2019 Hond Brio: Old vs new

Honda Brio’s journey in the Philippines started in 2014 when it was first launched in the country. It didn’t take long for this hatchback to imprint itself in the hearts of the Filipinos. Very soon it became one of the most sought after cars in the market. Things ran smoothly for some time but as the years passed, the Brio got outdated and new rivals entered the market and took away all the glamour and fame from this little Honda.

At this point, Honda knew that it had to retaliate if it wants to keep the title Brio alive. And that’s exactly what the Japanese automaker did. Recently, Honda launched the 2019 Brio with some upgrades and features in the hope that they would help Brio to regain momentum in the hatchback segment. So, what exactly is the new Brio all about and how different is it from the old one? Let’s find out.

On the outside

The old Honda Brio had looks that would make you go “Awww!”. This was mostly because of the headlamps and tail lights. Yes, the car was compact in dimensions and it had to be so because it was a hatchback. But it was mostly the design of the front and back of the car that gave it the cuteness. No wonder it was much loved by the feminine gender. Honda has completely revamped the looks of the new Brio and removed the cuteness altogether. The hatch now comes with large multi-reflector halogen headlamps that make it look a bit bigger from the front. The LED parking light guide also brings a modern look. There is the Honda signature grille at the front which is much bigger and bolder than before.

We also get a bit more sporty front bumper. The new Brio also comes with a set of new alloy wheels and a roof-mounted rear spoiler. Another new feature at the back is the set of tail lights that are sportier and look much mature. Honda has also added a sporty rear bumper. So, it’s clear that Honda wanted its new 2019 Brio to be a sportier car than ever before. The old Brio was available in only 4 colours - Crystal Black Pearl, Taffeta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic whereas the new one comes in 5 new colours - Taffeta White, Rallye Red, Modern Steel, Phoenix Orange, and Carnival Yellow, with the Phoenix Orange being one of our favourites.

On the inside

The interior on the old Honda Brio was pretty basic. There were a lot of round elements in the cabin like the instrument cluster, air con vents, etc. All of them made the car look very non-serious and relaxed. Perhaps Honda did it to enhance the cuteness factor inside the cabin. The new 2019 Honda Brio is a bit different though. Gone are the rounded elements and new angular ones have made their way in. There is also a hint of silver/orange linings inside the car depending on the variant you pick.

Unlike the old model, the new car has a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system that supports Bluetooth and USB connectivity. However, only the higher end models get it as the base model still comes with a single-DIN stereo system. Even with its compact dimensions, the old Honda Brio never failed to impress us with its cabin space. You would feel like it is going to be a claustrophobic experience riding in the back of this car but it would surprise you with the kind of leg and headroom it has on offer. The new Brio is all that and a bit more because Honda has made it slightly bigger than before.

Under the hood

Under the hood of the previous-generation Honda Brio was a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that had 100 hp of maximum power and 128 Nm of peak torque. It was mated to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The 2019 Honda Brio specs have welcomed a new 1.2-litre engine. This mill is tuned to produce a maximum power of 90 PS at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 110 Nm at 4,800 rpm.

While the base model gets a manual gearbox, the rest of the models are equipped with Honda’s Earth Dreams technology CVT unit. Because of the fact that the new engine is supposedly smoother and more refined, it provides an optimal balance of performance and fuel efficiency.

In terms of safety

Being an entry-level hatchback, the Brio didn’t have that many safety features back in the days. It used to come with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and a seat belt reminder that too only for the driver. Perhaps, Honda did this intentionally to keep the costs in check. The new 2019 Brio has not come that far in the safety department either. The main safety features that it can boast about include ABS and dual front airbags.

This is a bit of a bummer as in today’s world as Honda should have provided more capable safety features on the new Brio. These were some of the many ways in which the old Honda Brio differs with the new one. However, there is still room for improvement that Honda should take note of for the next iterations of this car. The 2019 Honda Brio price starts at Php 585,000 for the base model. Let us remind you that this is still an introductory price offered by Honda and is valid till 30th June 2019.