2025 Honda BR-V VX: Worthy of imitation and aspiration
Being the exemplar inevitably involves two things.
First, it means being the “crème de le crème,” the “best of the best” or the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All Time) resulting from an impressive body of work and truly indomitable talent. The likes of actress Meryl Streep, the late singer Whitney Houston, and our very own two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo come to mind.
Second, the exemplar naturally has imitators – indeed, the Latin root word exemplum means “sample” or “imitation.” And in this hyper-Darwinist era, innovations must be so novel and so dominant to effectively propel the goals of neoliberal capitalism.
Put another way, the immortal words of Dorina (played by Sharon Cuneta) to rival Lavinia (played by the late Cherie Gil) in the 1985 film “Bituing Walang Ningning” fit perfectly: “Hindi lang kita papantayan. Lalampasan pa kita! [I won’t just match you. I will go past you!]”
Honda Cars has long been a factory of automotive exemplars – the DC2 Integra Type R proved that front-wheel drive can take on and take down rear-wheel-drive coupes, while the original NSX proved that there was a world beyond cantankerous Italian supercars like the Ferrari 348.
And although multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) have long been considered the vanilla ice cream of cars, the Japanese company has even succeeded in turning the top-of-the-line BR-V VX into an exemplar, too.
Sensible styling
Rivals like the Hyundai Stargazer X may be more eye-catching, but this Honda MPV has an aesthetic that is universally appealing.
Two-tone, 17-inch alloy wheels are neatly framed by matte-black cladding that offers adequate protection on rough roads, without making the BR-V VX look like a plastic disaster. The familiar Honda grille is topped by chrome that connects the large LED headlights, which lead the eye to the prominent beltline down the side.
Its large LED taillights have an intricate appearance when the parking lights are turned on, while the pert rear bumper balances out the triangular quarter window. This particular BR-V VX test unit also came with a bevy of optional accessories like window deflectors, fender emblems and additional silver trim that give it just a touch more pizzazz.
Credible seating for 7
Inside, the BR-V VX reiterates its status as the highest variant with soft leather upholstery in all three rows, as well as on the steering wheel and gear selector.
Hide is also present on the dashboard and door cards, which would offer a more premium feel if these used soft-touch materials. Happily, the controls of the strong air-conditioner and the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offer simplicity that Chinese carmakers stubbornly refuse to countenance (at their own peril).
A few bugbears include the fuzzy view out of the rear and LaneWatch cameras, the inability to adjust steering-wheel reach, and the lack of thigh support for the driver’s seat. But optional accessories like the side-step garnish cover, cargo tray and seat-back protectors are worthwhile in making this MPV hardier for family trips.
And although the second-row bench could be wider, the versatile cabin means the BR-V VX can seat seven people better than some giant sport-utility vehicles (SUV). You even get 244 liters with all seats up, 530 liters with the third row down, and 1,032 liters with the second and third rows folded.
Exemplary performance
The BR-V VX is also so much nicer to drive than those leviathan SUVs.
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out a class-leading 119 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters of torque, all coursed through a continuously variable transmission. Performance is spunky all throughout the RPM range, but thicker soundproofing would block out excessive engine and tire noise.
In addition, the light steering should have more feel and a faster ratio for easier maneuvering, while the strong brakes are controlled by a rather spongy pedal. The BR-V’s suspension is on the firm side, especially when unladen – the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross with its Montero Sport shock absorbers offers a more refined ride over bumps.
But where the Honda really takes the cake is fuel economy – this test unit has been well-broken in with over 10,000 kilometers. City consumption is an excellent 10 to 13 kilometers per liter, while expressway consumption is a fantastic 21 to 24 kilometers per liter.
Class-leading safety
And this BR-V VX isn’t done being amazing yet – setting it apart from every other MPV sold in the country, as of press time, is the Honda SENSING advanced driver-assist system (ADAS).
This is the first vehicle of its kind to feature life-saving features like collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation and lane departure warning. And for long drives, the adaptive cruise control is unbeatable at keeping your journeys relaxing yet safe.
The VX variant is also the only variant to get front, side and curtain airbags as standard. All I could really hope for is that all BR-V models have these exceptional safety systems as standard – this would be another ace for Honda Cars Philippines Inc., given that rivals like the Xpander and the Stargazer simply cannot match the safety levels of this MPV.
Top of the tree
At P1,395,000, the Honda BR-V VX easily offers greater value for money than raised MPV rivals like the P1,346,000 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, and the P1,348,000 Hyundai Stargazer X.
The Korean upstart may also have ADAS (whereas the Mitsubishi has none at all), but it strangely lacks adaptive-cruise control. If Honda Cars can do it, why can’t everybody else?
And that’s why the BR-V VX is the Philippines’ MPV exemplar – it sets the bar so high that others must really work hard to hurdle it. But like Carlos Yulo, other carmakers are surely developing a vehicle that will offer better performance, fuel economy, comfort and safety than Honda Cars’ little seven-seater.
Now that’s a fight that would benefit us all.
