Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
The news these past few weeks were downright scary: The price of crude oil has skyrocketed to nearly $130 per barrel after oil producing and exporting countries (OPEC) decided to cut down production. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine curtailed the delivery of oil to Europe, which further limited global supply and increased the prices. Gasoline prices here in the Philippines breached the P70-per-liter price threshold just at the inopportune time when the economy is reopening. And there are no signs of the problem abating.
With ominous dark clouds on the horizon, it would only be wise to tighten our belts, braze for the inevitable, and try to adapt to the situation. For car enthusiasts, the prudent thing to do is to limit the use of the not-so-fuel-efficient vehicle and/or switch to a more fuel-efficient one. In our case, we decided to temporarily park our large premium 4.0-liter sedan, prioritize our schedules, and plan our trips with our compact 1.4-liter sedan. Luckily, we were scheduled for a weeklong drive of the 2022 Honda Brio 1.2V CVT, which drastically improved our economic options.
Silver Lining
The Brio is like the silver lining in the age-old adage “Behind every cloud is a silver lining”, except ours isn’t finished in silver but Carnival Yellow. Our test car, which is powered by a 1.2-liter single overhead camshaft (SOHC), 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Honda’s exclusive Earth Dreams Technology, is priced at a very affordable P661,000.
Even better, from March 1 to 31, 2022, Honda offers the Brio 1.2 CVT with a Special and Regular Low All-in Downpayment of only P13,000 or a low monthly amortization of only P12,220 per month for 60 months. Considering that it was evaluated and certified to squeeze 24.39 kilometers per liter of precious unleaded gasoline from its 35-liter fuel tank, the Brio is really an apt vehicle for the times – affordable, miserly with fuel, and svelte enough to squeeze through metropolitan traffic.
Allegro Con Brio
Of course, trying to squeeze more mileage out of each liter while navigating through heavy stop-and-go traffic is always a challenge. We were able to get a best average mileage of 15.6 km/L while driving the Brio more frequently on the Skyway and toll ways. Conversely, our worse mileage of 12.9 km/L in city traffic is still substantially better than the highway figures of our larger premium cars.
It is also great to note that the Brio is no slouch. Honda’s exclusive intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control system (i-VTEC) and programmed electronic fuel injection (PGM-FI) helps produce 88.76 horsepower and 110 Newton-meters of torque from 1,199 cubic centimeters to provide the Brio with zippy acceleration and the exciting performance on the highways. Gear shifts from the Earth Dreams CVT are smooth and almost imperceptible, especially during relaxed driving.
Tuned Suspension and EPS
We initially expected the ride to be a little choppy considering that the Brio is a subcompact hatchback but the independent suspension consisting of front McPherson struts with stabilizer bars and rear torsion beam was tuned to worked well with the short 2.4-meter wheelbase. The tallish sidewalls of the 175/65R14 Dunlop Enasave EC300 tires wrapped around 9-spoke 14-inch alloy wheels helps absorb the road undulations but adds a little sway to the Brio’s otherwise taut body roll.
The steering effort from the electric power steering (EPS)-assisted rack-and-pinion system is quite light but is still communicative, which is characteristic of most Hondas. We found the audio controls on the 3-spoke urethane steering wheel utterly convenient since the 7-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Audio with Bluetooth Connectivity & Audio Streaming prevents us from selecting songs from our connected USB unless the car is stopped and the hand brake is engaged.
Fully-Loaded Hatchback
Despite being an affordable subcompact economy model, the Brio is loaded with all the powered conveniences that can be found in premium models. Power windows, power door locks, and power side mirrors are standard as is the tilt-adjustable steering column, automatic climate control, and even a 12-volt convenience outlet to charge gadgets while on the go. Occupant safety is further enhanced with the G-CON body, driver and front passenger airbags, and anti-lock brakes (ABS).
Despite being classified as a subcompact hatchback, the Brio can accommodate 5 occupants with comfort and space to spare. The front bucket seats are comfortable for long drives and the occasional spirited driving while the backrest of the rear bench seat can be folded to increase the cargo carrying capacity from 258 liters to 710 liters. The Brio’s tall body and large hatch opening makes it easy to load and unload stuff into the back.
After driving the Brio for a whole week, we began to question the wisdom of keeping a premium sedan in our garage. True, it may not have our luxury car’s exclusivity, low sporty profile or overall sex appeal, but the Brio cannot be beat in spaciousness and utility, ease of ingress and egress, and overall efficiency in the use of space and fuel. Indeed, it makes more sense to drive a 2022 Honda Brio 1.2V CVT today than ever before. It’s the silver lining in today’s cloudy world.
Specifications
Price: P661,000.00
Classification: Front engine, FWD, 5-door subcompact hatchback
Engine type: Liquid-cooled inline-4 SOHC i-VTEC 16V
Capacity: 1199 cc
Maximum power: 89 hp (90 PS) @ 6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 110 Nm @ 4800 rpm
Transmission: CVT with Earth Dreams Technology
Suspension: Independent, front McPherson struts, rear torsion beam
Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear drums
Steering: Rack and pinion with EPS
Wheels: 14x5J Alloy
Tires: 175/65R14
Length: 3800 mm
Width: 1680 mm
Height: 1485 mm
Wheelbase: 2405 mm
Ground clearance: 137 mm
Curb weight: 969 kg
Turning radius: 5.0 m
Fuel tank capacity: 35 liters
Seating capacity: 5 Persons
Claimed fuel mileage: 24.39 km/liter
Average fuel mileage: 15.9 km/liter (as tested)
Contact Details
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI)
30/F, The Trade & Financial Tower, 7th Avenue corner 32nd Street,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634 Philippines
Tel: (632) 857-7200 to 19 / 1-800-1000-HONDA / 857-7240
Fax: (632) 857-7288
