The 2022 Honda BR-V strikes back as an SUV - First drive review

Changing perceptions

 

It's out with boring old BR-V and in with the new! With attractive new SUV styling, a practical, high-quality interior and semi-autonomous driving tech in the flagship model, the BR-V has shaken off its MPV image and is here to join the rather uncrowded, compact 7-seater SUV segment, with players like the Hyundai Grand Creta and the more affordable Mitsubishi Xpander. The BR-V is no longer built in India, but in Indonesia, and it makes quite the difference.

 

Styling

The outgoing BR-V had its fair share of outdoorsy styling features, but the long body shape and boxy rear end screamed 'MPV' from the rooftops. The BR-V's placement towards the more affordable end of the market also meant customers didn't expect a lot of luxury either. People loved it for its practicality and durability, mostly.

 

 

The new BR-V is an entirely different kettle of fish, however. Honda says they've completely redesigned the BR-V which boasts "a front end that accentuates its rugged new appearance, with the most prominent features being an aggressive and sporty new grille and newly designed LED daytime running lights and headlamps. The rear end also sports a LED rear taillight cluster which neatly blends in with the body lines." (In my opinion, the rear-end looks a lot like the Honda FIT.) Roof rails and alloy wheels are standard across the board - Trend/Comfort models get 16-inch alloys and the top-tier Elegance gets a set of 17-inchers.

Some stunning colours are up for grabs too, my favourite being a pearlescent shade by the name of Opal White that looks elegant and glamorous. Other colours include a dark grey metallic, black metallic, and silver (see image above).

 

 

Interior

 

The interior has also been completely reimagined and is looking swish and upmarket, with a practical cabin layout, and easy-to-reach switchgear. It's the soft-touch surfaces and especially the seats that impressed me most - the plush black (faux) leather in the Elegance model makes the BR-V feel decidedly premium, almost as if it were a baby-CR-V. 

A new 7-inch touch screen system (with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity has been added too, while Comfort and Elegance models now have an integrated rearview camera. The kids will be thrilled to hear that all three rows of seats have USB ports where they can charge their phones. Peace for the front passengers, at last!

 

Space

Second-row passengers have ample space and the seats are very comfortable, while things are a little more cramped in row three, but this is to be expected - not even large SUVs have any actual legroom for adult passengers.

 

 

As always, Honda allows for the seats to be configured in multiple ways. You can tumble the seats forward or lift the seat squabs completely, depending on what you want to load into your BR-V. This is all done quickly, with the minimum amount of fuss.

 

The drive

 

Honda has made multiple improvements to the new BR-V, "with significant enhancements to the suspension, braking, steering and body construction resulting in improved handling and stability."

Nobody is going to drive a BR-V like they stole it, but it does feel more planted than before, has less body roll, and is generally more refined. Honda has thrown more high-tensile steel at the BR-V and applied more noise reduction materials in order to make the cabin quieter. 

As always, Honda joins their trusted CVT-gearbox in holy matrimony with their naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and as a result, it's still noisy when you plant your right foot, but that is the BR-Vs only real gripe. It's rather peppy for a 1.5 and when I overtook vehicles on the R43 and N2, there was enough power to do so. Honda has tweaked the engine to have the same torque at a lower engine speed and a slightly higher power output - it currently has 89kW @ 6600 rpm and 145Nm @ 4300 rpm. Fuel economy was rather impressive too, with the BR-V using about 6.5 - 6.7 litres per 100 km combined on our trip to Stellenbosch and back.

 

Self-driving tech

In the Elegance model, I was rather impressed to have semi-autonomous driving technology (aka Honda SENSING) of this standard in a 7-seater mini-SUV that sets you back a mere R459 900. It steers gently around the bends, follows in the tracks of the car in front, brakes when necessary, and keeps you nicely centred in your lane. The only downside is that it doesn't function at very low speed, so you'll have to rely on your own eyes and ears to make your way through stop-and-go traffic.

 

Honda SENSING comprises the following:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
• Auto High-Beam (AHB)
• Lane Watch Camera (LWC)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

 

Verdict

 

The Honda BR-V may not be perfect, but at this price point, with this amount of features, I am happy to part with my R379 900 to R459 900. I'm only wondering whether the BR-V isn't perhaps going to steal buyers away from the HR-V or perhaps even the Fit!

Honda's reputation for quality and longevity is rock-solid and even if you just utilise those two back seats as extra luggage space, you'll still have an excellent little SUV at your disposal.

 

Pricing

 

1.5 Trend MT: R379, 900

1.5L Comfort MT: R409, 900

1.5L Comfort CVT: R434, 900

1.5L Elegance CVT: R459, 900

All models come standard with a 5-year 200 000km warranty, with the Comfort and Elegance including a 4-year 60 000km service plan as standard. 3 Years of roadside assistance (from the AA) is also included in the price.