The all-new Honda BR-V is widely tipped to be the next model that Honda Malaysia launches here in 2022. But while we Malaysians continue to wait, our friendly neighbours up north in Thailand have now beat us to the punch with the official launch of the all-new seven-seater MPV/crossover today.
Available in just two variants in the Kingdom, the all-new Honda BR-V is priced at THB915,000 (approx. RM115k) for the entry-level E variant, and THB973,000 (approx. RM122k) for the range-topping EL, making it quite a bit dearer than its predecessor, as well as its chief rivals, the Toyota Veloz and Mitsubishi Xpander.
So what do the Thais get for the extra dough? For one, the Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance suite is now standard on both variants, with features including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and, road departure mitigation and lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beam.
The Honda LaneWatch camera is also included as standard, alongside a reverse camera and the usual suite of passive safety kit. The only difference in terms of safety between the two variants is the airbag count, with the entry-level variant receiving four, while the range-topping EL variant gets six airbags as standard.
RELATED: New Honda BR-V has fixed a ‘flaw’ in the previous gen’s exterior design
Aside from safety kit, Honda was also pretty generous in terms of standard equipment for the all-new 2022 BR-V in Thailand, with items such as the leather upholstery, automatic climate control, remote engine start, and seven-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto shared across both variants.
The range-topping EL variant stands out with the addition of the larger 17-inch wheels (16-inch on the E), piano-black front grille, LED front fog lamps, auto-folding side mirrors, all-black combination leather upholstery, gearshift paddles, and six speakers on the inside.
Both variants are powered by the same, unchanged naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC inline-four engine with 121 hp and 145 Nm on tap, with drive sent to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.
Back home here in Malaysia, the current-gen Honda BR-V is also offered in two variants only, priced at RM90,700 (on-the-road, without insurance) for the base E variant, and RM97,700 for the range-topping V. Given the price increase on the second-generation model in Thailand, we can probably assume the same will happen here, when it’s eventually launched here in Malaysia.
While the Honda HR-V enjoyed quite a significant success here in Malaysia when it was first launched back in 2017, competition has since heated up in the segment with the addition of the Mitsubishi Xpander, all-new Perodua Alza, as well as the upcoming Toyota Veloz – the latter estimated to be priced around the RM95k mark.
Can the all-new 2022 Honda BR-V still enjoy the same success? Only time will tell, but are you excited to see the much better-looking BR-V here on our roads? Let us know in the comments below.
GALLERY
