2019 Honda BR-V

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Honda BR-V

Honda’s BR-V squeezes itself into a quirky niche in South Africa—just not quite big enough to be a “proper” family SUV, but sitting too high and thirsty to challenge the B-segment hatchbacks for running costs. It’s a car for people who don’t want to blow R500k on a seven-seater, but still need school-run flexibility and a back seat for the in-laws. Rivals? Suzuki Ertiga, Kia Sonet, Nissan Livina—nothing flash, but all chasing the same rand-conscious crowd. Power is simple: a 1.5-litre petrol, either with a manual or CVT, depending on spec. Right now the used market’s dry—just four BR-Vs listed, priced between R202,500 and R298,888. If you want one, you’ll need patience or to accept what’s available. Three out of those four are the 1.5 Comfort spec, which tells you where the real demand lands: R202,500 gets you in, R297,500 gets you the fancier bits, while the lone Elegance CVT pushes the ceiling at R298,888. All these are 2018 to 2023 cars, averaging 95,840 km—not low, but not scary if the paperwork checks out. No brand new BR-Vs are showing up at dealers. What tips buyers toward the Honda over the Ertiga? Slightly nicer trim, plus Honda’s solid engine rep. The CVT isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you pack smart and stick to city driving, it’s what the BR-V should have been from the start: sensible, affordable, and—on paper at least—a proper seven-seater under R300k. That matters.