Face-Off: Old vs 2019 Honda BR-V

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. launched its BR-V to the market back in 2016. After a 3-year stint, the seven-seater is getting a little update for its fourth year here in the country. The new model was launched under the phrase: “Most powerful in its class,” but this is not a radical upgrade, rather a showcase of how well Honda listens to its consumers. 

Up front, the 2019 BR-V gets a new bumper that is not so different from the old model. It still looks like a BR-V, but the more astute can point out the different shapes that make up this piece of kit. The fog lamp casings are prime examples. The cheeks of the bumper now have more dimension to them as there is a black portion that emphasizes the added lines. The grille also gets an extra strip of chrome underneath. The entire front end is now more reminiscent of the CR-V and Odyssey, bringing this small MPV in line with its other more modern offerings. 

The rear remains relatively unchanged, save for the – once again – the bumper. More prominent lines now dominate the rear giving it a more dimensional look. Like the front, C-shaped indentations house the two reflectors. Where the old one looked soft, this new model has more pronounced features. It’s like Honda outlined the design elements of the car and highlighted it with black accents and inserts. 

The side view is not much different from the previous generation. The 16-inch wheels of the new variant now have a different design from the pre-facelift model. Featuring a design that is non-directional, it’s a different approach to the 16-inch wheels in the older model. 

Now this is where things get interesting. Whereas the old BR-V was only offered with a black leather interior in the previous top of the line trim, the new V variant now comes with leather seats with red accents and stitching found throughout the car. These red threads can be found around the interior like in the steering wheel, gear lever, and not to mention the seats. 

Apart from the seating that you get, the new top-of-the-line model gets a Kenwood infotainment system that – like the old model – blends in seamlessly with the panel it is situated in. This head unit is capable of running Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is a welcome inclusion for the changing times. Sadly, the S trim comes with the old Honda-branded capacitive touchscreen display – a Bluetooth capable unit as found in the previous generation. So, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity are exclusive to the top-of-the-line features. 

In the past, back-up cameras were not highly sought-after items. Having a camera was reserved for only the top-of-the-line models. Nowadays, it is quite a necessity. We are pleased to report that even the S variant now comes with a backup camera as standard. You no longer have to go to the top-level trim in order to see what’s behind you on your infotainment screen.