[Fordmanchau]

Here's a link on economic times, detailing the design philosophy for the Brio.
It also says that Brio has passed the Japanese Crash Test, which is even tougher than the Euro norms.
Honda Brio: First Drive - pictures - Pictures/Videos - News in Pictures | Economic Times

So looks like a pretty good, sturdy and safe hatch to me.

[Equus]

Originally Posted by Fordmanchau

Here's a link on economic times, detailing the design philosophy for the Brio.
It also says that Brio has passed the Japanese Crash Test, which is even tougher than the Euro norms.
Honda Brio: First Drive - pictures - Pictures/Videos - News in Pictures | Economic Times

So looks like a pretty good, sturdy and safe hatch to me.

Thank much - thats puts all apprehensions to rest!

Although I knew for sure that Honda is not stupid..

Coming back to the car as such, isnt the boot super-small? A la A-star?
Which segment (A or B) does Brio belong to? Cant be B+ as they have Jazz fitting perfectly there.
Assuming Astar is also A segment, the Brio should belong there I felt.

[<Badguy>]

So Honda might surprise us with another first move in its history though I wish that they should not. This will again make put some dent in image of badge H atleast in the existing customers. However if they can price it correct they surely have a winner

Honda plans to make safety an option for Brio - The Economic Times

[nvssudheer]

If the mid variant which has air bags and ABS costs above 4.7-4.8 Ex showroom, I think it makes sense to stretch the budget and get the base version of Jazz with all the safety features.

[lavish_n]

Originally Posted by freak1201

One of the reasons that i thought went agains the LIVA when i compared it to the Jazz was the lack of rear headrests. It also makes the rear passengers really uncomfortable during long drives

Wonder why would people use a car like Brio meant purely for within city driving for long drives?

[Equus]

If Honda are clever, they will make the safety features optional on all Brio variants

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by lavish_n

Wonder why would people use a car like Brio meant purely for within city driving for long drives?

The same reason why you'd still find a Maruti 800 on a highway. Not everyone in India can afford a car that is suitable for highway driving. For them, if it has 4 wheels and an engine, they will drive it on the highway. Dynamics be damned!

Originally Posted by Equus

If Honda are clever, they will make the safety features optional on all Brio variants

If Honda are really clever, they should make the safety-kit optional on the base variant and standard across the rest of the variants.

Looks like the pressure of pricing it right got to Honda. It's very hard to get a car that doesn't cost much, and is kitted with adequate safety features, in India.

Never thought Honda would compromise on safety. I'm a little disappointed. Safety is never an 'option'.

If I were the chairman of the Indian auto-industry, I would make it mandatory for all cars to be fitted with a minimum of 2 airbags, and ABS on all variants. You should NEVER put a price on safety.

[lavish_n]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The same reason why you'd still find a Maruti 800 on a highway. Not everyone in India can afford a car that is suitable for highway driving. For them, if it has 4 wheels and an engine, they will drive it on the highway. Dynamics be damned!

IMO, such people should not be choosy about backseat comfort, boot space etc.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

If Honda are really clever, they should make the safety-kit optional on the base variant and standard across the rest of the variants.

If I were the chairman of the Indian auto-industry, I would make it mandatory for all cars to be fitted with a minimum of 2 airbags, and ABS on all variants. You should NEVER put a price on safety.

I personally would support that, however not all think likewise.
For a city like BLR with bumper2bumper traffic & average speed is around 25~30Km/Hr, if you give a choice of optional airbags & ABS, there would be lot of takers.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by lavish_n

IMO, such people should not be choosy about backseat comfort, boot space etc.

True.

But they are. And this is exactly why we have a huge market for entry-level sedans like the Logan, the Dzire and the Etios. People expect the moon, but don't want to get charged the Earth for it, if you know what I mean!

They want the boot, they want the back seat and they want the diesel engine, all at throw away prices.

