When you first look at the Brio, you can see the effect of competition on Honda?you don?t need to spend big money to have fun, and the Brio proves it.
We drove the Brio extensively, subjected it to a whole lot of highway driving, some urban and the odd hill drive, at full tilt for this first driving impression.
It?s quite praiseworthy how Honda has managed to package the Brio in such a tiny footprint. Measuring just 3.6 metres in length and with a turning radius of 4.5 m, the Brio makes for an ideal city car. What?s more, Honda?s philosophy of man maximum, machine minimum comes truly to the fore here. At 930 kg, it?s considerably lighter than a lot of its competition, except for the Toyota Etios Liva at 900 kg.
The rear is where the designers have really turned to, using elements rather than design flair to spruce up the design and complete the exterior package. The entire hatch is glass. The large glass back immediately draws you away from the fact that the rear is essentially just plain flat. It works to really bring out the open-ended design that the double triangle theme creates. Flanking the glass at the rear are the rear cluster lights, which take their inspiration from the Jazz. Other elements that add to the exterior charm of the car are the aerodynamically sculpted outside rearview mirror, a small integrated rear spoiler and the specially crafted alloys shod with rubber that have been designed to be more aerodynamic. The exterior package has been executed very well and the Brio is bound to stand out in a crowd.
On the inside, the Brio has its share of good points and some not so good ones. Let?s first talk about what you get. The Brio in the highest trim, that is V, comes with twin airbags, ABS, alloy wheels, fog lamps, all four power windows, central locking, a USB/aux-in stereo system and stereo controls on the steering and electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors.
Sitting inside, you are taken aback at how the engineers have managed to provide so much space given the size of the car. In the front, the seats are comfortable and offer good support, but taller people may not like the under-thigh support and there?s overall a little less cushioning than one would have liked. At the rear, there?s pretty good leg and knee room. Legroom is decent and with a close to non-existent central tunnel, three medium sized people can squeeze in for short drives. What is disturbing is the fixed neck restraints that are too short for anybody above average height and any attempt to rest your head on them could result in your head kissing the roof. The boot is large and deep enough for a medium and small-sized suitcase together, and when flipped, the rear seat can accommodate two large golf bags easily.
Yes, it does have an Achilles Heel in the lack of some small but vital components such as a rear defogger and rear wiper. The steering could have had better weight and the suspension a bit more stiffness.
But overall this is a car that not only has the brand name, but the right elements to really kick up a storm in its segment. And, its pricing at R4-5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) is an element that could only pave the way to the victory lane for the Brio.
