Fortune favors the BR-V

The 2026 Honda BR-V VX’s design has stood the test of time.

When I was around 7 years old, my Dad bought a brand-new Isuzu Hi-Lander.

Back then, there wasn’t really such a thing as a crossover – the Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) ruled our roads. The genre was defined by the likes of the Hi-Lander with their clattery diesel engines, ladder-frame chassis, leaf-spring suspension and those side-facing jumpseats in the cargo area that could miraculously (or barely) squeeze in four adults.

For many middle-class Filipino families, this was the next step up from the traditional family sedan. And it sold like hotcakes because it allowed many owners to carry their family, their extended family and/or heavy cargo all in one highly versatile and immensely durable package.

AUVs suddenly came to mind as I was driving the 2026 Honda BR-V VX, which I borrowed recently to help me carry people and gear around for one of my Gymkhana Pilipinas events.

Full leather upholstery defines the top-spec BR-V

Easy and efficient

AUVs were effectively pick-up trucks with a wagon-style body and a much nicer interior.

But multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) like the BR-V follow a more modern engineering philosophy – unibody chassis, front-wheel drive and three rows of forward-facing seats (far safer than the jumpseats of yore). The result is a car that replicates the size and practicality of an AUV, but retains the light driving feel of a sedan.

In my case, I was able to haul 50 traffic cones, a large folding table, flags, tarpaulins and a large plastic box filled with sophisticated electronic equipment by simply folding the third-row seats. There remained plenty of space for me and my marshals to sit comfortably on this top-spec VX model’s soft leather seats.

And because MPVs are much lighter than AUVs, these could be fitted with smaller engines. In the case of the BR-V, it’s the well-proven 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, inline-4 gasoline engine that has also seen reliable service in the City and HR-V.

Even with plenty of people and cargo, the BR-V offered far superior acceleration, handling and fuel economy compared to any AUV from my youth. I consistently got 10 to 13 kilometers per liter in the city and 20 to 23 kilometers per liter on the expressway, thanks to the well-tuned continuously variable transmission.

Generous space is available for cargo or people

Trailblazing tech

But where the BR-V VX truly exceeds itself is its inclusion of the sensational Honda SENSING adaptive-driver assistance system (ADAS).

Having inherited our old Hi-Lander in college, I still remember doing long trips for hours on end with a manual gearbox and no cruise control. But in the BR-V, I had adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist that greatly reduced my workload on the expressway trip to and from Laguna, while autonomous emergency braking adds another layer of protection on our wild roads.

In fact, the BR-V VX not only beats AUVs of the past, but even MPVs of the present that don’t offer ADAS. The latter is particularly puzzling because this is exactly the sort of life-saving technology that is absolutely essential in a family car.

The light MPV body means this well-proven 1.5-liter engine can easily do the job.

Full safety gear

Besides cutting-edge features that prevent a road crash in the first place, the BR-V VX likewise has the sort of safety equipment that seemed like a pipe dream back in the “Y2K.”

My dear, old Isuzu relied on its sheer size and weight to keep us protected – crumple zones and airbags weren’t mandatory, while three-point seatbelts were only for some of the front passengers (no belts at all in those jumpseats). But the Honda gets three-point belts and head restraints for all seven passengers, as well as front, side and curtain airbags.

The BR-V VX’s party piece is the life-saving Honda SENSING active-safety suite.

The BR-V also got five out of five stars in the ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme, thanks in large part to the inclusion of Honda SENSING in the test vehicle. Other useful safety gear includes anti-lock brakes, Vehicle Stability Assist and ISOFIX child-restraint anchors.

Combining peppy performance, immense practicality and unmatched safety credentials, the Honda BR-V VX remains one of the top MPVs in its class. Although it could do with better soundproofing, a smoother ride and sharper driving dynamics, this seven-seater shows how two decades of automotive technology have made the Filipino family car better than ever.

Kids and families today are so lucky.