2015 Honda Brio Amaze: Small Wonder

Meet the 2015 Honda Brio Amaze. The Brio Amaze is Honda’s latest entry in the small-car category. Though the Brio has two variants, the sedan and hatchback, both are considered entry-level cars that address the needs of customers, who want space, comfort and eye-catching design. This writer feels, however, that the Brio Amaze has the edge in terms of reliability, durability and quality. Believe it or not, after my recent test-drive of this car, I would say that this is the best small car that I’ve driven so far. In terms of style, the Brio Amaze is very distinct with a more profound stance and a stouter fascia. It turns heads in traffic with its fresh styling cues that speak of Honda’s new direction in design. Inside, Honda’s DNA is readily apparent. It features a well-thought layout that offers enough room for five average-sized adults. Sitting inside the well-appointed interior of the car will surely make anyone’s daily commute more pleasant as it is both roomy and comfortable. There’s a functional dashboard design, which includes multi-information display, eco-indicator lamp, and fuel consumption meter. Feature-wise, the Brio Amaze provides ample levels of comfort as it comes complete with power amenities such as power windows, mirror, locks, keyless entry, and CD/DVD playback with aux-in and Bluetooth capability. The test unit that this writer drove was the Modulo variant, which offers additional accessories such as a unique front grille, front (rear and side) under spoilers and Modulo emblems. On the road, the Honda Brio Amaze is easy to drive. It is powered by a perky 1.3-liter, four-cylinder i-VTEC engine. A fully independent suspension ensures sharp handling around corners without the harshness that is typical of vehicles with performance upgrades. In fact, its ride quality is smooth enough for it to be used as an everyday city car. In keeping with its hallmark of safety, Honda took the Brio Amaze a notch higher by throwing in ABS, EBD and two airbags for the driver and front passenger. As always, price plays a major role in packaging any car. In this regard, Honda is selling the Brio Amaze at P629,000 for the entry level model and P769,000 for the top-of-the-line variant. The entry-level car of P629,000 is a bit on the high side. Now there’s nothing wrong about the price per se since the Brio is a new-generation car. This writer’s concern is in the positioning of the car. For instance, if a buyer is in the market for a subcompact, he might consider buying the new Honda City for the price of P759,000 or the entry level Honda Jazz at P778,000, which are equipped with 1.5-liter engines, instead of the top-of-the-line Brio Amaze. When all is said and done, however, in the end they are all Hondas and choosing any one of them means you are paying for value. With all its options and good features, the Honda Brio Amaze will surely surprise car buyers most especially those, who are craving for something new. If you’re one of them, perhaps, the Honda Brio Amaze is a good deal for you.

Specifications

Vehicle 2014 Honda Brio Amaze Type Subcompact Sedan Engine 1.3-liter 4-cylinder i-VYEC Maximum power 100 ps @ 6,000 rpm Maximum torque 13.0 kg-m @ 4,800 rpm Transmission 5-speed A/T  

Dimensions

Length 3,990 mm Width 1,680 mm Height 1,485 mm Wheelbase 2,405 mm Wheel size and type 14-inch steel with cover Tire size 175/65/R14 Price as tested P689,000.00