Whether your wife forgot to take her birth-control pills, or whether you just wanted to make sure there'd be enough children to look after you in your old age, one thing's for certain: If you have more than three kids, you're going to need a car that offers room for everybody, and it should also be able to keep all occupants safe and comfortable. Will the 2020 Honda BR-V make the grade?
Interior
Honda is very good at building practical cars. Most Hondas have an ergonomic layout, with buttons and switchgear that are user-friendly and within easy reach, and the family-focused BR-V is no exception. It’s roomy up front and the Executive model (only) is now equipped with a touchscreen which also displays the rear-camera view. The USB port sits right next to the touchscreen and has a an HDMI input as well as an auxiliary port. The touchscreen in the Exclusive model is Android Auto enabled but doesn't have Apple CarPlay.
There are two bottle holders in front and a small binnacle for your phone underneath the airconditioning controls. You can learn what each model in the line-up is equipped with by reading this in-depth article below.
Related: Top 3 Honda BR-V trims head to head: Here's our winner
Space
The Honda BR-V is a long and spacious vehicle and there's plenty of legroom in the second row.The second row's seat backs can also recline for a more comfortable journey. Should a third person have to squeeze in on the middle seat, it will be a little tight. When this seat is not in use, it folds down and becomes an armrest.
Related: Is the Honda BR-V good for new drivers?
Only the smallest members of your family will be able to ride in the third row. Access to the third-most row is reasonably easy because of Honda's magic seat system that allows the second row to tumble forward completely.
Related: See our video review of the Honda BR-V 2020 here!
Safety
Hondas are engineered to be crash-resistant and have a safety shell that is built to stay intact in case of a collision. Honda calls it ACE, an acronym for Advanced Compatibility Engineering. There are two airbags in front, which but no side bags or curtain airbags. Other safety features include ABS and brake assist, but no stability control. The overseas BR-V (without stability control and a front seatbelt reminder) scored a four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating in 2016, which is quite impressive considering that there are only two airbags. Adult occupant protection was also more effective than child occupant protection, which is no surprise as there are no ISOFIX fittings for child seats. Not that it's a dealbreaker - good quality, non-ISOFIX child seats will also keep your babies out of harm's way. Just bear in mind that the middle seat of the second row has only a lap belt and not a three-point seatbelt like the rest of the seats.
Power & Fuel consumption
The 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated engine (88kW / 145Nm) does a fine job of propelling along the BR-V, when it's not full of people, and at sea level, that is. It's not a car that's aimed at driver enjoyment, but it's very comfortable. (Suspension's really good over average-sized speed bumps should you be late in getting the kids to school!) I don't often say this but I would opt for the somewhat noisy CVT transmission instead of the manual, six-speed gearbox. Fuel consumption, on average, is about 8 litres per 100 km.
What else can you buy in this price range?
There's plenty in this price range but not plenty that has seven seats and rides quite high. The more affordable option is the Suzuki Ertiga GLX, with similar safety features and ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, at a better price...but with less power, and not the handy ground clearance seen on the BR-V which allows you to scale the odd school sidewalk when needed. The Datsun Go+ is another seven-seater option but we suggest going with the BR-V or the Suzuki, rather.
Verdict
The Honda is very good for families as long as you know there's not much space left in the boot if the car is fully loaded, in which case the BR-V may struggle to get going. We suggest investing in a roof box or trailer of some kind if you should need to go somewhere that all occupants will be needing holiday luggage. As for build quality and reliability...it's a Honda, after all.
PRICING
BR-V 1.5 Trend Manual R274 400
BR-V 1.5 Comfort Manual R309 900
BR-V 1.5 Comfort CVT R329 000
BR-V 1.5 Elegance Manual R333 300
BR-V 1.5 Elegance CVT R353 000
All models come standard with a five-year / 200 000 km warranty, and three-year AA Roadside Assist. (A new four-year / 60 000 km extended service plan is included on the Honda BR-V Comfort and Elegance models, and is available as an option on the entry-level Trend model.) — Honda SA
*Pricing was correct on the date that this article was published, but may be increased without notice. Please consult the Honda SA website directly for the latest prices.
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