Honda’s compact SUV for India: Is this it?

The Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has gone through a period of struggle with several vehicles not seeing enough traction in India. The Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic and Jazz are all discontinued. However, the company is determined to come back, and its sedans Amaze and the Honda City are doing well indeed. The next would be a compact SUV in 2023, announced recently by Honda.

Other than Honda almost every automaker in the country does offer an SUV in some or other segment, be it compact, sub-compact, or full size. However, in an attempt to turn things around it seems like the Japanese carmaker has noted its pain point and is preparing to introduce a few SUVs in the nation.

Recently Honda unveiled the silhouette of a new SUV at the GIIAS (GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show). From the looks of it seems like a subcompact SUV that could be launched in the near future to compete against the industry champions like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, and Hyundai Venue. Or it could be a larger SUV competing against the likes of the Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. As of now, the company has not announced the moniker under which the new vehicle will get launched.

Also read: Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo: New details surface

Some believe that the upcoming SUV could be a redesigned Honda WR-V. Others think that it could be a successor to the WR-V and will be a completely new vehicle. What it truly will be is still under wraps and we will only find out once the official launch happens in the nation sometime in mid-2023. Although in speculations of what this model might be, some sources have also claimed that it could be the production version of the SUV RS Concept showcased in 2021.

In terms of the design for this forthcoming vehicle which will be making its debut on November 2 in Indonesia, we have a few renders from Andra Febrian Design. The artist has made these renders based on the silhouette released by Honda and an earlier spy shot of the vehicle. So from the render, we can note that the upcoming subcompact SUV will receive a grille with a lot of chrome garnish up front.

Additionally, it will get LED headlights that will have a DRL strip in the center. The side profile is straight with few wrinkles and curves. Meanwhile at the rear, with its straightforward, block-shaped tail lights the vehicle looks like a traditional Honda automobile. The forthcoming vehicle will overall boast quite a sporty, upscale appearance thanks to the faux skid plate at the back.

As the details around this vehicle are very scarce we do not know what powerplant will be under the bonnet. Honda could power this forthcoming SUV with the company’s trusted 1.2-liter petrol engine or it could also provide the 1.5-liter diesel engine in the vehicle. Although there are also rumors floating around that Honda could stop producing its 1.5-liter diesel engine because of forthcoming pollution regulations. Additionally, there are rumors that Honda is developing a new 1.0-liter turbo-petrol engine just for this SUV.

Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500

The Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has gone through a period of struggle with several vehicles not seeing enough traction in India. The Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic and Jazz are all discontinued. However, the company is determined to come back, and its sedans Amaze and the Honda City are doing well indeed. The next would be a compact SUV in 2023, announced recently by Honda.

Other than Honda almost every automaker in the country does offer an SUV in some or other segment, be it compact, sub-compact, or full size. However, in an attempt to turn things around it seems like the Japanese carmaker has noted its pain point and is preparing to introduce a few SUVs in the nation.

Recently Honda unveiled the silhouette of a new SUV at the GIIAS (GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show). From the looks of it seems like a subcompact SUV that could be launched in the near future to compete against the industry champions like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, and Hyundai Venue. Or it could be a larger SUV competing against the likes of the Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. As of now, the company has not announced the moniker under which the new vehicle will get launched.

Also read: Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo: New details surface

Some believe that the upcoming SUV could be a redesigned Honda WR-V. Others think that it could be a successor to the WR-V and will be a completely new vehicle. What it truly will be is still under wraps and we will only find out once the official launch happens in the nation sometime in mid-2023. Although in speculations of what this model might be, some sources have also claimed that it could be the production version of the SUV RS Concept showcased in 2021.

In terms of the design for this forthcoming vehicle which will be making its debut on November 2 in Indonesia, we have a few renders from Andra Febrian Design. The artist has made these renders based on the silhouette released by Honda and an earlier spy shot of the vehicle. So from the render, we can note that the upcoming subcompact SUV will receive a grille with a lot of chrome garnish up front.

Additionally, it will get LED headlights that will have a DRL strip in the center. The side profile is straight with few wrinkles and curves. Meanwhile at the rear, with its straightforward, block-shaped tail lights the vehicle looks like a traditional Honda automobile. The forthcoming vehicle will overall boast quite a sporty, upscale appearance thanks to the faux skid plate at the back.

As the details around this vehicle are very scarce we do not know what powerplant will be under the bonnet. Honda could power this forthcoming SUV with the company’s trusted 1.2-liter petrol engine or it could also provide the 1.5-liter diesel engine in the vehicle. Although there are also rumors floating around that Honda could stop producing its 1.5-liter diesel engine because of forthcoming pollution regulations. Additionally, there are rumors that Honda is developing a new 1.0-liter turbo-petrol engine just for this SUV.

Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500