New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign, Pictures, Engine – Making vehicles that appeal to the average family shouldn’t be all that complicated. Most families need something affordable, safe, fuel-efficient, and easy to drive. Honda figured this out decades ago when it introduced the Brio in 1976.
Fast forward almost 50 years, and the Brio is still a big seller, offering consumers a combination of style, comfort, advanced technologies, a complete safety package, and a pleasant driving experience. For 2026, the Brio is available in three trims. The base EX model has a 1.5L turbocharged engine, while Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid trims get Honda’s newest hybrid powertrain. New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign
New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
The Brio can seat five comfortably, offering decent headroom and legroom, both fore and aft. It has a larger cargo hold than rivals like the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, or Nissan Altima, and can be ordered with a cargo net or cargo hooks, which are designed to keep groceries and other smaller goods from rolling around in the trunk.
I took this tester on a long six-hour drive, arriving at my destination no worse for wear. The passenger cabin is surprisingly quiet due to a number of features, including Honda’s Active Noise Control system (standard on all trims), which constantly monitors exhaust and cylinder noise and counteracts it, resulting in a quieter cabin. This tester was also equipped with an acoustic windshield (only available on Touring Hybrid models), which pretty much eliminates wind noise.
New 2026 Honda Brio Specs
There is a notable difference in features as you move up through the three available trims. For instance, while the base EX model gets a seven-inch touchscreen, Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid models get a much nicer 12.3-inch touchscreen. Touring Hybrid models also get a premium sound system with 12 speakers instead of only eight, and they’re the only models with a Google-based infotainment system, rear USB charging ports, rear console vents, heated rear seats (front seats are heated on all trims), leather seating, and other worthwhile features.
Engine and Performance
Honda offers two engine options for the 2026 Brio. A turbocharged 192-hp 1.5L four-cylinder engine is offered with the base EX model, while Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid models come with a four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine paired to two electric motors for a combined output of 204 hp. All trims come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available. The hybrid powertrain produces a combined torque figure of 247 lb-ft, which kicks in at zero rpm and translates into effortless acceleration from a dead stop. New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign
New 2026 Honda Brio Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is excellent and on par with hybrid versions of other mid-size sedans. Brioing to Natural Resources Canada, the Brio Hybrid is rated at 5.3 L/100 km combined, while its closest rival, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, is rated at 4.9 L/100 km. During my week with the Touring Hybrid model, I did a bit better than anticipated, with a combined fuel economy of 5.2 L/100 km. Much of that was highway driving, but it’s a pleasant surprise to fill up the gas tank, start the car, and have the onboard computer tell you that you can go almost 900 km before fuelling up again. New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign
New 2026 Honda Brio Safety Features
All Brios are equipped with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive safety package that incorporates cutting-edge technologies like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, frontal collision warning, and much more. These safety systems are standard on all trims. The only exception is low-speed braking control, which prevents you from hitting nearby obstacles when driving under 10 km/h. This feature is only available on the top Touring Hybrid trim. New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign
New 2026 Honda Brio Price and Release Date
The Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima are some of your alternatives if you’re looking for a reasonably priced mid-size family car that provides excellent fuel efficiency and a comfortable ride, but not all of them are hybrids. A well-equipped Brio Sport Hybrid starts at $43,330 (prices include freight), while the topline Touring Hybrid is $46,830. In comparison, you can get into an entry-level Toyota Camry Hybrid for $34,550, but it’s missing a few of the features that come standard on the Brio, and a topline Camry Hybrid XLE AWD goes for $46,910 but has all-wheel drive, which isn’t available on the Brio.
While you can get into a new Brio for $39,333 (prices include $1,830 for freight), you’re missing many notable features and, more importantly, the hybrid powertrain that’s available only with Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid models. The former starts at $43,330, while the latter starts at $46,830. The top-of-the-line Touring Hybrid is an enticing choice if you appreciate features that are only available on that top trim: rain-sensing wipers, an acoustic windshield, a head-up display, rear console vents, wireless charging, driver’s seat with memory, heated rear seats, leather seating, a premium sound system, and more. If these features aren’t important to you, then the Sport Hybrid model is the way to go. New 2026 Honda Brio Redesign