Honda Brio 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

2020 Honda Brio Variants and Features Explained

The Honda Brio is offered in a four trim levels, where the top two trims are the same with the only difference being the Transmission. Only one engine option is available, in the form of the sweet 1.2-litre iVtec Petrol. The engine is mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed torque converter automatic unit.

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Since the VX trim gets all the bells and whistles, we recommend going for that particular variant itself. That variant offers tremendous value for money, and one can also opt for the rare five-speed slushbox, in case you seek convenience to drive this cute little hatch.

Also Read:

How does Honda Brio stand up to the best selling hatchback in India?

Does it stand a chance against the well-equipped Tata Tiago?

Maruti Suzuki Celerio also follows the same principle as Honda, does the Brio fare, well?

Honda Brio- Engine and Performance Details

The Honda Brio features the same 1.2 Litre i-Vtec petrol engine that does duty in the Jazz and Amaze. This engine develops a very healthy 89 bhp of power and 110 Nm of torque. The renowned engine has always been loved for its great fuel economy and free-revving nature. The moment you start driving the Brio, your right foot itches to become heavier, to make that sweet engine rasp through the higher rev ranges. It is really addictive. 

The power lower down the rev-range is just adequate, however, floor the throttle and you’ll be greeted by the Vtec thump and surge will bring a wide grin on your face. This engine is one of the biggest selling points of the Brio.

How well does the Brio hatchback accelerate?

The Brio’ s Petrol Engine has been one of it’s strongest attributes, the enthusiastic nature of the high revving Honda Petrol engines have made its way to this engine as well and boy are we glad. The Brio is able to do the ton in just about 13 seconds which is pretty respectable for a naturally aspirated petrol hatch. These figures also make it the peppiest among its modern competition.

How is the ride quality of Honda Brio in the city?

The Brio, since the very beginning has always been criticized for its ride comfort, some have called it unsettling while others label it as unoptimised for Indian roads. We, as a matter of fact, agree as well as disagree with this view. Yes, the Brio has a stiffer suspension setup that can appear a little unsettling on bad roads and you can actually feel the bumps on the road being transferred inside the cabin. On the plus side, this exact stiff suspension endows the Brio with great handling characteristics and confidence-inspiring drive which in our books, trump the negatives. 

The suspension in no way is too hard for day to day driving and you will definitely be able to adjust to it. The steering offers a good amount of feedback, though it might feel a little artificially weighed up at higher speeds. The short wheelbase and compact dimensions of the Brio make it act like a faux Go-Kart.

How do the brakes work on Honda Brio?

The brakes on the Honda Brio are just about adequate. It is very easy to modulate the brake pedal for a smooth ride and the brakes offer good stopping power for the most part. The Tiago comes across as the most assuring car in this department.

How much fuel-efficient is the Honda Brio?

The Brio is rated at 18.4 kmpl by ARAI, and if you manage to control your foot and not rev the nuts off the engine, you might just be able to achieve it as well. In practical scenarios, one can expect the Brio to return an average of 15 kmpl under mixed driving conditions, which is more than adequate considering the power output from this petrol engine. The Brio also comes with an ECO shift light inside the speedometer cluster that helps you stay in the optimum gear to extract the best possible mileage.

The Brio might not be up your alley if best in class fuel economy is what you are. The competition not only offers more kilometres for less litres but also return a longer range by at least 100 kms.

2020 Honda Brio Exterior Design 

On Paper the Honda Brio is the smallest car amongst all of its rivals, packing in the smallest dimensions and the shortest wheelbase. The Brio looks minuscule when looked at from the outside but is really comfortable and roomy on the inside. The 920 Kg kerb weight of the car also proves that even though it is the smaller car, it is not the lightest and that just increases our trust in the build quality of this car.

The Almond type headlamps and distinctive side door crease give the Brio a welcoming, yet sporty stance. The design of the Brio is one of it’s most unique aspects as it has a very distinctive look. The biggest eye-catcher comes in the form of the huge glass rear hatch that is a love it or hate it affair The short wheelbase and (lower) ground clearance give the car an appealing and sporty stance.

What are the highlights of Exterior Design?

Some of the notable exterior features are:

• Power Operated and Foldable ORVMS with Indicators

• Single Slat Gloss Black  Grille

• 14 Inch Alloys

• Glass Rear Hatch

• Front Fog Lamps

2020 Honda Brio Interiors and Features

When the Honda Brio was launched in 2011, it had a very mundane looking cabin which though was well put together, lacked any kind of upscale feel. Fast forward to the 2020 avatar and the entire dashboard has been swapped for a more modern looking setup. The Round Swivel Vents have been replaced by more traditional AC Vents and the Backlighting has gone from the bright orange in the past to a more soothing blue and white combination. 

