MOBILITY
HONDA BRIO 1.2 V CVT Reviewed by Maribelle Alba The second-generation Honda Brio has been in the Philippine market for over a year now, but after months of staying indoors due to the community quarantine, it was refreshing to find a canary yellow test unit on my doorstep. With transport options still rather limited in Metro Manila, this snappy little hatchback seems just the thing for zipping around for those quick grocery runs, or for safely commuting to work.
DESIGN The smallest car in Honda’s line-up, the Brio is a sub-compact hatchback targeted at emerging markets. The second-generation Brio, launched in the Philippines in April 2019, takes its design inspiration from its big brother Mobilio, a 7-seater MPV. The Brio has a single-bar chrome grille with the Honda emblem in the center, resting on black plastic mesh. The headlamps with an LED light guide as well as projector fog lamps integrated into
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the huge bumper complete the bold, aggressive design. Departing from the previous glass back, the Brio now has a conventional rear hatchback tailgate with a built-in high mount rear spoiler.
can fold down to create up to 710-liters of cargo capacity.
Dimension wise, the Brio is actually longer and wider than competitive models, with a surprisingly spacious interior. Its 137mm ground clearance, though, is quite low and could prove worrisome during rainy days. As mentioned earlier, the interior is roomy, with seating for 5 adults. The rear seats
The Brio 1.2 V CVT variant is powered by a 1,199cc SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. Maximum power output is rated at 90ps @ 6,000rpm and maximum torque is 110Nm @ 4,800rpm—easily the best performing vehicle in its class.
EQUIPMENT
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