
The highly competitive Honda WRV (WR-V) managed to attain over 18000+ bookings in the domestic market
Honda unveiled the WR-V crossover based on the Jazz premium hatchback in Brazil late last year and it held plenty of significance for our market. Launched about two months ago in India, the Honda WR-V is the smallest and compact crossover in the Japanese manufacturer’s stable standing at less than four metres in length.
The capable crossover has registered 3,833 units of sale in its very first month (March 2017) and helped the brand to achieve 8.7 percent YoY growth. It is expected to shake up the pecking order in the coming months with increased response from customers as its third month in the market saw the brand dispatching 2800+ deliveries (marking over 10,000 units so far).
Also Read: Facelifted 2018 Honda Jazz Makes Debut in Japan; India Launch Likely This FY
The first product developed by Honda India along with assistance from R&D unit Japan is described as a sporty lifestyle vehicle. Honda says it is created under the concept of “Refresh for Urban India” which is built around three core concepts of Smart Compact Exterior, Pleasurable Interior and Urban Active Lifestyle with high ground clearance and seat height stance.
Honda has only the City and Amaze to boast about in terms of sales as the recently launched BR-V has certainly not been impressive as the company would have hoped. To up its market share, Honda should be looking to enter more products in the volume churning segments and the WR-V has fit the bill rightly. It is a desirable vehicle considering the popularity of Jazz premium hatchback.
The name WR-V is acronym for Winsome Runabout Vehicle and Honda R&D Brazil claims that the crossover has been developed as a vehicle that realises tough and urban SUV design with excellent utility and spacious cabin. It has opened up a new opportunity for Honda in the hatchback-derived crossover space currently run by Hyundai i20 Active. Let us delve into what the Honda WR-V has in store for us:
Honda WRV India Price
Honda WR-V Petrol | Rs. 7,75,000 for S MT and Rs. 8,99,000 for VX MT |
Honda WR-V Diesel | Rs. 8,79,000 for S MT and Rs. 9,99,900 for VX MT |
Honda WR-V’s price for base petrol S MT variant is Rs. 7.75 lakh and it goes all the way up to Rs. 8.99 lakh for top-spec VX MT grade. Diesel S MT entry variant is priced at Rs. 8.79 lakh and it raises up to Rs. 9.99 lakh for the range-topping VX MT model. (all prices, ex-showroom New Delhi). Deliveries to begin immediately across 336 facilities in 224 Indian cities.
Honda WRV Engine Specifications
Honda WR-V 1.2 L i-VTEC Petrol | 90 bhp at 6,000 rpm/110 Nm at 4,800 rpm |
Honda WR-V 1.5 L i-DTEC Diesel | 100 bhp at 3,600 rpm/200 Nm at 1,750 rpm |
Transmission | Five-speed manual in petrol/ six-speed manual in diesel |
Mileage | 17.5 kmpl for petrol/25.5 kmpl for diesel |
Honda WR-V’s power source will be a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine which is already familiar in India while there is a 1.2-litre i-VTEC proven petrol engine too on offer. Transmission options for the new WR-V include a 5-speed petrol manual and six-speed diesel manual only as disappointingly the CVT automatic with paddle shifters found in Jazz petrol is ditched.
The popular 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol makes 90 bhp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm of peak torque at 4,800 rpm while the Earth Dreams diesel pushes out 100 bhp of power at 3,600 rpm and a meaty 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. The crossover in Brazil gets a 1.5-litre i-VTEC FlexOne (petrol/ethanol) engine carried over from the Fit/Jazz and it comes coupled with a standard five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission. The motor is good enough to churn out 115 hp maximum power and 149 Nm of peak torque. But it won’t be introduced in India for sure anytime soon.
Honda WR-V Mileage
Honda WR-V Petrol Mileage | 17.5 kmpl |
Honda WR-V Diesel Mileage | 25.5 kmpl (class-best) |
The claimed mileage is a healthy 17.5 kmpl for the two petrol variants and best-in-class 25.5 kmpl for the i-DTEC diesel models. It is ARAI certified to be 1.2 kmpl more fuel efficient than the Vitara Brezza
Honda WR-V Ground Clearance
New Honda WR-V Ground Clearance | 188 mm |
The WR-V’s ground clearance is almost as similar to Hyundai i20 Active at 188 mm. But Ford EcoSport and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza have it at 200 mm and 198 mm respectively.
