Honda has launched its new model, the Honda WR-V priced from ₹7.75 lakh to ₹9.99 lakh. Since this is the first car to be designed here, it's only apt that it will be making its debut in the Indian market first.
Though this car is technically a cross-hatch, it looks like a petite version of an SUV with that high bonnet and heavy chrome grill. The front is fitted with daytime running LEDs and a shapely bumper. The car measures 3,999mm in length, 1,734mm in width and 1,601mm in height. The 16-inch tires bump up the height with a ground clearance of 188mm.
The interior has some unmistakable similarities with the Honda Jazz as well as the updated City, since both cars are built from the same platform. The main features are a one-touch electric sunroof, reversing camera with multiple views, and a sizeable increase in the touchscreen infotainment system with various connectivity options. For safety measures, the car has ABS with EBD along with dual front-air bags, anti-lock braking and electronic brake distribution.
The car is powered by a 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol developing 90hp and a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel developing 100hp with Honda claiming fuel efficiency figures of 17.5kpl and 25.5kpl, respectively.
Based on the Jazz hatchback, the WR-V is available in two variants, S and VX, with the option of a 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine. The diesel version gets cruise control and an engine start/stop button and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and the petrol version has a five-speed gearbox.
Though the market for cross-hatches is niche, Honda hopes to acquire a big chunk of the market by pushing out competition from the likes of Fiat's Avventura/Urban Cross and Hyundai's i20 Active.