Why the Honda BR-V is at the top of the affordable 7-seater segment

The affordable 7-seater segment is filled with choices, with the likes of the Mitsubishi Xpander, Suzuki Ertiga, Hyundai Stargazer and Toyota Veloz all having a significant stake in the market.

While they are all great choices to consider, the Honda BR-V remains at the top in terms of its features and the power it brings to the table. It may be a touch more expensive than its rivals at around ₱1,090,000 to ₱1,410,000, but you get what you pay for.

Before we start, when we say affordable 7-seater vehicles, we mean those priced between ₱1,000,000 to ₱1,500,000, where most of its rivals are priced.

We also won’t be considering the Toyota Innova as it has its niche in the market and is the lone multi-purpose vehicle with a turbodiesel engine. 

Most powerful non-turbo MPV

In the affordable 7-seater range, the Honda BR-V isn’t the most powerful car available – that honor belongs to the Maxus G50 with its turbocharged 1.5-liter motor.

But if you don’t account for turbochargers, which drive up the maintenance costs of any family car, the BR-V is the most potent affordable 7-seater on the market.

Its 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine generates 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque mated to either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

The BR-V shares the same powertrain as the Honda City subcompact sedan and the base model Honda HR-V crossover.

The 1.5-liter engine has a meaty mid-range and pulls well above the 5,500 rpm range giving you linear acceleration. VJ's review of the BR-V also noted its excellent fuel economy figures. 

Standard LED lighting

Whether you get the top-of-the-line VX or the entry-level S variant, you will have LED headlights as standard.

It means that you don’t have to settle for halogen bulbs, which is often the case with the BR-V’s competitors. You also have the bonus of standard LED daytime running lights. 

However, foglights for the S MT variant are not available. But at least the CVT version has them (and these are LED).

Honda Sensing 

The Honda BR-V is also one of the safest affordable 7-seaters you can buy today, thanks to its 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating and the addition of Honda SENSING technology for the top-spec VX model.

It means that the vehicle is not only safe in the event of a crash, but also has safety features that will help you avoid getting into trouble. It also gives the driver access to adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and collision mitigation system. 

As standard, the Honda BR-V also comes with dual airbags (6 for the VX), ABS with EBD, and vehicle stability assist program. You also get a blind spot camera, a unique feature in the affordable 7-seater segment, as no other models carry it. 

Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are the industry standard for most modern vehicles.

The Honda BR-V is the same as it has these features as standard for its entire variant range, which is a plus, especially as its competitors tend to downgrade their entry-level models. 

While it only has a 7-inch touchscreen, it's enough screen space to showcase what you need to see when you need to see it. Thanks to its plug-and-play nature, the display is snappy, quick to respond to your action and easy to use. 

Flexible seating

As with many affordable 7-seater vehicles, having flexible seating is critical, especially if you plan to use your car for multiple applications.

If you need to shuttle around seven people, the Honda BR-V will happily accommodate them with a decent amount of legroom to spare for the third row.

We found the Honda 7-seater to have the roomiest third row compared with its rivals. However, we found the second row a touch too narrow for three big passengers.

And if you need to haul around cargo, the third row can fold flat, while putting down the second row gives you 1,032 liters of cargo space.

What do you think of the Honda BR-V?

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