Honda has been the leading brand of the premium sedan segment in India thanks to the City. While the sales of sedans have gone down over the years, Honda City recorded a YoY growth rate of 24% in September 2021. Now, the brand aims to focus on the ever-growing subcompact SUV segment. Though the WR-V did make an impact on the market, it could not reach the expectations set by Honda. The new ZR-V is set to be a replacement for WR-V and will sit on the same platform as the City.
Honda ZRV: What to expect?
Earlier this year, Honda confirmed that it has been working on an all-new India-specific SUV which will reel it out in 2023. We believe that the ZR-V could be what we have all been waiting for. Though the car will first enter the Indonesian market, it is expected to hit the Indian market soon after. The car will be revealed at the upcoming Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) on 11th November 2021. Honda has managed to keep the design and the specs of the car a secret.
The silhouette does not offer much, but the bold lines make us eager and wait for the reveal. Being a Honda SUV based on the City we wish to see an amazing blend of sharp yet bold looks and an SUV with the agility of a sedan. Being a Honda, expect it to get a bold bumper with LED headlights and DRLs upfront with the Honda logo at the center of the grille. At the back, the lights seem to be in a stripe fashion connected by a single line of red. From the looks of it, the car might also have side scuff plates and roof rails to give away a rugged look.
Expect to see the 1.5L i-VTEC engine coupled with a 6-Speed manual or a CVT; the same that gives the City its punchy and agile nature. Honda has always offered something different in its cars. May it be the class-leading cabin space and comfort of the city or its peppy and punchy petrol engines. If and when released in the Indian market, the ZR-V might just be the perfect combination of comfort with a dash of rugged SUV-like appeal.