MOM'S TAXI TEST: Honda Brio 1.2 Comfort
Hats off to Honda for its decision to enter the highly competitive budget car segment. The Brio is likely to be a winner for first time youthful car buyers (or their parents, who might be footing the bill!), coming in at an affordable R119 800.
Its appealing looks, comfy cabin and all of the gizmos and gadgets youngsters want from a car, like auto windows, aux/USB interfaces, and even steering wheel controls, add to its desirability.
I wasn't totally smitten by the odd brown dashboard plastic, but then at this price, you can't expect genuine walnut or sumptuous leather.
DOES SIZE COUNT?
The car is tiny - and you won't easily accommodate long-legged men in sombreros in the rear - but for teen or young drivers, that's hardly going to matter. Besides, think of the old VW Beetles, or the original Mini, and how unfazed their drivers were by lack of passenger space!
Also, if you're a lift club mom who's eyeing out this car, you might have serious problems cramming in all of the goods and chattels most kids have to cart to school these days.
On the road, it's nippy, fun, and ridiculously easy to park.
On a lengthy commute I will admit to a numb butt after an hour. The seats are comfortable but on long journeys, you will definitely need to climb out and ease your rear end if you're not well padded.
SPRIGHTLY ENGINE
Powered by a sprightly 1.2 16-valve engine (65kW and 109Nm of torque), the Brio comes with either a five-speed manual or auto gearbox, and also boasts dual airbags, ABS and EBD.
I loved the vast rear window, providing unimpeded visibility, and ditto the front windscreen, and I was charmed by its friendly little front end with those big wide-eyed headlights.
Honda says you should manage a consumption figure of around 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres, but if you're running the air conditioner full time, and climbing loads of hills, you might add a soupcon more to that figure, particularly if you're Gauteng-based.
There's a tiny green “Eco” light that pops on if you're driving frugally, or rather, when your foot is off the gas.
NO PLACE FOR VANITY
I noted the absence of a rear windscreen wiper and de-mister on a wet and foggy day, and girls who do their make-up in the car en-route to the office will also need to use the central mirror to do their faces, as there's no vanity mirror on the driver's sun visor.
The Brio, which incidentally is manufactured in India, is available in six rather fetching exterior colours, including Taffeta White and Rally Red, with metallic paint options being Energetic Blue, Alabaster Silver, Urban Titanium and Crystal Black.
Included in the price of your Brio is a two-year or 30 000km service plan and three-year or 100 000km warranty, while service intervals are pegged at 15 000km.