Over in a different part of Asia, the Indian market has just been blessed with the launch of the Honda WR-V. What is the WR-V, you ask? Well it’s a crossover that is built on the Honda Jazz platform, and more importantly it is the first model that was developed by Honda R&D India in conjunction with their Japanese counterparts. If this at all sounds similar to the Honda HR-V, that’s because it kind of is, but the main distinction is that Honda doesn’t sell the HR-V in India.
When we take a look at the specifications, we begin to understand why. The Honda WR-V comes with an option of a 1.2-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine with 90 PS and 110 Nm of torque, or a 1.5-litre DOHC i-DTEC diesel engine with 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque, both of which are paired with a manual transmission. The petrol variant gets a 5-speed manual while the diesel variant gets a 6-speed manual- and perhaps it is this pair of unique powertrains that requires the WR-V to be uniquely developed for the Indian market.
But even if you were to take the powertrains out of consideration, the WR-V is quite a stunning looking car. The HR-V might have a more traditional crossover shape, but the WR-V shares some elements with the Jazz and yet looks unique on its own. It’s a sportier proposition than the HR-V, and in many ways it’s the same as the HR-V save for the powertrains available. Whether Honda will choose to export this model to other markets is yet to be said.
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Perhaps if there were to be differences it would be in the cabin design. The WR-V has a cabin that’s more similar to the Jazz than the HR-V in the layout of the centre console, with no dual level storage. What is good to see is that at least in images the WR-V doesn’t seem to have been compromised on material quality, meaning that this workhorse oriented car can still provide the modern luxuries Honda is known for at a competitive price point. Features like Push-Start and Smart Key are made available on the higher spec diesel model. The Honda WR-V starts from 775,000 rupees (or RM 52,545).
Keyword: Honda Launches the WR-V For the Indian Market