Honda Brio 2011-2013 EX MT

Brio 2011-2013 EX MT Review

The most successful hatchback car in the country which also happens to be the most lovable, Honda Brio has finally been launched in three fresh variants named as the Honda Brio S (O) AT, V AT and EX MT. Out of these, the S (O) AT and V AT are automatic versions that are a first for this peppy and bubbly Honda hatch while its earlier fleet of manual versions now gets a new member in the form of EX MT. This brings the total of Brio models in India to seven with two spanking new automatics and five manual versions. The automatic transmission for the new Honda Brio comes in a 5-speed format which is the first of its kind in the entire hatch segment in India that has only witnessed a 4-speed type till date . Keeping everything, from looks to comforts to engine, exactly the same as the older models, this new troupe out of the Honda garage bears modifications only in the gearbox. For quite some time now, the Indian car-market has been observing a major increase in the demand of automatic transmission systems and Honda has been struggling a lot lately thanks to the absence of a diesel mill in its entire line-up. So, it pretty clear that these new models are a move by the Japanese major to make a come-back in the current market and compete. With the launch of the new Brio, the heat is most likely to turn towards the likes of Hyundai i10 AT and Maruti Suzuki A-Star AT. 

Exteriors

The exteriors of Honda Brio EX MT have not undergone any changes and the car looks the same perky Brio as it always did. Based on the innovative Double Triangle design concept, the exteriors of this small car put up a very lively view from every angle. The wide and dominating front gets adorned with a small yet smart chrome grille holding the Honda badge right in the center. Flanking this grille is a pair of large and stylish halogen headlamps which meet the bold cuts spanning across the sloping bonnet. Right below this attractive setup is a body-colored bumper topped by a large air-dam in all black. Moving towards the sides, we see that the bold lines continue here as well accentuating the aerodynamic design of Brio EX MT. To top it, the body-toned ORVMs and body-toned door handles have been added that further enhance its visual appeal. Plus, the flaring wheel arches housing the large wheels covered by 175/65 R14 tyres provides a brawny angle to the otherwise cute attire of this hatchback car. For the  rear end, a body-colored bumper topped by sharply carved taillamps and complemented by the unique design of the lightweight hatch give a very modern and distinct look to the 2012 Honda Brio EX MT. In terms of dimensions, the Brio EX MT has a length of 3610mm, width of 1680mm and height of 1500mm supplying a substantial wheelbase of 2345mm and a ground clearance of 165mm. In the color palette, Honda offers a range of beautiful colors that includes shades to suit every kind of mood like the classy Alabaster Silver and Urban Titanium, or the elegant Crystal Pearl Black and Taffeta White, or the vibrant Energetic Blue and Rally Red.            

Interiors

Spacious enough to seat a group of five with absolute comfort, the interiors of the Honda Brio EX MT have been ergonomically designed and toned in a classy shade of beige. The dashboard, meanwhile, gets a sporty black color sprinkled with brown and beige to blend with the overall elegant theme. Other alluring traits in the cockpit area include a collapsible electric power steering providing a turn radius of 4.5m, a 1-DIN audio system loaded with AM/FM and MP3 along with USB and aux-in, front end speakers , an attractive information display panel with Triple Analog 3D Meters and ECO lamp to help save on fuel. For the rear seat passengers, besides a comfortable seating area, a foldable back of seats also adds to the versatility of the car.

Engine and Performance

To drive this fun package, Honda Cars India Limited have employed their high-tech 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine for a boosted power output along with an enhanced fuel-efficiency all thanks to its Programmed Fuel Injection technology. This 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 1198cc petrol mill mated with a manual transmission gearbox churns out a maximum of 87bhp at 6000rpm for a peak torque of 109Nm produced at 4500rpm. With this machine at work under the hood, Honda Brio EX MT delivers a mileage of 19.4kmpl which is not bad at all . Besides all that, this small Honda ride is also known to generate the lowest emissions in the entire auto-industry of India which instantly makes it Nature's favorite. Talking about the suspension system, the Brio EX MT gets a Mcpherson Strut for the front while the rear end system is of Torsion Beam type.

Safety Features

To ensure that the Brio EX MT is not only a fun but also a safe ride for its occupants, Honda Cars India Limited have loaded the car with a number of safety features. These include a set of disc brakes for the front and drum brakes for the rear wheel, immobilizer, driver seat belt reminder, day/night rear view mirror and a high-mounted stop lamp. Plus, the car also carries a full-size spare tyre for emergencies.

Comfort Features

Where comfort of the passengers is concerned, Honda has given Brio its best shot. Following its customer-friendly philosophy of 'Man Maximum, Machine Minimum', Honda has supplied Brio with as much room inside the chamber as is possible. But that is not all. Besides the immense room and plush seats, the inner chamber of Brio EX MT also comes fitted with a lot of holders and pockets to accommodate a number of small and large things for the travelers like front and rear cup-holders in the central console, pockets lining the front door and a capacious glove-box. For the driver's ease especially, the Brio houses an electric power steering, a tachometer, power windows in the front, a fuel-consumption display unit, headlamp height adjuster and a reminding mechanism for Headlight Off and Ignition Key Off. To further enhance the pleasant and delightful feel of the ride, an air-conditioning cum heating system works inside the chamber of Brio. And to strengthen the safety features, a central locking system comes incorporated in the hatchback car.

Pros  

High on comfort, low on fuel-consumption, reasonable pricing, convenient drive, excellent material quality, exquisite looks

Cons

Small boot space, great scope of improvement in gadgetry and lack of ABS, EBD and airbags