HONDA BR-V 1,5 COMFORT

Pumped up to take on the likes of the Ford Ecosport, yet packaged like an MPV, the new Honda BR-V carves a compelling niche

R252 900

G10,92 sec 88 kw/145 N.m 140 km/h IVEN the growing popularity of the light-crossover segment in our market, the decision by Honda Cars South Africa to replace rather than complement its existing seven-seater Mobilio would have been an easy one to make. The new BR-V is similarly packaged, yet boasts that fashionable pumped-up look that makes Suv/crossovers so popular, plus its name places it neatly within Honda’s existing, well-liked SUV family.

The new entry point to that range, the newcomer makes the most of its versatile Brio-shared platform and boasts exterior dimensions 7,56 L/100 km 151 g/km greater than those of its more premium HR-V cousin. Consider, too, that the BR-V’S wheelbase is 30 mm longer than the overall larger CR-V’S and you begin to understand the packaging potential of Honda’s newest offering.

If 2 660 mm between the axles masks the fact that the BR-V offers the same 210 mm ground clearance as the likes of the Ford Ecosport, the presence throughout the range of black plastic wheelarch cladding and silver roof rails at least lends the Honda a sense of rugged purpose. Where entry-level Trend models are tted with 16-inch steel wheels, Comfort (as tested here) and topof-the-range Elegance versions gain identically sized alloy items; the latter speci cation is further distinguishable by chrome-look scuff plates, front and rear, as well as front fog lamps.

While leather upholstery uplifts the cabin of Elegance models, the cloth-trimmed seats tted to lesser versions concede little in the way of comfort, or indeed perceived durability. Also