Hello Everyone,
My wife's Honda Brio (S) is 1.5 years and 12500 km old now. Here are my opinions in some areas. (I am working on a comparison between our Beat Diesel @ 40000km and Her Brio but time is against me )
Before you start Please note : I do most of the driving though it belongs to my wife !
Engine : Is free revving and has a nice sound above 4000 rpms ! Its an absolute beast at higher rpms (4000 to 6000 rpms). It doesn't feel stressed any which way and you can do 120+ kmph all day ! This is when you are driving with your wife only and with AC off !
Beneath its cute shell, rests the demon who wakes up when revved a little hard.
But there is an issue with the engine. Just like all petrol engines, this one is just too sensitive to weight. Put your well fed cousins and their kid behind and your wife next to you and stuff the boot with heavy bags. Start the AC and you notice what a laggard this car is. The AC along with five people puts a lot of stress on the engine and you will find all the characteristics of i-Vtec evaporating fast. Progress is very slow under heavy conditions, the tachometer climbs too slowly, plus, the AC saps huge amounts of power also increasing the harshness. In certain overtaking scenarios, shifting from 5th to 4th is of no use, You HAVE to shift to third and take the rpms to 4000 to complete your move. Please take a note that all these characteristics are evident on highways at speeds above 80kmph. In city, there is more than enough power.
However, the lower end is too weak. You have to throttle the car to 3000 rpm to get a good start. Not that it is absolute rubbish below 3000 rpm, but the response is very slow. On steep inclines, when you are trapped in traffic (e.g. a flyover or slow moving ghat section) this is when you notice the difference. (I drove a Ford Figo petrol and it was better in this area)
Coming from a Diesel Beat, I think I am amplifying small issues with this brilliant engine. I feel that I have these notions because of the huge difference in Torque figures and the rpms at which they are produced in these two cars. (Will keep the comparisons for another thread
)
Fuel Consumption: In city, with AC on, our Brio's average drops to 12.5 kmpl. I drive through city traffic for office everyday (Kothrud to Magarpatta, now you know !) and not on highways (like Katraj Bypass) so that is fine. With AC off, it gives 14 kmpl.
Highways give anywhere around 15 to 18 kmpl depending on AC usage and load. But so far it has never fallen below 15 on highways. Note that I drive sedately to achieve these figures. The Brio's fuel efficiency is too sensitive to throttle input as well.
Like I said in the 'Engine' section, If you be easy on the throttle, this one gives you more mileage but loses on the weak lower range and feels dragged. Keep the car in its power band (3000 rpm and above) the car will drink more petrol but it feels happy and will keep up with the traffic. Again, these differences are not that noticeable when you are driving alone or have only a passenger next to you.
Braking: Just about adequate ! With the car heavily loaded, the braking changes dramatically. There is good feedback, but for the force you put on the brake lever, the amount of brakes applied is lesser as compared to the Beat. On a steep downward slope, it is advisable to plan your braking much in advance as this one gets nervous a little too sooner. That 'clamping' feeling when you press the lever is not noticeable as it is in a Punto, a Polo or even the Beat.
Gears: Initially, the gears were a little hard and required a push to slot in. After three services and two oil changes, the clutch and gear has become a fantasy of some sort. Smooth and sure slotting and absolutely no rubbery feel. It almost feels track-oriented, I like the clacking sound it makes when slotting. This coupled with a free revving engine makes a perfect recipe for spirited driving sessions once in a while. Out on open roads, there is no match for this cute little car.
Ease of Use: The car is absolutely brilliant in this area. The visibility all around is excellent. The controls (Clutch, steering, gears) are light and joy to use. The steering wheel is a tad bigger for my taste, but its quality is much better than the plastic i10 or Marutis. The seating position with adequate under thigh support is friendly and ergonomics related to gear lever and steering are spot on, although the seat-backs are too thin to make you feel comfortable. With rear passengers poking their knees into your back, it almost feels as if they are communicating with you in Morse code.
Talking about rear passengers, this one is not for tall people. If you are more than 5'10'' you need to have good relations with the driver to make you sit in the front. Long drives can be tiring since it has no head rest and the possibility of power naps is ruled out. Since my family is a bunch of minions with no one crossing the 5'10'' mark, we all are fine.
The Boot space and loading height makes this an absolute no-brainer for practical folks. This car can't carry luggage the way you want.
Handling is explained in the first post of this review and there is no room for personal additions. Only two: Brilliant for a car of this size and stock MRF tyres are as bad as they can get !
To Summarize: The sales figures of this car gives you a good picture of where this car stands in the milieu of small cars. There are many other practical options available in this segment which gives you good space and luggage area. The car shines in areas where your mind stops thinking. Its about pure fun. The looks are odd but that is what makes it stand out of the crowd. I personally like the rear of this car. No other car in this segment sits as low as this one. Low slung cars are a becoming distant dream day by day.
This car is a perfect fit for singles or just married men (like me) who haven't given family planning a thought and don't have to lug their relatives very often and give power, fun and novelty a priority over everything else.
Off Topic: I feel bad for men who let their wives' drive the Brio just because of its light controls and all. You need to take her out more often and push her to the limit to see what she is capable of. She might just become your secret corporate affair and the ultimate mistress (
sautan) everyone else can only dream of !