Which 2020 Honda Brio variant should you buy? [Comparison Guide]

When Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. introduced the 2^nd-generation Honda Brio back in April 2019, a lot of people were understandably excited.

It is quite a departure from the old 1^st-gen Brio, and it reminded a lot of titos and titas out there of the Honda Civic of yesteryears; affordable, small, and very sporty looking.

As a result, the humble but very attractive looking Honda made city car became Honda PH’s third best selling vehicle. As of 2019, the said Honda model even managed to hold a 19-percent market share in the A-segment category, as well as Honda PH’s third best selling model that year.

Now the Honda Brio has four variants available for the Philippine market: the 1.2 S MT, 1.2 V CVT, 1.2 RS CVT, and the 1.2 RS Black Top CVT. As such, many of you prospective Brio buyers are wondering which one to get. That being said, here’s a guide as to which Brio variant is ideal for you.

Check out that very aggressive looking front fascia

Honda Brio Variants: Dimensions

In terms of dimensions, the Honda Brio’s variants are essentially the same save for the RS Black Top, which is 15mm longer on account of the RS body kits.

For the rest of the Brio variants, they measure in at 3,800mm long. All Brio variants have a width of 1,680mm, and a height of 1,485mm.

Likewise, wheelbase length is uniform at 2,405mm, and ground clearance at 258mm. Both the RS and RS Blacktop are the heaviest of the bunch at 992 kg, while the 1.2 V CVT weighs in at 969 kg, and the lightest is the 1.2 S MT.

When it comes to exterior styling, the 1.2 V CVT and the 1.2 S MT are similar in such a way that they both come in the basic Brio shape and silhouette.

It's less angular at the rear but it sure is a departure from the look of the 1st gen

The RS however, comes with RS body kits. The RS Black Top also comes with body kits but as the name implies, it comes with a black colored roof.

The RS and RS Black Top are also equipped with a tailgate spoiler, fog-lights, a side turn signal integrated into their power folding and power adjustable door mirrors.

The V and S variants on the other hand only have power adjustable mirrors with no power folding function. All of the variants are equipped with a rear non-intermittent wiper, a micro type antenna, LED high mount stop lamp, and multi-reflector halogen lamps.

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Honda Brio Variants: Interior

Inside, the Brio RS Black Top and the RS are equipped with black fabric seats with orange stitching, adjustable headrests, a 3-spoke RS design steering wheel, as well as orange accents for the interior trim.

All variants save for the manual 1.2 S have a seven-inch touchscreen, but all do come with Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, and a USB port.

The RS and RS Black Top also have more speakers numbering at six, while the V and S only has S. All variants save for the 1.2 S MT have a vanity mirror as well steering wheel mounted audio controls.

Sometimes, simple is just the way to go

When it comes to interior space, all of the Brio’s variants can comfortably seat five. They also come with identical cargo capacities at 258 liters with the rear seats in use, and 710 liters when folded down.

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Honda Brio Variants: Engine and Performance

The 2^nd-generation Brio uses only one engine option; the gasoline powered 1.2 liter L12B i-VTEC inline-4. It makes 89 horsepower and 110 Nm of torque, and power is sent to the front wheels.

The RS Black Top, the RS, and the 1.2 V comes with Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology continuously variable transmission. The 1.2 S on the other hand has a five-speed manual.

The Honda Brio 2020 also comes standard with a MacPherson strut and stabilizer for the front, a torsion beam for the rear, front ventilated disc brakes, and drums for the rear.

Honda Brio Variants: Safety Equipment

In terms of safety, all the Brio’s variants are equipped with what you’d expect from a modern vehicle. It has dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system, and an engine immobilizer.

However, the RS Black Top, RS and the V does come with speed sensing auto door locks, and a security alarm.

Here's the Brio's dual front airbags in action

Honda Brio Variants: Price

Honda Brio Variants: Conclusion

If you really want an affordable city car that’s fun to drive, we highly get the Brio 1.2 S MT. Note that Honda is known for making excellent manual transmissions, and with the Brio 1.2 S MT’s weight, we’re sure that you’ll have tons of fun rowing those gears, as well as a worry free driving experience on the road.

Do note though that even the slightly heavier, top of the line RS Black Top is a very light car. As such, these cars are the ideal vehicles to come with CVT.

Trust us, it’s like driving a go-kart and plus, you’ll never have to break a sweat again when driving in traffic. Also, if you care about having an attractive vehicle, go for the RS or the RS Black Top. If not, then you might want to settle with the more affordable Brio 1.2 V CVT.  

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While the RS Black Top and the RS looks great, the V and the S are attractive looking cars in their own right

And lastly, the Brio is one of the few vehicles in its class to come with an Inline-4 engine, the other two being the Chevrolet Spark and the Kia Picanto. So if you don’t want a three cylinder but you still need a city car, then the Brio in general is a great option for you.

For more car buyer’s guides like this, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.