Oct 22, 2012 11:16 AM
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(Updated Oct 22, 2012 11:16 AM)
The Honda Brio Automatic has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 5.74 - 5.99 lakhs(ex-Delhi).
What you’ll like:
5-speed Automatic gearbox is easily the best-in-class
Sweet i-VTEC engine & healthy power-to-weight ratio
High quality interiors for the segment
Light controls, smooth gearshifts and easy maneuverability make for stress-free commuting
Honda's reliability & ownership experience
What you won’t:
Gearbox can end up puzzled on mid-throttle input
Equipment list lacks rear defogger, CD player & driver seat height adjustment
Basic, unsettled ride quality on irregular roads. Gets choppy on uneven highways
Small 175 liter boot
Ordinary space for back seat passengers. Rear seat-back too short
Automatic transmissions have come of age in India. Those who previously sneered at the inefficient, lazy boxes are now considering buying them, thanks to a range of more dynamic automatic transmission options available in the small car segment.
The Honda Brio has the reputation of being one of the best city cars. Now, Honda has made it even better with the introduction of an automatic transmission.
Visually, you will hardly spot any difference between the automatic and manual Brios until you step inside the cabin. Apart from the automatic transmission gear stick and the gear indicators on the instrument panel, the interiors too remain pretty much the same.
The automatic Brio is powered by the same engine, as its manual sibling. The 1.2 litre i-VTEC is a gem of an engine that gets better as it revs towards the redline. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, the engine ever-so-smoothly makes light work of urban commuting.
The Brio gets a conventional five-speed automatic gearbox instead of the CVT. The gearbox is similar to the one in the Honda City Automatic, but has different gear ratios.
Moving around the city, the auto box works really well, which means you negotiate the bumper to bumper traffic without breaking a sweat. Never did I feel the gearbox or the engine being laggy. Moreover, the car's compact size and tight turning circle are a real blessing. However in the automatic variant, turning radius has gone up by 0.2 metres.
The gearbox is equally good on highway as well, seeking out the optimum gear to match the torque delivery and kicking down swiftly once you put your foot down. Should you need quicker acceleration for overtaking, you can shift to D3, D2 or even D1, which holds onto each gear like in a manual, and does not upshift even at the redline.
In terms of mileage, the automatic Brio returns 16.5 kmpl, which is 2.9 kmpl less than the manual. However, the Eco lamp on the meter console works well to encourage economic driving.
Prices for the Brio AT start at Rs 5.74(ex-showroom, Delhi) for the S variant. A higher-spec V variant is also available for Rs 5.99 lakh and comes with alloy wheels, dual airbags, fog lamps and dual-tone beige interiors with silver garnish.
Disclaimer:
Taken From Various Site Just to Keep Updated U all:)
