If you understand the Brio's concept, it could be another choice over the March _ if only its prices could have been more attractive
Published: 2/05/2011 at 12:00 AM
Last week, Honda announced that it had to temporarily stop taking orders for the all-new Brio because of parts supply problems from Japan caused by the unfortunate incidents that have been making headlines recently.
Some critics will be quick to point out that this gives potential customers of Thailand's second Ecocar a good chance to sit back and think whether it's worth going for one, particularly when contemplating a Nissan March instead.
Ever since the Brio was launched in mid-March, the car has been widely criticised for lacking showroom appeal. For instance, the Brio is generally smaller than the March yet costs as much in price, ranging from 400,000-500,000 baht.
❚ The driving environment is sound; the same goes for fit and finish.
Many people were also turned off by the evident cost-cutting features Honda has employed in its new entry-level car sitting below the popular B-segment Jazz hatchback and City saloon. An example is the one-piece seats with no adjustable head restraints.
But if you take the more important elements into consideration, the Brio really can't be dismissed as a total rip-off. Standard across the range are dual airbags and anti-lock brakes. And if you have 450,000 baht to spare, you will get most amenities in the Brio that are usually available in a Jazz.
The quality of the Brio's cabin isn't that bad either. Of course, there are only hard plastics inside, but they are multi-coloured and bolted well together, making it less bland than in its March rival.
And in spite of those inferior dimensions on paper, the Brio can take four persons in decent comfort like in the March. Even four six-footers won't be complaining about either head or legroom, clearly showing that Honda has come out with quite a commendable packaging.
But the Brio won't swallow much luggage, though, and the rear seats don't fold split or flat when you want more space. If you need more practicality, then the March is the better car to consider.
The styling of the Brio may not be to all tastes, but the exterior lines look unique and sufficiently help distinguish the car on the road from others _ a nice front and a quirky rear end, you could say.
It's better inside. The cockpit has a minimal amount of buttons and instrumentation _ but that's all you need _ and they're positioned against a backdrop of attractive curvy lines and a chunky steering that can't be found in any other Hondas in Thai showrooms.
In fact, the feeling from the driver's seat is quite good for a car in this league. The airiness and aesthetics are practically on par with a B-car like the Jazz or Toyota Yaris. It appears that Honda has tried its best to convey the quality message to the driver in tangibility terms.
❚ Six-footers can sit in the rear.
And when it comes to the driving bit, the Brio actually delivers. We are going to cut the chase: the Brio is a better car to drive than the March. In fact, Honda is well known for making cars with good performance and easy handling for real-world use.
The Brio's 1.2-litre petrol engine is essentially a downsized unit of that used in the Jazz 1.5 to cope with Ecocar regulations (needing to displace less than 1.3-litre and achieving at least 20kpl and 120g/km of CO2 at the most).
And mated to a CVT automatic, the 90hp four-pot yields adequate shove around the city and has ample, if not exceptional, mid-range punch. It's refined, as well, and is competitive against the March's performance.
❚ The boot isn’t that generous, neither are the levels of versatility.
Unlike the March that resorts to automatic stop/go system to achieve 20kpl, the Brio does without. Under cruising, we managed to attain that critical level. Elsewhere the figure dropped to 15-16kpl, which is still okay, if you consider its A-segment status.
Since the Brio is conceived as an entry-level car that must also appeal to women drivers, the steering is on the light side. Despite its merits in manoeuvrability terms, the steering could have been more precise for more demanding drivers. According to Honda, the steering requires a leisurely 3.4 turns from lock to lock.
But the chassis set-up seems well-judged. While the low-speed ride can occasionally be lumpy over sharp ruts, the taut suspension compensates with adequate grip at high speeds and in corners. The same goes for the brakes that have good modulation.
❚ The engine has enough refinement and punch.
Even so, it must be said that the Brio is an utterly easy car to drive on a daily basis. All-round visibility is excellent, too, thanks to low window lines and a glass boot lid (which has no wiper or defogger).
As an Ecocar with the intended target group in Thailand, the Brio is generally engineered well. Of course, it isn't a sporty car to drive, but neither is the March. And there's nothing wrong with that, especially when you consider its position below the Jazz/City.
Which pretty much sums up the Brio: it highlights effortless and economical performance, plus agile driving manners.
❚ CVT makes a comeback in Thai-built Honda.
Just don't expect it to have the generous dimensions of the March. To put it in another way, the Brio is suitable for those needing an easy car to drive on a daily basis without thinking too much about family practicality for the weekend.
If you understand the Brio's concept, then it's not necessarily an inferior car to the March. And as said earlier, the Honda drives better than the March. It's just a shame that auto-loving buyers need to fork out 500,000 baht; you can get a March with that gearbox for 50k less.
❚ The Brio’s prices are a little too high.
So any suggestion that potential Ecocar buyers should be careful about a Brio proposition over a March is not necessarily true. The bad news now, it appears, is that you can't buy a Brio _ until Honda makes the next announcement on what now appears like an indefinite wait.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ................................... 7/10
The looks may not be to all tastes, but the Brio's exterior and interior are distinctive both at Honda's own game and against its competition.
Performance ........................... 8/10
The Brio's petrol engine yields smooth and economical performance, although it could have been a little punchier considering its power output.
Handling/ride ......................... 7/10
The focus is on easy _ not entertaining _ handling, while the ride proves stable under most circumstances.
Practicality ............................. 6/10
The Brio is designed to move around people rather than taking big cargo loads. Versatility is limited.
Safety kit ................................ 6/10
Standard kit across the range includes frontal airbags and anti-lock brakes. The rest of the features are basic and dated.
VERDICT ................................. 7/10
The Brio has been designed to address the needs of urban drivers, so it really can't double as transport for the weekend too. If you understand the concept, the Brio makes sense. Shame about its ambitious pricing.
❚ Chassis set-up is effective
OR TRY THESE
KIA PICANTO
Price 497,000 baht
Power 85hp 1.2-litre petrol
Gearbox four-speed automatic
Wheelbase 2,385mm
We think Not yet tested, but this Korean baby stands out with bold styling. It's only available on a quota basis.
PROTON SAVVY
Price 439,000-469,000 baht
Power 74hp 1.2-litre petrol
Gearbox five-speed automated manual
Wheelbase 2,395mm
We think It comes with the best handling and ride balance here, but jerky gearbox and inferior quality let it down.
NISSAN MARCH
Price 459,000-537,000 baht
Power 79hp 1.2-litre petrol
Gearbox CVT automatic
Wheelbase 2,450mm
We think The country's first Ecocar scores with generous interior dimensions and is of good value. It's still the best all-rounder here.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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