Honda Brio Old Vs New: Major Differences

Honda seems to have resolved the first-gen Brio’s shortcomings such as a compact rear cabin and tight boot space with the new model

After the Honda Amaze evolved into a more mature package with the second-gen model, it was time for its hatchback counterpart, the Brio, to do the same. And new hatchback, which was unveiled in Indonesia recently, has done exactly that. Although Honda is yet to announce the second-gen Brio for India, it is expected to be launched here in the second half of next year. Here’s what’s changed with the second-gen model.  

Dimensions

The first-gen Brio, which is still on sale in India, received severe criticism for its cramped rear cabin room and limited boot space. Thankfully, Honda seems to have addressed these issues with the second-gen model. The new Brio looks a lot bigger in the pictures when compared to its predecessor. There is an increase of 205mm in the overall length, 60mm of which is between the front and rear wheels. Ideally, this should result in a relatively roomier rear cabin. The boot has certainly grown in volume, by 83 litres to be specific. 

Design 

While the first-gen Honda Brio was a bit a quirky and bubbly in the way it was styled, the second-gen model has taken a more mature and mainstream approach. The new Brio has parted ways with the previous model's characteristic elements such as the teardrop headlamps, short bonnet and the all-glass boot lid.

Like the 2018 Amaze, which was launched in May this year, the new-gen hatchback too features a relatively flat and elongated bonnet, upward sweeping sleek headlamps and Honda’s latest grille design. The side profile is a lot cleaner than before and it now features relatively bigger rear doors thanks to the increased wheelbase. The roofline swoops more than before and the antenna is now placed at the rear.

The rear profile now features a conventional boot lid compared to the all-glass setup offered before. The new tail lamps are regular incandescent units and not LEDs that are on offer on the bigger Honda Jazz and its prime rival in India, the Maruti Suzuki Swift. 

Engine and Transmission 

The second-gen Honda Brio carries forward the same 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine from its predecessor. This motor can also be found under the India-spec Honda Jazz and Amaze. The 1.2-litre unit puts out 90PS and 110Nm and is coupled to a standard 5-speed manual. Instead of the 5-speed torque converter automatic, which is currently on offer in India, Honda has paired the new Brio with a 7-step CVT for the Indonesia-spec model. It remains to be seen whether Honda adds the 1.5-litre diesel engine to the Brio lineup when it is launched in India. However, we believe it’s unlikely to be offered on the hatchback.

• Honda Amaze Diesel CVT: Review

Features 

Surprisingly, the Indonesia-spec second-gen Brio doesn’t offer any significant features over the first-gen model. In fact, it carries forward the same dashboard, which was introduced with the mid-life facelift model of the first-gen hatchback. The 2018 Amaze, on the other hand, gets a completely revamped dashboard layout.

The Indonesia-spec model features a standard Bluetooth-enabled music system along with a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system for higher variants. Apart from that, the new hatchback also gets regular halogen multi-reflector headlamps with LED light guide, 14-inch wheels (15-inch with the sportier RS models), dual-front airbags and ABS with EBD. 

If launched in India, the new Brio could borrow a couple of features from the new Amaze such as Honda Cars India’s 7-inch Digipad 2 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, auto climate control, passive keyless entry with push-button start-stop and 15-inch alloy wheels.

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