I have been waiting for a long time for a small car from Honda Stable. I own a Honda City for Last 7.5 years, so my comparison of the small cars were always compared with that when making decisions for the second car.(I know you may say its apple to oranges, not fair. The fact is that if you own two, you end up comparing it). I was disappointed with the pricing of the Jazz. Then heard of the Brio in the Auto Expo, so anxiously waiting for it. I was very lucky to get the car, within a Month of booking in 3rd week of March, that too gifted by my brother.
I think this would definitely point out that I am Honda biased( the reasons are obvious, my satisfaction with my Honda City, 1.5Gxi 2004, still giving the same mileage as in new 15+, not a single glitch or breakdown).
I test road Alto K10, i10, Swift(D), wanted to try i20 but didn't get time. I was planning for a low budget car, so started with Alto. It was good but cannot be compared with Brio, same was experience with i10. The gear shift, power in lower gears. Gear shift is required more in these two smaller cars. Swift D was good but dropped the idea of diesel as this was my second car for my wife so no point spending extra, which can power my petrol car for 5+ years or even more.
Driving:
When I took the test ride of Brio, though I knew its the same as Jazz engine modified to deliver better mileage. Its was a very smooth engine, doesn't complaint till you hit the red zone in the Tachometer. In 5th gear with AC on 4 passengers I could go as low as 20kmph, car doesn't complaints at all, will slowly pick up. Good for ladies in city who don't wan to change gears or very reluctant to use the 5th Gear. Also the Eco lights usually green in the 5th gear, also motivates my wife to drive in 5th gear, who was reluctant to use the 5th Gear otherwise in the Honda City. Very smooth and refined engine, braking is very smooth unlike its very sensitive in i10 it just too soft.
It has a descent pickup, don't expect that you would be glued to the seats after all its a small baby just 88 bhp/ 1.2 L. Though with that engine size it's having the topmost power compare to other brands, swift petrol has come up close to it 87BHP in its 2011 version with 1.2 L.
Mileage:
Brio gives a very good mileage if you can drive in 5th Gear in city(16-17). On highways without AC I was able to get 24 as per the average meter. At the end of one tankful meter showed 16.0 but the actual mileage was 15.1 which I think it's quite close to the actual, there is evaporation of the petrol which can contribute to this(over 18 Days in my case).
Mileage is purely in your hands, I can get 10 to 24 with Brio.
25-Sept: I just had the first service done, and car has done 4000km, I got a mileage of 26.4, without AC after driving 70km(35km In Gurgaon/Delhi and 35 on Greater Noida Expy), as per the mileage meter.
Accessories:
Music system above average quality. Good controls on the steering(Common across, New HCity, Jazz).
AC is very effective driven this weekend 100 km with 3 person in the mid afternoon temperature touching 40 Deg. Knob position 2 was good enough.
Space Inside:
It has almost the same space inside the cabin at least from the driver seat, its design makes me feel that I am sitting in my H-City. Dashboard and console has the similar looks. Pardon me again . 4 cup holders. Good leg room for front passengers, back seat also looks roomy(never sat in the back seat yet:).
Saftey:
I hated my Honda City only for 1 reason that it doesn't have the ABS, though way back in 2004 when it was launched some small cars started giving the ABS as option. I had 3 Accidents, could have been avoided if I had ABS. So I knew the importance of the ABS, Rajeev_Vermacially on the rainy days or in emergency situations when you hit the break hard and want to steer left or right at the same time. Brio has both ABS and EBD, both together keeps you in control in emergency breaking. Then Airbags help, when it goes beyond the control of the ABS/EBD. The top 2 variants have both ABS/EBD and Airbags.
Downside:
No Defogger its a really bad for City like Delhi/Gurgaon in the winters. But again consoled my self that its mostly going to be driven in the afternoon. This is something to do with the glass they have used, as the boot is same as the 1st generation M800, only the glass part pops up. Though it has a very good hydraulic easily rises up smoothly and closes with ease. This is the love and hate point, some people like the back and some dislike. I close my eyes here, as I don't see the back of the vehicle. Boot Sapce is poor, but for a second car I don't mind. Can fold the back seat to get ample space for storage:), if I need to.
I chose S(O) MT, since the price was below 5 lac(4.90L), So the top model was coming out to be(5.10L) 20k costlier for Alloy Wheels, Fog Lamp, Dual Horn and Chrome handles. 20k was fine for that price but the extra 10k for registration/road tax was pinching so dropped the idea of taking the topmost model.
My choice is always to go with the top end model of the car, if you think the features are useful.
I would advice never ever go for accessories in India. 1. Poor quality, 2. Poor fitting("Chalta hai" attitude). I can write separate review on this subject.
Driven around 500KM so far. Enjoying the smooth and comfortably drive.
Indeed it "Loves you back"
Overall Verdict:
If you are looking for a small petrol car 4-5 Lacs Ex-Show Room Delhi(varies in other states) I would highly recommend this car. Even, if you look at the lowest model with Power Steering, AC, Tachometer, Fuel Average meter at sub 4 Lac is steal-deal from Honda.
Good luck to Honda! Congrats to the Brio Owners!
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Will update the review once I drive more and get some time. Till then Enjoy!
4thDec 2012
I have driven over 6000KM and I love it's drive, iVTEC engine is amazing. I am just catching the Green Eco light it's giving 18-20km in City!
Max I got after second service was 27.4(average meter)in City driving for a short distance of 30km without AC.
13th FEB
Mileage 33kmpl as per the mileage meter running without AC @ constant speed of 50km/hr.
