Honda is making big on the Brio in terms of market share. This baby hatchback is the cheapest that Honda has ever made in India, and it will sit below the Jazz in the range. Also, it is squarely aimed at the Swift, the current segment benchmark, and all its competitors. Honda has put its heart and soul, into what is easily the most important model for Honda in India.
The Brio has a futuristic look to it and will surely stand out in a parking lot. The lines are fresh, the stance is aggressive and the detailing sporty. The car has a compactness to it that's quite appealing. Yes, it does take a while to get your head around the Brio, especially the rear, but there's plenty to like straight off the bat — pitched-forward stance, short overhangs that accentuate the wheels and wide air intake in the chin.
What's clearly evident on this car is Honda's brilliant packaging. The 1.2-litre motor is squeezed really tight in the engine bay, the design of the dashboard is very shallow and Honda has concentrated on making the best use of the short 2345mm wheelbase, which incidentally is the shortest in its class.
Since fuel economy, performance and rigidity are all important, the Brio is pretty light too, tipping the scales at only 925kg. But this is not at the cost of rigidity, as plenty of high-strength steel and reinforcements in key areas have been used. The Brio's suspension is well specified too. Sub-frames are used to locate important suspension bits, stronger control arms have been used instead of cheaper and more simple links and a column-type electric power steering system has been drafted in as well.
What isn't really new on the Brio is the 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine. This same fabulous unit sits under the hood of the Jazz and produces a scarcely believable 88bhp. Like all Honda motors, it uses both variable valve timing and variable valve lift to give it some extra zing in the top end. What's unique is that one of the intake valves on this four valves per cylinder engine is kept closed at low engine speeds. This increases the airflow into the other inlet valve to improve low speed engine responsiveness.
Climb into the Brio and the first thing you notice is just how big it is on the inside. While the cabin is not very spacious , it's so much larger than you expect and after looking at the car's compact dimensions, it comes a surprise. The rear seat is pretty substantial and comfortable as well. Thigh support is good, the short backrest is reasonably supportive and there's plenty of space for your feet under the front seats. How has Honda managed this?
Unusual console
The dashboard with its two-piece and offset centre console is unusual and may not to be to everyone's tastes. Also, the dash has a Spartan feel to it and you can see that equipment levels aren't very generous. However, what's really impressive about the Brio is that despite being designed with tight cost targets in mind, it doesn't feel like it is built using the lowest cost materials available.
Honda's soft-touch steering wheel looks upmarket as do the instrument panel and hooded dials. The dark tan, black and beige facia is quite smart but again it's a matter of taste. The chrome rings around the air-con vents add a bit of class to the cabin and the most of the switchgear feels solid and good to operate. There's plenty of storage too, especially ahead of the gearlever and in the big door pockets.
However, there are signs of cost cutting which didn't escape our attention. There's no driver's seat height adjust, no rear parcel tray, no CD player and the rear power window switches look dated. The boot too is quite small but again Honda has carved out every millimetre of the Brio's limited luggage area and we were amazed by the size of bags we could fit vertically.
The new Brio does have one unique safety feature that deserves mention — the i-SRS airbag can sense the distance to your face.
The Brio is the fastest, strongest performer in its class and this is apparent as soon as you wind up the little four-cylinder engine and let it stretch its legs. There's a noticeable spike in power around 4500rpm and, like all Honda engines, its snarl tells you that it enjoys being wrung hard all the way to the 6500rpm redline. There's enough performance on tap to give you a nice little buzz; exactly what Honda wants to deliver. This is also the only car in its class that's quick enough to duck under the 13-second barrier to 100kph.
But despite all the variable valve trickery, the 1.2 i-VTEC lacks low end grunt. Though it's fairly responsive on part-throttle when you floor the pedal at low revs, it takes a while to react. However, that doesn't stop the Brio from outgunning most of the other hatchbacks when accelerating in-gear and this makes it a pretty capable performer both in the city and on the highway. The Brio, however, is best enjoyed by using the delightfully light and accurate gearshift to keep the engine on the boil. For the most part, the engine is smooth and silent but it does tend to get a bit vocal at higher engine speeds.
Honda has also included a unique feature on this car. The letters ECO light up in green on the dash every time the car senses you are driving in an economical manner and it's quite entertaining trying to keep the green light glowing in traffic — a fun way, if there was one, to save fuel.
Fun to drive is what the Brio is about. For a start, its power steering is a revelation for an electrical unit. It is light and easy to twirl at low speeds like most EPS systems but surprisingly well weighted and pretty direct, and that improves the driving experience tremendously. Yes, the Brio lacks an aggressive turn-in and it doesn't have a great body control but it is still a car you enjoy pedalling hard.
