2020 Honda BR-V 1.5 V CKD Review.

Where do I start with the BR-V? For 1 it is a bit of an odd ball. Is it an SUV or an MPV? Both? Hmm let us just call it a crossover. Okay say you absolutely need to carry 6 or 7 people on daily basis, but your budget is not to exceed RM100,000.00. Spent a little time searching the new car market and you will find this the facelifted Honda BR-V. But then again, you will also find the Perodua Aruz and Proton Exora RC. So how about it? How do you justify buying this BR-V over the other 2 competitors? Because if you want ground clearance and features then the Aruz is the better car. If you want space and power then the Exora is the better buy. It does not help as well the fact that other 2 cars cost nearly 20 to 30k cheaper than the BR-V. So, what is the saving grace for the BR-V?

A typical uncle would say resale value! Well that is kind of true. But for me, the saving grace of the BR-V is the driving experience. Attention guys that like to drive but need a budget 7-seater! Your vehicle has arrived. Since this is a facelift or mid-cycle refresh, the most common thing to get an update is of course the exterior. Up front the BR-V know get a new front grill that is both bolder smarter looking thanks to the 2 new lower bar design. The bumper has also been redesigned to give the BRV a more rugged looking face.

Towards the side there is a new 16-inch dual tone allow wheel design which just like before is standard on all variant. There is also a new chrome strip at the lower part of the door. Rounding things off at the back, there is a new bumper design which feature a more prominent C shape layout integrated with reflectors and a new shark fin antenna. Other features that is carried over include the roof rack and a slightly different colour for the head light projector housing which just like before has LED daytime running light.

Under the hood of the BR-V is the carried over 1.5L 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC engine match to a CVT with power sent to the front wheels. Just like before this is the only engine and transmission combo on all variants which are the 1.5 E and 1.5 V. Power output also remains the same at 120Ps and 145 Nm of torque. The Honda BR-V shares its chassis with the small not sold in Malaysia Honda Brio hatchback. From behind the wheel, this makes the BR-V feels a lot smaller and nimbler that what it really is. A 7-seater people mover.

The steering of the BR-V despite being an EPS set up feels very connected and natural. This is the same for the throttle as well where respond feels quick and urgent coming from a stop. All of this combine with the smaller diameter of the steering wheel make for a rather positive feeling behind the driver seat. What is not so positive is sound insulation. Upon getting into the car my first thought was is there a window or door open somewhere. It is even worst under hard acceleration and high-speed cruising.

Inside the cabin, the dash layout looks very similar to those in the Honda Jazz. There is a new black and red leather upholstery combo on the higher V variant. All BR-V feature a roof mounted second row aircon vents with manual adjustment switch. Occupant space for the first and second row are rather good provided you do not try to fit 3 large adults right next to each other on the second row due to the car’s narrow body shape. The second row also can slide and recline for better comfort. The third row of seats is adult worthy provided the second row slide forward a bit to give third row occupants more leg room space. Getting to the back row is also easy thanks to the simple tilt and tumble operation of the second row. Rear cargo capacity is rated at 223 litres with the third row of seat up and 539 litres with the them folded.

Standard equipment list for the Honda BR-V include keyless entry with push button start, automatic single zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, 6 speakers, reverse sensors and automatic headlights. Standard safety feature on all BR-V variants are dual front airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, rear ISOFIX child seat mount and hill start assist. The BR-V was also awarded 5 stars at the Asean NCAP. Opting for the higher V spec will get you quite a bit more stuff like paddle shifter, fog lights, leather steering with audio control, reverse camera, power retractable side mirror, chrome door handles and 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with HDMI port.

Prices for the Honda BR-V CKD (Completely Knock Down) 1.5 E until the end of December 2020 in east Malaysia starts at RM87,811.64 while the 1.5 V is priced at RM94,505.91 respectively. All BR-V includes a 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and can be have with 5 colour options. They are White Orchid Pearl, Marine Purple Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Passion Red Pearl. The BR-V can also be had with a wide range of optional accessories from body kits, spoilers, shades, tray and coating. Be sure to visit your local Honda dealer for more information.

Pictures and written by Afiq Bazli Bin Busairi.