Take your pick: 2022 Suzuki Celerio or Honda Brio? [Poll of the Week]

Small hatchbacks are one of the vehicles that continue to hold their ground in the Philippine market. With the diminutive dimensions, pint-sized power units, and relatively easy maneuverability, subcompact hatchbacks are among the top choices among car buyers. 

Suzuki Philippines recently re-armed its arsenal for the subcompact hatchback battle royale by introducing the all-new Celerio last May. It features a revamped look that one can easily spot when comparing the old to the new Celerio. The interior also gets a restyled layout as seen on the dashboard, door panels, seats, among others. 

Dimensions-wise, the new Celerio measures 3,695mm long, 1,655mm wide, and 1,555mm tall. It comes with a wheelbase of 2,435mm while it sits high on the ground with a clearance rated at 170mm. 

2022 Suzuki Celerio

Aside from the new design, the 2022 Suzuki Celerio is powered by an updated engine but it still is a three-cylinder power unit. Under the hood, it gets a K10C 1.0-liter Dualjet gasoline engine that puts out 67 hp and 89 Nm of torque. 

The engine can be connected to either a five-speed manual gearbox or automated gear shift (AGS) transmission. Yes, there’s no more continuously variable transmission (CVT) option for the new Celerio. While some might still prefer to have it in CVT, Suzuki PH says that the Celerio’s AGS transmission yields better fuel economy.

The all-new Suzuki Celerio is pitted against the Honda Brio, which is one of the staple small hatchbacks in the market for quite some time now. The Brio comes with more variant options than the Celerio. The top-spec RS Black Top comes with an athletic exteior package, differentiating itself from other Brio variants. 

Honda Brio RS Black Top

In terms of size, the Honda Brio RS measures 3,815mm long, 1,680mm wide, and 1,485mm tall. It also has a 2,405mm wheelbase, and it sits lower to the ground compared to the Celerio with 137mm ground clearance. 

The Brio is equipped with an engine that has a larger displacement than the Celerio. Pop open the Brio’s hood you’ll see a 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that makes 89 hp and 110 Nm of torque. The engine can be connected to a five-speed manual or CVT. 

Price-wise, the Suzuki Celerio has a starting price of Php 708,000 while the top-spec variant with the AGS transmission retails at Php 754,000. The Brio, on the other hand, is offered with four variants at a starting price of Php 650,000 while the top-spec Brio RS Black Top retails at Php 808,000. Of note, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. recently implemented a price adjustment for several of its models.

With the quick rundown of features, which small hatchback do you prefer? The Celerio or the Brio? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.