• The new Honda SUV will be based on the fifth-generation City’s platform and will share the sedan’s petrol powertrain, with a 121hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a choice of 6-speed manual or CVT transmission.
• Honda’s new midsize SUV will debut in the coming months, will be priced between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 19 lakh, and will be available for purchase in mid-2023.

Honda will finally enter the competitive midsize SUV market with a new model set to make its global debut in the coming months. We were the first to bring you spy photos of Honda’s made-in-India Creta rival, and now we’re bringing you five key facts about the carmaker’s most important model for India in years.

The new CR-V and WR-V share styling cues with the Honda SUV

The new Honda SUV will be styled similarly to the sixth-generation CR-V and the new-generation Honda WR-V, both of which were unveiled late last year. The spy shots show a flat nose with a large Honda logo in the centre and sharp looking LED headlights that resemble the new CR-V. It gets taillights that are similar to the new-generation WR-V. Muscular wheel arches, a prominent kink in the rear window, and multi-spoke alloys are also design highlights. In terms of dimensions, the new Honda SUV will be 4.2-4.3 metres long.

This SUV is not Honda’s first Creta competitor

With the BR-V, Honda attempted to break into the midsize SUV market. The BR-V was the only car in the segment with three rows of seating when it debuted just a year after the first-generation Creta went on sale here. The BR-V, on the other hand, had limited success due to its MPV-like stance, with build quality and equipment falling short of its competitors. Honda also seriously considered launching the HR-V, which would have been their second attempt in the segment, a few years ago, but the plan was eventually scrapped. According to spy shots and insiders, this SUV is Honda’s most serious attempt at the midsize SUV space yet.

New Honda SUV and City will share same platform and powertrains

The new Honda midsize SUV will be based on the fifth-generation City’s platform and will share the sedan’s petrol powertrain. This means that the new Honda SUV will be powered by a 121hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and will be available with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT transmission. A turbo-petrol and powerful hybrid may be added later, but there will be no diesel.

Honda SUV is unlikely to be named after an acronym

In India, Honda’s crossovers and SUVs have always been known by an acronym: CR-V, BR-V, and WR-V. This time, the new Honda SUV is likely to be called something like the Jazz, Amaze, or City. Some of Honda’s internationally sold SUVs, such as the Pilot and Passport, already have names rather than acronyms. In some markets, the HR-V is also marketed as the “Vezel.”

New Honda SUV will go on sale in the middle of 2023

Honda has confirmed that the new SUV will be available for purchase in mid-2023. It will make its global debut in the coming months, with sales beginning in India. We anticipate it to be priced between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 19 lakh higher than its competitors. Heavy localization will help Honda price the new SUV competitively, but the carmaker is also likely to maintain a small margin over competitors for positioning reasons.

Honda recently announced that beginning in 2023, it will add a new model to its lineup every year. The automaker also stated that it will concentrate its efforts on the premium end of the market. To strengthen the Honda brand in India, the automaker is considering bringing in premium models via either CKD or CBU routes.

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