The Honda Brio prototype developed in Japan and showcased in a MotorShow in November at Bangkok last year. Honda Brio belongs to small car category in India it was 1st showcased in 2010 Auto Exdo at Delhi. Honda Brio is a complete comfort package and those who wants all the facilities with less price and small car then Honda Brio is the best choice for you. Looks wise Honda Brio is a unique car and all glass look from the rear side of the car is the best feature which enhances its uniqueness. The sharply cut Kite-shaped taillights, the wide and angled bumper,prominent spoiler all make the Brio’s look pretty from the backside also. Brio’s dimension are compact with lenght 3610 mts, width 1680 mts and height 1475 mts.
The folks at Honda are creatures of habit – they have a knack of making brilliant cars, with super-smooth petrol engines that their rivals can only dream of. But they also have a tendancy of attaching high prise tags. The premium pricing strategy worked well for Honda in the luxury segment, thanks to its posh image. But the carmaker also realised the hard way(with the Jazz) that asking for too much cash dosen’t work in the cast competitive hatchback segment where Maruti and Hyundai keep redefining value time and again.Honda is all set to break the habit of charging a high premium with the arrival of the new Brio later this year by offering the entry level version for a very competitive Rs.4.50 lakh (estimated), which should bring the Brio bang in the middle of Maruti and Hyundai territory in terms of price.
Being a Honda, engineeering is the key. The Brio gets the same one. 2lts petrol engine that powers the much bigger and heavier Jazz. 90bhp of powerand owing to the fact that it is 70kg lighter than the jazz will mean the Brio should feel really lively. Just like in the Jazz, the engine feels a bit lazy at low revs and you will need to mount the revs to get the best out of the engine. But the silky smooth petrol engine loves to be revved without getting too vocal at any point. This coupled with the light clitch and slick gearbox mean that driving this small car promises to be a real delight. The Thai-spec Brio comes with a continous Variable Transmission(CVT) gearbox, but the CVT version wont make it to the indian marketto keep costs low.
Honda reckons that the Brio will serve its primary duty as a city commuter. Honda engineers have worked hard to give it an ultra light steering. Juat like the last-generation City’s steering, you steer this car with the flick of your wrist. But like the last generation city, the steering feels completely disconnected from the road, offering no feedback. This is something that keener drivers won’t appreciate at all. for driver enjoyment, you will probably haveto look elsewhere. Despite the light steering, the Brio grips well while negotiating corners.
Like most Honda cars, the slow speed ride is on the lumpy side and allows some road undulation to enter the cabin. But it gets comfortable enough over most surfaces as speed increase and does a good job of limiting body movement on demanding roads, offering decent stability at high speeds. The Brio also promises to impress in the braking department. Honda engineers have done well to keep the cabin a quiet place making the Brio a good car for long distance Cruises as well as city jaunts.
The lenght of the Brio’s wheelbase is shorter than the Jazz’s by 150mm. This immediately shows in the cabin. It is clear that while Honda engineers have given plenty of priority to the front seats of this car, the rear seat and boot space have been compromised a bit. To keep costs down, Honda has used seats with thin back rests and this along with the scooped glovebox ensures maximum use of cabin space for the occupants. The seats also get fixed head rests, another cost cutting feature. Other cost cutting measures include the single pane rear glass instead of a proper hatch opening. That said, the all-round visibility from the front seats is good, and the fuss-free dash layout mixes chunky rotary AC dials and clearle labelled stereo buttons. The steering wheel and pedals are perfectly positioned too. The chunky steering is nice to hold but again do not expect it to have controls for the stereo like some of its rivals. The stereo is positioned closer to the passenger than the driver and the positioning of the AC vents is also not conventional. The Thai-Spec Brio gets a USB-port for the stereo unit- just like tha current generation City.
The plastic quality is good and better than its price would suggest. The beige and black combo works well.The beige colour gives the cabin a nice and airy feel. Unlike the Jazz, which has ten glassholders, the Brio will get only two, in front of the gearbox. Honda is aiming at an entry price of RS 4.50 lakh (estimated) for the Brio. It promises to be the quintessential city hatchback offering a peppy engine, low running costs and ease of driving. That its a Honda adds to its overall appeal even further. This is one hatchback that we are eagerly anticipating.