper point on the last row windows about 12-inches higher which could have really gone a long way in making the side profile look evolved.
The only saving grace could be the plastic cladding that runs through the sides, the strip of chrome along the bottom of the doors and the roof rails that come finished in a polished metal look. But even all these trinkets do not make the Honda BR-V appeal to me personally.
That said, if there was ever a car to define the word crossover', the BR-V would be it. So lets get down to it. We like the sleek front that comes with a large chrome grille and a well-styled bumper that gets a silver skid plate.
The Honda BR-V will mainly be used as a family runabout and it is imperative that the crossover SUV have a good level of ride comfort. And it does for most parts. Slow speed ride quality is great and we were genuinely impressed by how the BR-V does not let in thuds and thumps from bumps at such speeds.
Speed up a bit and the first row passengers will be taken care of as well but the second and third row occupants do get thrown around a little bit. This is even more accentuated when you encounter a set of continuous bumps. Although the BR-V will not make you feel uncomfortable and will prove to be a great grand tourer especially when weighed down
The side profile looks way too much like the Mobilio and that makes it still look a lot more van-like.
We finally get our hands on the brand new Honda BR-V SUV. And we ask the one question everyone has been asking, was it worth the wait?
The SUV is clearly king of the Indian automotive segment. And until very recently, Honda did not have an affordable SUV which came with a must-have' diesel engine. Now they do. After years of dilly-dallying around with prospective products, Honda India finally has a compact SUV to offer in India. And it is the brand new Honda BR-V.
We finally get our hands on the brand new Honda BR-V SUV. And we ask the one question everyone has been asking, was it worth the wait?
The Honda BR-V will mainly be used as a family runabout and it is imperative that the crossover SUV have a good level of ride comfort.

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