Spec Comparo: Honda BR-V vs Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster

The compact SUV segment in India has flourished well over the last few years. Most of the automobile manufacturing giants are introducing a new product in this lucrative segment and now Honda has launched the BR-V. This new SUV goes up against the Hyundai Creta and the Renault Duster. Here’s how they match each other on specs:

Dimensions

The Honda BRV is basically an SUV based on the Mobilio MPV. The overall length, width and height of the BR-V measures 4,456mm, 1,735mm and 1,686mm respectively. This makes it longer and taller than the Creta, which is 4,270mm long and 1,630mm tall. The Duster with its butch stance is taller of the lot at 1,695mm. However, The BR-V is the narrowest, which translates into lesser shoulder room for passengers. Nevertheless, it has a wheelbase of 2,662mm, longer than the Creta’s 2,590mm, but shorter than the Duster’s 2,673mm wheelbase. The high ground clearance of 210mm makes it the BR-V’s USP as the Creta stands at 190mm and the Duster at 205mm. This should help in driving over rugged Indian terrains with ease.

Equipment

In terms of equipment, the top-end versions of all the cars offer decent amount of features. The BR-V and Creta get projector headlamps with DRLs, while the Duster misses out on both. It also misses out on the start-stop engine button like on the other two. Automatic climate control and semi-digital instrument cluster can be seen on all cars, but the BR-V just gets a 2-Din music system in place of a touch-screen system like the other two. Just like the Mobilio, Honda has managed to put in a third row of seats in the big cabin of the BR-V. So the BR-V offers three row of seats for seven people in all, unlike its competitors that can accommodate only five people. The seats in the BR-V also offer easy access with its slide, recline and different folding options.

The top-end versions of all the three cars get ABS and dual front airbags enhancing the safety quotient. The SX (O) trim of the Creta provides additional safety with six airbags in all. Apart from the base E variant of the BR-V, all variants get ABS as standard like in the Creta and the Duster. Sadly, the absence of the reverse camera and even parking sensors in the BR-V can be a letdown especially when such a long car should get one. The rivals get it.

Engine and Gearbox

The Honda BR-V shares its engine lineup with the City sedan. So, the petrol gets a 1.5-litre i-VTEC mill (117bhp, 145Nm) and the diesel comes powered by a 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor (99bhp, 200Nm). The former is additionally available in a CVT variant, apart from the six-speed manual transmission on offer on all other variants.

On the other hand, the Hyundai Creta is available in two diesel and one petrol engine. The petrol mill is a 1.6-litre Gamma VTVT motor churning out 121bhp of power and 155Nm of torque. The diesel units – 1.4-litre U2 CRDi and a 1.6-litre CRDi – are good for 89bhp with 220Nm and 126bhp with 260Nm respectively. A six-speed manual gearbox is a standard feature, whereas an optional six-speed automatic transmission is offered only on the SX+ diesel and petrol variants.

The French carmaker offers the Duster in two engine options - a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol and a 1.5-litre K9K diesel. While the petrol engine puts out 102bhp and 145Nm of torque, the oil burner is tuned for two states of power – 84bhp/200Nm and 108bhp/248Nm. It is only the latter unit that is also offered with an all-wheel-drive system. Also, the diesel comes with an AMT gearbox unlike the conventional CVTs in the BR-V and Creta. Otherwise, the six-speed manual transmission can be seen in all other variants.

Price

The petrol Creta is priced between Rs 9.16 lakh and Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom new Delhi), while the base diesel costs Rs 10.07 lakh and the top-of-the-line diesel goes up to Rs 14.43 lakh. The Honda BR-V’s petrol variant starts at Rs 8.75 lakh and the top-of-the-line CVT costs Rs 11.99 lakh. On the other hand, the diesel BR-V has a price range of Rs 9.9 lakh to Rs 12.9 lakh. So, the Honda BR-V has surely undercut the prices of the petrol and diesel variants of the Creta, but the price difference is minimal. The BR-V still asks for a bigger premium in comparison to the Renault Duster’s prices. The petrol Duster costs Rs 8.47 lakh – Rs 9.27 lakh and the diesel Duster is priced in the Rs 9.27 lakh to Rs 13.57 lakh price range.