Honda Brio, true to its family lineage carries the peppy and refined performance charm. The car feels well footed irrespective of it being driven within the city or on highways. The Celerio hatchback from India's largest car-maker was an instant hit right from the day when it was launched in India. The key factor that made it a grand success is the lucrative price tag for an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technology that came from India's most preferred car-maker. Within two months of the car being launched in the Indian market, it reportedly crossed the 35,000 sales mark.
The Celerio comes with EZDrive technology which is a comfortable replacement of the manual shift. Celerio is powered by 1.0-litre K-Series engine, that generates about 68 Ps of power with about 90 Nm of torque. The hatchback is stated to be highly fuel efficient and delivers an impressive mileage of about 23.1 kmpl. The Auto Gear Shift system has no manual clutch and thus there are only two pedals. It is based on an electronic control unit which drives the precision hydraulic actuator to control the clutch engagement and the gear shifting. It also ensures that the gear and clutch operations happen at optimal timings. Some of the factors that are responsible for higher efficiency is the optimized compression ratio, reduced frictional losses, low viscosity engine oil, and re-designed valves and springs.
The interiors in the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is said to be intelligently designed to maximize space and comfort. The rear seats get 60:40 split option known as 'XpanDesign' for more luggage space. The cabin space is neat and has a premium feel too it. Moreover, the occupants get ample headroom, legroom and shoulder-room for a comfortable travel. During launch, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Given the congestion on Indian roads, the demand for auto mode is no brainer. Presently, cars with automatic transmission are less than 5 percent. Celerio will cater to a growing demand for vehicles with automatic gear shift at an affordable price.”
Apart from the manual version, Honda Brio is also available in Automatic version. The hatchback is powered by 1198cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine that generates about 88 Ps of power with 109 Nm of torque. As ARAI reports, the Automatic version delivers a fuel efficiency figure of about 16.5 kmpl.
The exterior looks stylish and seems to borrow some genes from its yesteryear sibling Jazz. The rear boot is covered with large transparent glass that gives it a distinctive look. For safety the hatchback is loaded with features like ABS, EBD and driver and passenger airbags. As for convenience the vehicle is high on features like, ORVM's that are electrically adjustable, adjustable steering, steering mounted controls, keyless entry and driver seat height adjustment. The cool interior color combinations lend it an upmarket feel.
