After the success of the new Civic, Honda plans to further capture the market with the launch of the HR-V SUV
It has by now become a reasonably well-known fact that Honda Cars India is planning to cash in on the high demand for mid-size SUVs with the launch of the much awaited Honda HR-V. In sync with this, the Jeep Compass and Kia Seltos rival was recently spotted testing on the Indian roads.
In all probability, the Honda HR-V will come to India from Thailand via CKD route, which is an approach that the company has already adopted for the latest-gen Civic. In fact, the HR-V is a tad smaller than the BR-V but is many times more premium and definitely a more matured offering.
However, like the latest Civic, even the current-gen Honda HR-V will arrive in India only in the later half of its lifecycle. Globally, the HR-V will be replaced by an all-new model next year. However, it looks like India will continue to get a rather dated model for at least a few years to come.
The latest relaxation n the import rules, which allows companies to import 2,500 vehicles an annum without going through the homologation process should help the company easily bring the HR-V to us.
The Honda HR-V will be available with a host of premium features, including full-LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and LED taillights, panoramic sunroof, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite navigation, 8-way power-adjustable driver seat and full leather upholstery.
Safety features list of the Honda HR-V will include six airbags, electric parking brake, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). Engine options will be the same as that of the Civic, which include a 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that offers 141 PS and 174 Nm, and a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that outputs 120 PS and 300 Nm. While the former will come mated to a CVT, the latter will be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Honda HR-V is likely to cost INR 15-17 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. It will rival the likes of Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier and MG Hector. The local launch is likely to happen around this year’s festive season.