This monsoon, it has been raining mini-SUVs and the fever seems to have caught onto Honda too. All the mini-SUVs launched in India so far have been five seaters while Honda’s upcoming BRV, perhaps an all-wheel drive, will accommodate seven people.
Honda had earlier released the sketches of its BRV, which will be manufactured in Thailand, primarily targeting the Indian market. The vehicle is expected to hit Indian roads next year.
The BRV will be built on the same Brio platform on which the Mobilio and Amaze were born and its chassis will be long enough to accommodate three rows of seats. With its big tires and wheel arches, the BRV looks almost double the size of Brio in appearance.
Into the details
The BRV’s prototype was displayed in this year’s auto show held in Indonesia. Resembling a big SUV in size and poise, the BRV was one of the most sought after cars at the auto show.
However, as it turned out, the prototype was totally different from the Brio and also the sketches Honda had released earlier. The BRV is rather very close to the Honda CRV in terms of design. The grill, big bumpers and wheel arches resemble those found in the CRV. The muscular design theme begins from around the fog lamps on the front bumper and runs through the sides of the vehicle right up to its rear.
Perhaps no other SUV manufacturer has had the courage to launch a vehicle in India with a rear-end design that maybe as ‘radical’ as the upcoming BRV’s. LED lamps that stand out, a big Honda logo above the number plate and the chrome garnish soup up the extreme looks of the BRV’s rear end. Striking scuff plates also add to the vehicle’s gorgeous looks.
The vehicle has a high beltline as per the sketches, with the bodyline flowing through its sides like in the Amaze and Mobilio. The body cladding that starts from the front and runs through the wheel arches and the vehicle’s sides accentuate the BRV’s big-SUV looks. In short, without any doubt the BRV has got the best looks in the segment.
The BRV too will have a wheel base of 2652 mm like the Mobilio. Its interiors are expected to be similarly spacious, but in a better trim and with superior seats. It is also expected to feature facilities that are generally seen in high-end vehicles. The last row of seats will be like the one in the Mobilio with the BRV sparing some boot space for luggage.
The vehicle is expected to be launched with Honda’s 117 bhp, 1.4 I-VTEC petrol and 98.6 I-D TEC diesel engines. Though it is not yet confirmed whether the vehicle will be an all-time four-wheel drive, the BRV will have an automatic version for sure. If Honda indeed comes out with an automatic diesel BRV as its answer to Hyundai’s Creta, which has been creating ripples in the segment, competition will certainly intensify in the country’s mini-SUV segment.
Although it is too early to say anything about the pricing of the BRV, Honda’s latest strategy shows that the company will in all likelihood launch at least one variant of its vehicles at the lowest possible price in markets such as India. The top-end model of the BRV will cost at least Rs 15 lakh. The wait will be worthwhile for enthusiasts who go by the brand value of Honda and not just the price tag.