BRV: Honda’s Big Bet

Built on the same platform as the Brio, Amaze and Mobilio, the BRV is actually a jacked up MPV with revised front end and body claddings. The front end styling gives it suitable ruggedness when viewed head on. How they have transformed the slanted bonnet and fenders in the Mobilio and squared them off nicely to give it the butch face of an SUV is commendable. The flatter front end with its elongated headlamp and wide grille accentuate the width of the car. The bumper has a big air dam, fake skid plates, tiny fog lamp nacelles and a nice chiselled edge to it. There is too much chrome at the front as is the case with most modern day Hondas, but overall it works. The bonnet is actually shorter than ideal, considering how much car comes with it. And, when viewed from the sides it is instantly recognizable as the Mobilio especially with its trademark lightning bolt kink on the rear doors. Honda has changed the rear quarter glass design so it no longer merges with the rear windshield and gives the roof a floating effect like in the MPV. While they did that, they should have ideally worked on the rear door design and given it a more SUV like high waistline even if it came at the expense of outside visibility for rear passengers. It is the styling that matters to SUVs, the most.

The plastic claddings around the car give the BRV a rugged look, but the lack of height around the shoulder line and rear overhangs give the plot away. The roof rails help create an illusion of height but it is no taking away the MPViness of the BRV. Honda has given the BRV an interesting set of 16 inch alloy wheels and 195/60R16 tyres, but they are a size or two smaller for the class of car it now is. Larger wheel arches and bigger wheels would have given it the SUV character it needs, but were ditched to save cost. The rear is completely new with new tailgate, curvier tail lamps and a strip that straddles the two.

Continue