Honda Cars India have worked to try their luck for the second time with their re-incarnated Mobilio and have named it BR-V. Frankly, BR-V is based on the Mobilio platform just like Jazz and City share same platform. No matter what Honda may project BR-V as but in simple words, it is just another MPV with side cladding and a new face and rear profile. The side profile is unchanged and looks still quite unimpressive. One of the main reason behind Mobilio's pre-mature death was it's bland looks. So, knowing well how the tastes and perceptions of buyers have changed ever since launch of the Mobilio, Honda Cars India probably thought that by changing the face and rear, they'll be able to attract the customers but it is again turning out to be a luke-warm response. About the front profile, in flesh, the BR-V does grab eye-balls for it's XUV-500ish look but front stance is not actually that attractive. The big chrome mustache just like Honda CITY has been placed but that too doesn't help much. The projector headlamps are a welcome move by Honda but frankly you'll not like to see the front profile over and over again. It's just a one time attraction. Coming to the side profile, over here, the most unappealing and unimpressive design language will leave you asking as to what for were the Indian buyers made to wait for? The side profile screams of Mobilio's carry-over and even as a good 2nd opportunity, Honda Cars India have miserably failed to provide a decent look on the sides. Another thing, there has been a new fashion in Indian Car sector i.e to grab buyers put side cladding and present it as a SUV on budget without giving a slight consideration to the fact whether the cladding serve the purpose or not and whether they enhance the looks or not. There are brands which call their hatchbacks as Mini-SUV and why so, because it has raised height and side cladding. Same way, with the soul of an MPV, just by adding a side cladding and skid plates, on what basis have Honda projected it as a SUV for that matter? and some even still believe it to be a compact SUV as well! On what basis does BR-V qualify as a compact SUV? It is having the same old Mobilio platform and since Mobilio was never an SUV or compact SUV, so BR-V too is not a SUV as a matter of fact. Also, for being a Compact SUV, the length has to be less than 4m and BR-V on this front also exceeds the dimensions. Frankly, the as much as the front profile might look new, the same old side profile would be a big deal breaker for many. Talking of the rear profile, the rear of the BR-V sports a look which resembles to some of the Toyota's international MPVs. With the rear profile and new design tail lights, Honda has to some extent given a refreshing feel but not an outstanding look if I may say. Overall, with these type of looks, only a marginal increase might be seen in the coming months in sales numbers of BR-V. Honestly, the external looks of BR-V in particular are not something you'll like to remember always. In my opinion, as its said, opportunity knocks on the door only once, and Honda seems to have lost that opportunity by re-introducing the Mobilio as BR-V with a half-hearted attempt. Honda as a brand has the potential of making good looking cars but it has failed here even with BR-V. So, those who have seen it and those who are yet to see it, please do not keep very high hopes upon the looks of BR-V. Coming to the re-worked bumpers, as the talking point in BR-V is the new front and rear profile so keeping in line with these changes, Honda has provided new bumpers to BR-V which do gel with the respective profile but do not give it a look of a heartthrob as the competitors have done. I would over here say, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga even with the cosmetic facelift still has a better over-all appearance and even the under-rated Renault's Lodgy looks its part and both of them unlike this new BR-V, never imitate or project themselves as SUV. Honda could have gone by a more linear and better external design. It might be projected as a new product but frankly it lacks the appeal of being a new product.
