Honda BR-V officially launched in Malaysia

Honda Malaysia recently has launched the much-awaited BR-V at an event in KL Convention Centre. The BR-V is awaited because prior to the launch, the car was brought through a series of preview and public appearances since November 2016. It was opened for booking in December.

What is it?

One could easily get confused on what the BR-V actually is. Not to say it took exactly the same approach, but remember Nissan X-Gear? The X-Gear was based on the Grand Livina MPV but has been given raised ride height and some kits to give it an SUV look.

Sharing the same platform with Honda Mobilio MPV, the BR-V was specially developed by Honda R&D Asia Pacific (HRAP) for the ASEAN market and it is the first HRAP model to be introduced in Malaysia.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Noriaki Abe, Chief Operating Officer, Regional Operations (Asia and Oceania) of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President and CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said, “The all-new BR-V we launched today was developed exclusively for the ASEAN region, and especially for customers who need bigger space. We foresee that the demand for SUV and utility vehicles would grow, reflecting the needs of customers in this region. We believe the all-new BR-V will satisfy customers’ needs for vehicles that can fit seven people comfortably, and also offer brisk driving on various driving conditions here in Malaysia.”

The new BR-V is said to have the look of an SUV while offering the capacity of an MPV and according to Honda, the BR-V is a full seven-seater crossover, which puts it into a unique segment. It is offered in two variants for the Malaysian market – 1.5 E and 1.5 V – with price starting from RM85,800.

Active and Rugged Styling

The Honda BR-V boasts an active and rugged styling with bold creases and sharp lines. But that is not all. At 201 mm, the BR-V also has the highest ground clearance in Honda Malaysia lineup. Yup, even higher than the CR-V. With that being said, Honda has tuned the suspension of the BR-V to cope with the increased centre of gravity and widened the track to help with stability.

Up front, the BR-V wears a familiar Solid Wing Face grille, flanked by projector headlights with DRLs and fog lights (V only). There’s also 16-inch Dual Tone alloy wheels on top of a pair of roof rails, giving it a true crossover appearance. Meanwhile, new tail lights held by a slim red reflectors deliver a sense of wide stance. In addition, faux skid plates on both the front and the rear of the BR-V further underline its capability.

The crossover is available in Taffeta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Dark Ruby Red Pearl and a new colour, Golden Brown Metallic.

Active and Premium Cabin

Same story on the inside, the interior construction is based on active and, this time, premium essences. The BR-V gets a familiar-but-nice-and-sporty three-spoke steering wheel with multi-function buttons.

The E and V variants are equipped with marginally different kits. The E variant will get you mechanical power steering, Shiny Dark Metallic instrument panel, manual air-con, fabric upholstery and urethane steering and gear knob. The upper range, V variant, on the other hand, is fitted with electric power steering, Water Print Matt instrument panel, auto air-con and leather finishing for the upholstery, steering wheel and gear knob.

The seven seats of the BR-V are designed to provide excellent versatility for a vehicle of its size, with 60:40 split-folding (one touch tilt & tumble) for the second row and 50:50 split-folding for the third row, resulting in a massive 539-litre of total boot space. All seats get three-point seatbelts, too. Good effort there.

Infotainment is served by a 6.1-inch display audio (V variant only, E gets standard audio), Bluetooth, USB ports, auxiliary jack, hands-free phone connectivity and four speakers.

Earth Dreams Powertrain

The new Honda BR-V is propelled by the sole engine choice of a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, good for 120 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The output is transferred to the front axles via a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with the company’s Earth Dreams Technology for improved fuel economy and better driving performance.

We reckon that the CVT is well-suited to the crossover, partly because of the target buyer and considering that to date, Honda has one of the most refined CVT for passenger cars.

5-Star NCAP

Although the differences between E and V variant on the interior are quite evident, Honda does not compromise on safety. Nearly all of the safety features are standard to both variants, except for the rear-view camera, which is not so critical.

As mentioned above, all seven seats of the Honda BR-V get three-point seatbelts with ISOFIX mounts on the second-row seats. Active safety features include ABS, EBD, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA). This contributes to 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating awarded to the BR-V.

The all-new Honda BR-V also comes with three extensive accessories packages to further enhance the versatility and exclusivity of the crossover, as listed below:

1. Utility Package (RM1,280) – door visor, cargo tray, trunk organisers, sun shade and door protector film

2. Urban Package (RM2,945) – tailgate spoiler, running board and side step garnish

3. Modulo Package (RM3,750) – front and rear lower garnish, side under and tailgate spoiler

Honda Malaysia offers a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage at 10,000km service intervals at any of its 88 dealers nationwide. For more information on the all-new BR-V or to book a test drive, customers can visit any Honda dealers nearby or call Honda’s toll-free number at 1-800-88-2020.

Specifications of the Honda BR-V

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC

Transmission: CVT

Power: 120 hp at 6,600 rpm

Torque: 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm

Safety: Dual SRS airbags, ISOFIX, ABS, EBD, VSA, HSA

Price: RM85,800 to RM92,800