Honda Brio V-MT

 

True to its name (Brio means vivacity), Honda’s new hatchback zips cheerily through traffic, earning admiring looks. It has a sporty design, from its double triangle geometrical sides to the triangle shaped lamps and the only-glass rear. The Brio may look compact but has ample space within. The slim seats are designed in such a way that they are not obstacles when climbing in or getting out. The storage area near the dashboard includes the regular trimmed down glove compartment, front door pockets and three drink holders. Alongside the regular meters, there is the Eco lamp, which brightens when you are driving in an economical manner. It shows the speed as well as the average fuel consumption since the last fuel refill. The top end model that we test drove had an integrated stereo system with FM radio, USB port and auxiliary port. The stereo controls were located on the steering wheel. With the sufficient foot space in the front, it would seem that Honda would have compromised on the boot space. However, the boot has been designed cleverly by making it deep with enough room to fit in three travel bags.

Brio is light and smooth to drive, possibly the result of it having the same electric power steering and engine as the very popular Honda Jazz. The suspensions are good and the ride doesn’t shock your vertebras. The gear shift is smoother in comparison with cars in the same segment. The Honda hatch packs in two SRS airbags and anti-lock braking system for safety. On the downside, there is no height adjust for the driver seat, no CD player and the rear power windows look way too old.