Honda BR-V vs Ford EcoSport vs Renault Duster: here's our winner

By Martin Pretorius

With their compact footprints, and practical and spacious interiors, it’s no wonder that compact SUVs are proving so popular in the local market. Add some butch styling add-ons, and they’ll even project the image of an outdoorsy, active lifestyle. We looked at three of the popular choices among South African buyers, to determine which one is the best buy.

 

We selected 3 competitors around the same price point – keeping it around the R250 000 mark, in the interest of maintaining the affordability aspect for family buyers. The price difference between the least- and most expensive contenders amount to only R2600, so they’ll definitely all appeal to the same kind of value-conscious customers. We deliberately avoided the high-trim variants in their respective ranges, and chose the entry-level derivatives to do battle here. 

Lining up in this comparison, we have the Honda BR-V 1.5 Trend, Ford EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente, and Renault Duster 1.6 Expression. They all employ naturally-aspirated petrol engines, manual gearboxes and front-wheel drive. Let’s look at some statistics first:

 

	Honda BR-V 1.5 Trend	EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente	Duster 1.6 Expression
Engine size (cyl/size)	4-cyl, 1.5-litre	3-cyl, 1.5-litre	4-cyl, 1.6-litre
Power/Torque	88 kW/145 Nm	91 kW/150 Nm	84 kW/156 Nm
Kerb Weight	1178 kg	1233 kg	1179 kg
Length (mm)	4 453	4 325	4 341 kg
Boot volume (litres)	691	333	478
Airbag count	2	2	2
Top Speed (km/h) *	140 (limited)	170 (est)	167
Ave Consumption *	6.3 ℓ/100 km	6.4 ℓ/100 km	7.0 ℓ/100 km
Warranty	5 yr/200 000 km	4 yr/120 000 km	5 yr/ 150 000 km
Price	R 258 800	R 258 200	R 255 900

*Manufacturer's official figures, or estimated based on mechanically similar models.

 

Analysis

Power, performance and economy

The entry-level EcoSport packs a surprisingly punchy 3-cylinder engine, also seen in the facelifted Figo range. The other two contenders are far more conventional, using 4-cylinder, 16-valve, non-turbo mills, to deliver similar output figures. In terms of power, the Ford has the highest output, with the Renault’s larger engine packing slightly more torque but less power. The Honda sits between them in terms of peak power, but has marginally the least torque at its disposal.

However, the BR-V compensates for its slight torque disadvantage by boasting a 6-speed gearbox, rather than the 5-speed units in the others. Not only does this enliven acceleration, but it boosts fuel efficiency as well. The EcoSport comes a very close second to the BR-V in the consumption stakes, however, and not even the square-cut Duster is likely to punish its owner at the pumps: it’s 7.0 ℓ/100 km claimed average figure is only 0.7 worse than the Honda’s. 

The BR-V does have one apparent disadvantage, however, because its top speed seems to be electronically governed to a measly 140 km/h. (Note that we could not verify this without any doubt, as neither Honda’s websites nor any other information sources list the BR-V’s top speed anywhere. However, local road tests have indicated that, just like the small Brio upon which it’s based, the BR-V is speed limited by its software). Ford doesn’t quote a top speed for the 1.5-litre EcoSport either, but given its tall stance and power output, an estimate of 170 km/h would be reasonable.

 

Practicality

Fortunately, these vehicles aren’t about speed, but about practicality. In this regard, they’re all rated very highly, but it’s the BR-V that has to walk away as the victor. That cavernous luggage compartment volume of 691 litres is measured with the third row of seats folded away (it’s the only 7-seater in this comparison), while the boxy Duster manages to offer a useful 478 litres behind the rear seats. The tall-but-narrow EcoSport comes in last in this aspect, with only 333 litres available when all 5 seats are in use.

Of course, using the Honda’s third seating row severely compromises this load volume, but then it has 7 available seats in contrast to the other two’s 5 seats. This gives the BR-V greater versatility and more useable overall cargo volume than you’d find in either of the other two.

 

Equipment and Safety

None of these cars are exactly over-endowed in the safety equipment stakes, but at least both the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport features stability control as standard (the Honda BR-V doesn’t have stability- or traction control). In base trim as evaluated, the BR-V and Duster have only two airbags, while the EcoSport carries 6 airbags even at the entry level. 

Their NCAP crash testing yielded mixed results as well. In the Latin-NCAP test programme, the Duster and EcoSport both scored 4 stars, while the BR-V achieved a 5-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP programme. Let’s just say that their occupant protection would all be rated as adequate, but that none of them can be seen as trend setters. The EcoSport definitely makes more sense from a safety perspective, on account of its more-comprehensive equipment in this regard.

Standard convenience equipment is about as basic as you’d expect from three entry-level variants, with steel wheels clad in plastic covers found on all of them. They all have audio systems with USB- and Bluetooth capability, air-con and power steering, but the BR-V loses out on the touchscreen interface and remote audio controls on offer in the Duster and EcoSport. 

The Duster is the only one here to offer cruise control as standard, but the Honda is only one to feature electric windows all round (the others only have electric side glass in front). On balance, the Duster has the most useable blend of standard features, with the BR-V and EcoSport about even in this regard.

 

Verdict

Each one of these cars has its own set of virtues, and trounces the others in their specialised fields. The Duster has a good mix of utility and features, the BR-V has fewer features but the greatest loading versatility, while the EcoSport offers the best safety kit, but at the cost of some practicality. 

The BR-V, usable though its loading capabilities might be, loses out due to its relative lack of modern convenience features and safety kit (no ESP, remember!) On the other hand, the EcoSport has the best safety equipment and a healthy list of standard toys, but its load capacity counts against its use as a family vehicle. This leaves the Duster as the victor. It is middle-of-the-road in most respects, but with decent safety kit, more standard equipment, and reasonable practicality, it makes for the most sensible buy among this trio.

* Pricing is accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.