Honda launched the facelift of the WR-V in 2020. It was a mild facelift but was still important as the WR-V has to go against the compact SUVs. Now, a test mule of a new crossover has been spotted. It seems to have the size of the WR-V but looks very different.
This could be the original design that Honda planned for the WR-V but Honda backed out for some reason. Or this could be the upcoming facelift which is highly unlikely because the Japanese manufacturer is already working on a compact SUV that is supposed to launch in 2023. The new compact SUV will be replacing the WR-V in the line-up.
From the images, we can see that the front of the WR-V is redesigned. It seems like it gets a split headlamp design with an LED strip above and the main headlamp unit below. We can also see that it is a projector setup. There is a new grille but you can see similar chrome elements on the current WR-V also. The faux skid plate looks very similar to the current WR-V. Moreover, on the side, there are the same 16-inch alloy wheels, outside rearview mirrors with turn indicators and body cladding. The silhouette of the test mule also seems just like the WR-V. We can also see a portion of the tail lamp which also looks very similar to the WR-V.
Also read: Nissan building low cost, 7 seat MPV for India based on Renault Triber
It could happen that Honda made only one functioning test mule and then scrapped the project because if they made so many changes then the production cost would have also increased. It simply might have made more financial sense to make minimal changes to the current WR-V and work on the new compact SUV that will eventually replace the WR-V. For instance, Tata Motors once was working on a long-wheelbase version of the Indica. It would have been called Indica XL and the project was axed. The test mule of the hatchback was spotted uncamouflaged at the Tata Motors factory located in Pimpri, Pune.
Honda WR-V
As of now, the prices of WR-V start at Rs. 8.88 lakhs ex-showroom and goes up to Rs. 12.08 lakhs ex-showroom. It is offered with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The petrol engine produces 90 PS of max power and 110 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox only. The diesel engine produces 100 PS of max power and 200 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox only.
Honda WR-V has to compete against Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Toyota Urban Cruiser and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
Honda’s upcoming compact SUV
The compact SUV is codenamed 3US. Honda has finalized the design of the compact SUV and the engineering work is also progressing well. It would no longer have a crossover-ish design like the WR-V. Instead, it will come with a proper aggressive and boxy looking design. Some of the design elements could be taken from Honda Concept RS.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500
Honda launched the facelift of the WR-V in 2020. It was a mild facelift but was still important as the WR-V has to go against the compact SUVs. Now, a test mule of a new crossover has been spotted. It seems to have the size of the WR-V but looks very different.
This could be the original design that Honda planned for the WR-V but Honda backed out for some reason. Or this could be the upcoming facelift which is highly unlikely because the Japanese manufacturer is already working on a compact SUV that is supposed to launch in 2023. The new compact SUV will be replacing the WR-V in the line-up.
From the images, we can see that the front of the WR-V is redesigned. It seems like it gets a split headlamp design with an LED strip above and the main headlamp unit below. We can also see that it is a projector setup. There is a new grille but you can see similar chrome elements on the current WR-V also. The faux skid plate looks very similar to the current WR-V. Moreover, on the side, there are the same 16-inch alloy wheels, outside rearview mirrors with turn indicators and body cladding. The silhouette of the test mule also seems just like the WR-V. We can also see a portion of the tail lamp which also looks very similar to the WR-V.
Also read: Nissan building low cost, 7 seat MPV for India based on Renault Triber
It could happen that Honda made only one functioning test mule and then scrapped the project because if they made so many changes then the production cost would have also increased. It simply might have made more financial sense to make minimal changes to the current WR-V and work on the new compact SUV that will eventually replace the WR-V. For instance, Tata Motors once was working on a long-wheelbase version of the Indica. It would have been called Indica XL and the project was axed. The test mule of the hatchback was spotted uncamouflaged at the Tata Motors factory located in Pimpri, Pune.
Honda WR-V
As of now, the prices of WR-V start at Rs. 8.88 lakhs ex-showroom and goes up to Rs. 12.08 lakhs ex-showroom. It is offered with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The petrol engine produces 90 PS of max power and 110 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox only. The diesel engine produces 100 PS of max power and 200 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox only.
Honda WR-V has to compete against Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Toyota Urban Cruiser and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
Honda’s upcoming compact SUV
The compact SUV is codenamed 3US. Honda has finalized the design of the compact SUV and the engineering work is also progressing well. It would no longer have a crossover-ish design like the WR-V. Instead, it will come with a proper aggressive and boxy looking design. Some of the design elements could be taken from Honda Concept RS.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500