Second-gen Honda BR-V launches in Thailand - Malaysia next?

Honda Thailand officially introduced the second generation Honda BR-V 7-seat crossover in said Kingdom late last week. Unlike its predecessor, this second-gen iteration sports enhanced safety and even more tech on board on top of its fully revised styling.

The BR-V comes in two forms, those being a base E variant and a higher-specced EL variant. Both share the same powertrain package, which consists of a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC 4-cyl petrol mill and CVT box pairing, the former delivering 121 ps and 145 Nm to the front wheels.

Additionally, Honda Thailand claims it is capable of sipping just 6.2 litres/100km, making it one of the most efficient in its class too. In terms of size and dimensions, the new BR-V has grown a little. It now measures 4,490mm long with a slightly stretched wheelbase of 2,695mm, 1,780mm wide, and 1,685mm tall.

Apart from its design and styling, the most significant changes in this 7-seat crossover can be seen in its equipment list and safety. Starting with the latter, both variants now come with the Honda Sensing suite that laces the crossover with a sleuth of active safety features, namely:

-        Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

-        Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

-        Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)

-        Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

-        Auto High-Beam (AHB)

-        Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

-        Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)

By the way, the advanced safety features mentioned above comes on top of an already stellar list of standard safety equipment that includes Honda LaneWatch camera, seat-belt reminder, ABS with EBD and BA, stability control (VSA), hill-start assist, not forgetting four (E) and six (EL) airbags lining the cabin.

As for on board features, key highlights present in the new BR-V include a 4.2-inch digital multi-info screen for the meter panel, two-tone combination leather seat upholstery, automatic climate control with rear ceiling vents, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment boasting Apple and Android connectivity, as well as an updated keyless entry and ignition with remote-start feature added.

Opt for the higher-specced EL variant it adds larger 17-inch wheels as opposed to 16-inch wheels seen in the E variant, as well as a six-speaker hi-fi audio system (you get a 4-speaker unit in the E), additional LED foglamps, auto-folding side mirrors, paddle-shifters on the steering wheel, an all-black leather interior motif, front grille finished in piano black, plus a host of additional on-board conveniences.

Predictably, the enhanced safety and richer list of kit does see prices for the new second-gen BR-V in Thailand rise quite a bit. The range now starts from THB915,000 (RM114,575) and from THB973,000 (RM121,861) and the E and EL variant respectively. The previous-gen offering was tagged between THB765,000 and THB835,000 (RM95,809 and RM104,576).

If you like the changes and improvements Honda have blessed this HR-V with, then you may not have to wait long. This 7-seat crossover is widely tipped to be Honda Malaysia’s follow up to the recently-launched HR-V crossover. A launch date hasn’t been given yet, but all signs point towards a launch sometime in the fourth quarter.

Will this be your choice then over the rivalling DNGA-based Toyota Veloz and the Mitsubishi Xpander? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…