Honda has greatly enhanced the user friendly character of its Brio hatchback with the launch of an automatic version that goes on sale on October 18. Instead of the CVT gearbox used in the Brio in Thailand & other markets, Honda has opted to equip the Indian Brio with a conventional five speed auto, driven by a torque converter. In fact, the gearbox is similar to the one in the City Automatic, but with different gear ratios.
The Brio Automatic joins the handful of budget automatics available in the Indian market, & with the lack of strong competition, Honda believes that the Brio Auto could account for 5 10 percent of its total sales. However, the demand for the car will hinge largely on its price & fuel efficiency.
Whilst prices are not announced yet, we expect the Brio Auto to be around Rs 60,000 more than the equivalent manual version. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Brio Auto returns 16.5kpl in the Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) – 2.9kpl less than its more efficient manual sibling. This should make the Brio Auto around 10 15 percent thirstier than the manual in the real world. So is the convenience of an automatic worth the extra you will have to pay each time you fill up?
Slip, or rather charge into Delhi traffic & the immediate answer is ‘Yes!’. The five speed auto is eager enough to make light work of the cut & thrust of rush hour and, at part throttle, the Brio Auto feels pretty responsive. It’s only when you stab the throttle wide open for a quick overtaking manoeuvre that the gearbox feels a bit lazy, taking a bit of time to kick down to a lower gear. However, you can work around this by snicking the lever down to D2 or even D1; this holds onto each gear just like in a manual & does not upshift automatically, even at the redline.
On the open road, the Brio is surprisingly peppy & overtaking is pretty easy. This brings us to the 86.7bhp, 1.2 litre engine, which is the main reason for the Brio’s sprightly nature. This i VTEC motor is an absolute jewel that thrives in the upper reaches of the rev band.
The Brio was always a brilliant city car thanks to its perky responses, agile handling & compact dimensions. Now with the automatic version, it’s quite an ideal one.
Fact File
Engine
Fuel
Petrol
Installation
Front, transverse
Type
4 cyls in line, 1198cc
Power
86.7bhp at 6000rpm
Torque
11.11kgm at 4600rpm
Power to weight
Front wheel drive
Transmission
Type
5 speed auto
Dimensions
Length
3610mm
Width
1680mm
Height
1500mm
Wheel base
2345mm
Ground clearance
150mm
Chassis & Body
Construction
Five door, monocoque
Weight
Full size
Wheels
14inch
Tyres
175/65 R14
Suspension
Front
Independent, McPherson struts
Rear
Non independent, torsion beam axel
Steering
Type
Rack & pinion
Type of power assist
Electric
Brakes
Front
Ventilated discs
Rear
Drums
Posted in: 
Posts
3 comments:
Honda has its own name in Indian car market,Brio automatic will also make its presence on 18th October. Well as something is better than nothing. Honda india also going to launch city sedan in CNG variant of this October..
Good option for my lovely ladies . But what concerns me is the back door which opens the luggage space . is totally glass & God forbid , if u hit some thing the glass will shatter totally . its a expensive repair . Hey Girls please drive straight & safely , some times u scare the hell out of me !
This will be a huge hit in the Indian market and festive season will also support it.In hatchback segment people have plenty of options but Honda lovers will surely like it.
Post a Comment