Honda WR-V Dimension
Length | 3,999 mm |
Width | 1,734 mm |
Height | 1,601 mm |
Wheelbase | 2,555 mm |
Ground Clearance | 170 mm |
Bootspace | 363 litres |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 litres |
Kerb Weight | 1,087 kg for petrol/ 1.176 kg for diesel |
Ground Clearance | 188 mm |
Confirming its added practicality, the WR-V has 25 mm longer wheelbase, due to a new suspension mounting, and offers 23 mm more ground clearance than its hatchback sibling. The boot space has been increased by 9 litres to 363 litres but it doesn’t get 60:40 seats or the Magic seats present in Jazz. Overall, the WR-V crossover is 44 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 57 mm taller comparatively giving more cabin space, leg and head room inside.
Honda WRV Exterior Styling
Despite being based on Honda Jazz, the WR-V features completely new headlamps, hood and front bumper. The front fender is also new while it gets similar doors like Jazz and alongside that it shares same platform with that premium hatchback.
The 2017 Honda WR-V crossover’s front fascia sports sharp headlamps, a large solid wing chrome front grille with a thick horizontal chrome bar inspired by City and a skid plate as well. At side profile, the car gets sporty alloy wheels, deep character line, turn indicator integrated ORVMs, roof rails and side body cladding. The rear fascia sports a fresh looking appearance while taillights appear to be sleek.
The City-derived wraparound headlamps with integrated static bending lights and the blatantly visible honeycomb mesh pattern are expected to be featured in the India-spec WR-V as well with lots of cuts and creases determining the overall shape of the crossover.
The prominent Honda badge will be housed in the middle of a thick black strip along with round-shaped front fog lamps in the lower portion of bumper. It also gets segment-first electric sunroof with one touch open/close function, armour like protective body cladding, LED DRLs integrated into headlamp unit and position lamps, front fog lamps, LED high mount stop lamp, chrome door handles, silver finished roof rail garnish and few others.
Honda WRV Interior
Important features are the one touch open/close electric sunroof, automatic climate control and seven-inch Digipad touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth, USB, and an internal memory of 1.5 GB. It also supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, WiFi and Mirror Link functionality with expected HDMI-in slot. The diesel variants will gain keyless entry, engine start/stop and cruise control.
The main safety features include ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and dual airbags as standard while multi-angle rearview camera and brake override system are also made available. The suspension duty is done by MacPherson struts up front and a twisted torsion beam at the rear. The front wheels have ventilated disc brakes while the rear wheels get drum brakes. The VX variant will features a 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels shod on 195/60 R16 tyres.
The cabin design for India looks identical to the Jazz premium hatchback while the luggage area might get waterproof floor mats as seen on the Brazil-spec Fit Twist. The vehicle will also feature new chrome accents on the dashboard, handbrake and air-con vents along with new seat upholstery. Honda might up the convenience factor by adding more cubby holes and door spaces.
Front centre armrest, tilt and telescopic power steering, Honda Smart Key system with keyless remote, cruise control, Auto AC with touch panel, one push start/stop button with white and red illumination only in diesel versions, steering mounted controls,
Honda WR-V Features
Honda WR-V Top Features |
First-in-segment Electric Sunroof |
16-inch alloy wheels with gunmetal finish |
Silver finished roof rail garnish |
Chrome door handles |
Solid wing face front grille with LED DRLs integrated on headlamps |
Multi-info combination meter with LCD display, blue backlight and silver finish |
Segment-best 25.5 kmpl claimed diesel mileage |
17.7 cm touchscreen infotainment system |
Multi-angle rearview camera |
Honda WR-V Safety Features
Dual SRS front airbags |
ABS with EBD |
Impact mitigating front headrest |
pedestrian injury mitigation system |
intelligent pedal (brake over-ride system) |
ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure |
Honda WR-V India Colours
It is available in six metallic colour options namely an all-new Premium Amber Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Carnelian Red Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Golden Brown Metallic.
Honda WR-V Service Cost and Warranty
The Honda WR-V is offered with three years/unlimited km warranty as standard benefit while customers have the option to extend warranty for extra two years/unlimited km.
Honda WR-V India Rivals
Honda WR-V locks horn with rivals like Hyundai i20 Active, Volkswagen Cross Polo, Toyota Etios Liva, Fiat Avventura Urban Cross as well as Maruti Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport in the sub-4m compact SUV segment.