Originally Posted by lavish_n

I personally would support that, however not all think likewise.
For a city like BLR with bumper2bumper traffic & average speed is around 25~30Km/Hr, if you give a choice of optional airbags & ABS, there would be lot of takers.

I don't think speed has anything to do with safety features. Airbags will come in handy, even if you're stationary, and you get hit by something from the front, or the back. ABS ensures the wheels don't lock up. Locking up may happen when one is doing speeds as low as 20 km/h, especially in the wet.

People in India underestimate the value of safety features. That's precisely the reason why the companies put a price on safety.

[Maverick1977]

I don't see anything wrong in Honda not giving ABS & air bags in its base variants. Is there any manufacturer in that segment who does so? Doubt it very much. However this will allow Honda to control prices and at last launch a car which a commoner can afford. The H badge is definitely more attractive to many people just like the T badge. IMO the Liva has some serious competition from this car & to me it looks way better and am sure (on paper at least) will drive also much better than the Liva. Lets see what pricing does H come out with?

[Equus]

Originally Posted by Maverick1977

I don't see anything wrong in Honda not giving ABS & air bags in its base variants. Is there any manufacturer in that segment who does so? Doubt it very much. However this will allow Honda to control prices and at last launch a car which a commoner can afford. The H badge is definitely more attractive to many people just like the T badge. IMO the Liva has some serious competition from this car & to me it looks way better and am sure (on paper at least) will drive also much better than the Liva. Lets see what pricing does H come out with?

Well, atleast there are a couple - Micra & Fabia.
Micra starts at just under 4-lakhs and has driver-side airbag as default.
Fabia also - starts at 4.3lakhs (now discounted at 3.99L)
There are tons of folks who still believe they doesnt need these. Why loose out on that customer base?

Having said that, I am all for it. These are real signs of a true "developing" nation!!

[freak1201]

Originally Posted by lavish_n

Wonder why would people use a car like Brio meant purely for within city driving for long drives?

Case in point - Mumbai - Pune travel. Not necessarily a very long drive, but duration long enough to cause enough pain for the person seating behind.

[freak1201]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

True.

But they are. And this is exactly why we have a huge market for entry-level sedans like the Logan, the Dzire and the Etios.
================
People in India underestimate the value of safety features. That's precisely the reason why the companies put a price on safety.

Isnt this ironic? If they can manage Airbags +ABS & EBD in their price, how much are 2 headrests going to cost?

[Maverick1977]

Originally Posted by Equus

Well, atleast there are a couple - Micra & Fabia.
Micra starts at just under 4-lakhs and has driver-side airbag as default.
Fabia also - starts at 4.3lakhs (now discounted at 3.99L)
There are tons of folks who still believe they doesnt need these. Why loose out on that customer base?

Having said that, I am all for it. These are real signs of a true "developing" nation!!

I recalled whilst typing that post that both the Fabia and Micra provide a driver's side air bag in their cars. Of course the most surprising fact is that the elder sibling of Fabia, the Polo, does not even bother to offer that.
However I feel that ABS plays a even more important role given the nature of our roads & its users especially on the highways. It would be great if all manuf. actually give that as standard across all variants.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by freak1201

Isnt this ironic? If they can manage Airbags +ABS & EBD in their price, how much are 2 headrests going to cost?

I'm going to look like an idiot if I defend Honda's move on this one.

And that's precisely why I'm not going to defend them.

WTH Honda? Why omit something like head-restraints when you can include ABS and Airbags.

Do you think this has something to do with cost-cutting? Or was the Brio's rear seat designed without head-restraints?

The only reason I can think of is, people buy super-minis like the Brio and the A-Star not to ferry 4 people all the time. Such cars are aimed at customers who are single, young, unmarried, etc. People who generally don't use or require the rear seats. This is the trend in most developed markets.

But this is, ahem, India. The same place where some guy squeezed in 18 odd people in a Maruti 800.