If you visited the (fairly) recent Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), then there’s a good chance you saw the second-gen Honda BR-V in the metal. That was a preview of the all-new MPV-Crossover, and many have been asking, when it will be launched.
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We finally have an answer for that as Honda has set November 21 as the official launch date for the redesigned BR-V. Not only that, you can now place a reservation for it too. With that, it’ll be about a month to go before you see it in showrooms nationwide.
It’s perfect timing for the all-new BR-V's launch too since all of its competitors have either been given an update or totally re-engineered. Just look at the Toyota Veloz and Mitsubishi Xpander, for instance. Heck, the 2023 BR-V also has the Hyundai Stargazer to contend with, as well as the Nissan Livina. The MPV market is now more competitive than ever.
The 2023 BR-V is larger than before. Along with that, Honda raised the body to give it more ground clearance, a must in this segment. Honda says they’ve given it a ‘more SUV-like' appearance and, judging by what we saw at PIMS, it’s not just marketing fluff. Of course, you shouldn’t expect all-wheel drive from this. After all, its competitors are all two-wheel drive.
There are no equipment or engine specifications just yet, but Honda did mention a few highlights. There are four variants available, namely the S MT, S CVT, V CVT, and VX CVT. And yes, you read that right, the BR-V is getting a manual for the first time in the Philippines. Of course, it still has seven seats, but the driver’s side (finally) has a height adjuster. Oh joy.
As for the engine, Honda says it uses a 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC lump. And while horsepower and torque figures aren’t mentioned yet, we can expect it to have similar numbers to the City Sedan, City Hatch, and HR-V S. That means we’re looking at about 119hp and 145Nm of torque. If so, the BR-V will keep its crown as the most powerful in its class.
Should the specs be similar to the display model at PIMS, we could expect the BR-V to have stability control, cruise control, and for higher-spec models, Honda Sensing and the LaneWatch camera. There are no prices just yet, so we’ll have to wait for the launch date for that.
