Honda is all set to enter the promising small SUV and crossover segment in India with the BR-V or Bold Runabout Vehicle. First revealed at the Indonesia International Auto Show earlier this year, the BR-V is expected to be launched in India sometime in March or April next year and will go up against established rivals such as the Renault Duster as well as the Hyundai Creta and Maruti S-Cross.
The BR-V has been developed on the same flexible platform as the Brio, Mobilio and Amaze to better amortise costs. At the front, the BR-V is all-new and has strong SUV cues like the bold, upright nose that carries Honda’s now trademark grille. However, resemblance to the Mobilio comes across in the side profile such as the doors and windows.
The Renault Duster has traditionally been the French automaker’s best-selling model in India, even though sales have been on a decline since the past few months. The Creta has also been well-received following its launch early this year and has remained the best-selling SUV for the third consecutive month in September. Here’s how the BR-V stacks up against the other two on paper.
Dimensions
In terms of the dimensions, the Honda BR-V is the longest in the segment. The SUV measures 4,456mm in length, 1,735mm in width, 1,666mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,660mm. Moreover, Honda will be the only carmaker to offer a seven-seater in the small SUV or crossover segment. When it goes on sale, the BR-V will be the only small SUV to offer a third row of seats.
The BR-V features an impressive front profile, thanks to its square bonnet, sharp, angular headlights and front bumper, gets a new wider air dam and two chrome-ringed fog lamps. It also makes for a capable off-roader due to ample ground clearance. It gets a ground clearance of 201mm, a close second to the 205mm ground clearance of the Duster.
| Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda BR-V | Hyundai Creta | Renault Duster | |
| Length | 4,456mm | 4,270mm | 4315mm |
| Width | 1,735mm | 1,780mm | 1822mm |
| Height | 1,666mm | 1,630mm | 1695mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,660mm | 2590mm | 2673mm |
| Ground clearance | 201mm | 190mm | 205mm |
The Duster is the tallest of the lot at 1,695mm and also has a longer wheelbase (2,673mm), albeit just by a narrow margin of 13mm, when compared to the BR-V. Although the Duster scores higher on paper with respect to most dimensions, both the BR-V and the Creta also boast spacious cabins.
Under the hood
When launched in India, the BR-V will come with the option of a diesel as well as a petrol powertrain, both of which can be found in the City and the Mobilio. The petrol motor is a 1,496cc 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine making 119bhp and 14.78kgm of torque. The BR-V makes more power than the Duster but makes around 2bhp less than the Creta, which is the most powerful of the trio. The BR-V and the Duster have similar torque figures, while the Creta scores here as well, albeit without much difference.
| Petrol Engines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda BR-V | Hyundai Creta | Renault Duster | |
| Displacement | 1496cc | 1591cc | 1598cc |
| Power | 119bhp | 121.3bhp | 102.5bhp |
| Torque | 14.78kgm | 15.4kgm | 14.7kgm |
The BR-V for India is likely to also come with a CVT auto gearbox on the petrol variant. While Hyundai currently offers the Creta with a six-speed automatic gearbox on the 1.6-litre diesel, Renault is likely to offer an AMT gearbox on the Duster facelift, due to be launched sometime in mid-2016. Renault might showcase the car at the 2016 Auto Expo in New Delhi.
Honda has confirmed that the BR-V for India will also be offered in a diesel guise powered by its proven 1.5-litre engine which also runs the Mobilio, City, Amaze and the Jazz. Honda says it is working to improve the performance of the 99bhp diesel, but we understand it is unlikely to get a significant bump in power. For the purpose of this comparison, we’ve taken the power figures of the 1.5-litre diesel motor that powers the Mobilio.
| Diesel Engines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda BR-V | Hyundai Creta | Renault Duster | |
| Displacement | 1498cc | 1582cc | 1461cc |
| Power | 98.6bhp | 126.3bhp | 108.5bhp |
| Torque | 20.4kgm | 26.5kgm | 25.3kgm |
When it comes to India next year, The BR-V will plug the gap in Honda’s product portfolio and the carmaker will be hopeful of pulling in buyers with car’s roomy cabin and strong diesel engine. While some of the design elements similar the Mobilio might not go down well with the image-conscious Indian buyers, the fact that Honda will be the only carmaker to offer seven seats in the small SUV or crossover segment will definitely give it an edge over its competitors. The BR-V is likely to be priced between the Creta and Duster.
NISHANT PAREKH