Honda brought the production version of their seven-seat BR-V concept to the 32nd Thailand International Motor Expo. The Japanese carmaker describes the new model as an ‘Active Sport Crossover’ aimed at compact and sub-compact customers.
According to Honda, the BR-V stands out because of its sturdy exterior, sporty looks and high ground clearance, which is absolutely a “must have” for any type of crossover vehicle. Must of all though, the BR-V represents the first vehicle in its class to offer three rows of seats (7 seats in total).
Starting off with its exterior, the production-ready BR-V looks virtually identical to the concept that Honda brought to the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show back in August. It has the same front fascia, featuring projector headlights with LED Position Lamps, LED taillights in a C-shape design and even the same 16″ alloy design.
In terms of size, the car measures 4,455 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height, making it approximately as compact as a Subaru XV, though slightly taller and less wide.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter SOHC 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine, delivering 117 HP (120 PS) on E85 fuel at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque figure of 146 Nm (107 lb-ft) arriving at 4,700 rpm. The power unit is mated to a new CVT transmission developed under Honda’s “Earth Dreams Technology”, which is said to deliver powerful driving performance and fuel efficiency.
Unfortunately we don’t have any official figures regarding acceleration times, top speed and fuel consumption, so we’ll just have to take Honda’s word for it now. While 117 HP isn’t all that impressive, performance can rest on just how light the car actually is on its feet. But again, no info about weight either.
Inside, the BR-V comes in two configurations (5 seats over two rows and 7 seats over three rows), and features automatic air-conditioning with rear-passenger vents, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) and HAS (Hill Start Assist).
Design-wise, just about every element on the dashboard or the center console has been imported from various current or mostly older Honda models. Most notably the steering wheel is easily recognizable from the previous generation European Civic, missing only the cruise control buttons.
The BR-V is expected to hit the Thai market next year.
Note: The white model from the gallery is the ‘Modulo’ version which comes with additional front and rear skid plates, different wheels and more chrome.
Story references: Honda Asia, Live photos via India Autos Blog
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