The dash now also features digital AC controls instead of the old school rotary knobs which lend a plush look to the cabin. Even though the cabin looks pretty modern, the omission of features like push-button start, a touch screen, reversing camera or sensors really let the consumers know how dated the Brio really is.

The driver seat comes with six-way manual adjustment and the steering tilts for a comfortable driving position. However, there is no provision for telescopic adjustment. The front seats are just about average in terms of comfort with non-existent side bolstering. If you plan on taking the Brio on a long highway journey do plan on taking a couple of stops as the lack of lower back support would really make it’s presence felt.

The Rear Seats are good enough for such a small little car and offer adequate headroom and legroom. Seating three people abreast might be a bit of a squeeze and is only recommended for shorter distances.

What's in the Honda Brio infotainment?

The audio system that is available on the Honda Brio is one of the least feature-rich units available in any car. You do not get a touch screen on any of the variants and even the top trim gets a simple 2 din audio system. The audio quality is better than expected for the segment but the bass is a bit lacking.

It would be disrespectful to even call the audio head unit on the Brio an Infotainment Screen as it has next to no functionality other than to stream audio. Bluetooth Audio streaming is available, however, the pre-facelift Brio only had USB and Aux-In as audio inputs.

Infotainment is one of the weakest links of the Honda brio and really brings down the whole experience of an otherwise good car.

• 2-Din Audio System

• Bluetooth, FM, AM

• Navigation with Live traffic update

• 4 Speaker Audio System

• Bluetooth and USB connectivity

Creature comfort features inside?

• Digital Air Conditioning Controls

• Foldable  Rear Seat

• Height Adjustable Driver Seat

• Updated  Gauge Cluster with Eco Light

• Steering Mounted Audio Controls

How much luggage can you load inside Honda Brio?

The 175 Litres of available boot space is minuscule by modern hatchback standards. The most striking feature of the Brio comes to bite it in the rear (pun intended). The small boot, though deep, wouldn’t be able to accommodate any out of the city luggage especially if you are prone to packing heavy. 

The high loading lip and deep boot cutout results in you having to use brute strength to load and unload, making the whole process a hassle. The all-glass hatch also does you no favours when it comes to privacy as if u remove the parcel tray, your luggage is available for the whole world to see.

2020 Honda Brio Safety Ratings and Reliability

The Brio is one of the few cars sold by Honda that have been engineered for the South Asian markets, specifically, India and Indonesia. The Brio thus has no form of Global or Euro NCAP rating available but the Honda Amaze that is based on the Brio platform and is essentially a Brio that has been converted to a compact sedan scored 4 out of 5 in the ASEAN NCAP Adult Occupancy test.

The Brio with it’s solid Honda like build quality and safety features in the form of dual airbags, ABS and EBD proves to be a pretty safe offering from the Honda stable. On the reliability front, the Brio is still a Honda through and through and thus, promises the same stress-free and reliable ownership experience associated with the Honda brand.

How does the Honda Brio stack up against its rivals?

Honda Brio vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

The Hyundai Grand I10 Nios is the newest kid on the block which is the successor of the older Grand i10. The Hyundai being the newest out of the lot offers all sorts of upmarket features in the form of Boomerang DRL’s Projector Headlamps,15 Inch Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, integrated touch screen, push-button start and a much modern-looking cabin. A punchy and frugal engine coupled with the fact that the Nios is future proof makes the Brio literally bite the dust.

Honda Brio vs Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio has proved to be a dependable, comfortable and powerful hatchback. The presence of a decently capable engine, roomy interiors and great level of features has made it cement its place in the segment. The Celerio though feels just as sparse on the inside if not more than the Brio and since the Brio performs and looks better than the Celerio. It manages to eke out a win even though it is on its last legs.

Honda Brio Vs Tata Tiago

The Tata Tiago was one of the first cars that helped Tata get on its amazing streak of providing great vehicles for the price. With the choice of multiple engine and transmission options, a better-looking cabin, and overall a segment above liveability experience, The Tiago was able to trump most of its competition when it was launched.

The Tiago offers the perfect blend of features to the money balance and that reflects in its sales as well. The only aspect where we would choose the Brio over the Tiago is when it comes to spirited driving, as the Brio’s superior handling and rev-happy nature still make it one of our top picks.

Is the 2020 Honda Brio an all-round hatchback?

The Honda Brio in its debut avatar has served the Honda brand for eight long years. It has been a faithful and good selling product throughout its life cycle also complementing their other offerings. In 2020, with a heavy heart that we have to accept that the Brio is to be phased out, either for the newer second-generation or an entirely different product. The Brio with its quirky looks and Go-kart like handling will always remain a special car, however, the spartan interior quality and better products mean the Brio is more or less irrelevant in the current times.