To test the mettle and technological features of its SUV line-up, Honda Cars Philippines Inc threw caution to the wind and organized an event at the sloping terrains of Tagaytay Highlands, Honda invited a select group of motoring pen pushers for the litmus test featuring the newest chariot in the Honda stable.
“Our aim is for you to experience our vehicles in the manner it was designed and built. Hence, we prepared the HR-V, CR-V, the Pilot and the new BR-V for you guys to test in different scenarios,” stated Toshio Kuwahara, President and GM of HCPI.
Veteran racer and motoring scribe George Ramirez prepared routes around the Highlands that tested the overall behavior and performance of the SUV’s. The uphill and downhill terrains of the Highlands presented itself as the test bed for descent and ascent runs with a dash of twisting roads to test the power and acceleration of the HR-V and the all-new BR-V. The 4WD variants CR-V and the Pilot were driven on an off-road course that allowed us to experience the 4WD systems of both SUV’s in a safe and controlled environment.
Every part of the road course allowed the participants to experience every vehicle’s dynamic driving performance, powerful engine, and effortless handling. The uphill and downhill drives demonstrated the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA) capabilities of all four SUVs that prevented the vehicles from skidding sideways during cornering, and rolling back on inclines.
The highlight of the day-long event was getting behind the wheel of the recently launched BR-V, Honda’s latest and perhaps the only seven-seater SUV in the domestic market. The participants drove the All-New BR-V 1.5 V Navi CVT on extensive laps across Tagaytay Highlands. Sharing components, chassis and engine with the Mobilio, the BR-V held its own against the hulking Pilot and the CR-V. Despite having only a 1500cc engine under its hood, the BR-V felt agile and power was precisely distributed down to its four-wheels by way of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It gamely drove up the steep inclines carrying a full load of seven adults, and effectively engaged the twists and turns of Tagaytay Highlands without missing a beat.
According to Kuwahara, delivery of the all-new BR-V will commence this December and reservations are now being accepted in Honda’s 34 dealerships nationwide.