Honda has taken the wraps off the second-gen WR-V in Indonesia, where it will go on sale first. The much-awaited new-gen WR-V gets a unique design, as opposed to its predecessor, and is more of an SUV than a cross-hatchback.
- New Honda WR-V is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor
- Gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine good for 121hp
- Also comes with six airbags, Honda's ADAS tech
New Honda WR-V: styling cues
The new WR-V is actually a production version of the Honda Concept RS SUV and as such a strong styling resemblance between the two is evident. The new-gen WR-V shares styling cues with bigger Honda SUVs like the HR-V and the CR-V that are sold overseas.
The overall design of the new WR-V is more coupe-SUV-like, with a tapering roofline and an angular tailgate design. The glasshouse is large with a steeply raked front and rear glass (for an SUV). It also gets a prominent shoulder line and chunky body cladding on the lower part of the doors with the wheel arches housing large alloy wheels (16-inch or 17-inch, depending on variant).
The SUV gets stylish angular wraparound headlamps, with the grille neatly blending with the front bumper that features a simple design with a wide airdam.
The new WR-V SUV gets a prominent C-pillar that complements its raked rear tailgate design. It features slim, horizontally positioned LED tail-lamps and has a chunky bumper that houses the license plate enclosure and a faux skid plate.
The Honda WR-V gets two styling packages, the WR-V E with simpler cues and 16-inch alloy wheels, and a sportier WR-V RS version with 17-inch alloys, red accents, new grille and all-black interiors, among other unique bits. It will also have dual-tone exterior paint schemes.
The WR-V sports analogue dials with a 4.2-inch MID, and also gets an option to start engine and air conditioning remotely using a key in higher variants.
New Honda WR-V: dimensions
The WR-V sits on the same platform that underpinned the previous-gen City and the latest Amaze sold in India. The new WR-V is 4,060mm long, 1,608mm high and 1,780mm wide, which makes it longer, wider and taller than the previous-gen WR-V. It also has more ground clearance at 220mm. The new WR-V has a boot space of 380 litres.
Honda has loaded the new WR-V SUV with more safety kit too – it now comes with six airbags, and also the carmaker's ADAS tech, Honda Sensing, which comes with lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and auto high beam assist.
New Honda WR-V: interior
If you find the Honda WR-V’s interior looks familiar then you are not wrong. Honda has replicated almost all interior bits in the WR-V from the Amaze sedan that we get in India. The dashboard, infotainment screen steering wheel, controls and even the seats seem to be same as the Amaze.
New Honda WR-V: powertrain details
Power comes from a 1.5-litre petrol engine good for 121hp and 145Nm of torque. Gearbox duties are carried over by a five-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. This is the same engine that sees duty on the Honda City sedan in India.
New Honda WR-V: will it come to India?
As we've reported earlier, Honda is working on an all-new SUV for the Indian market, which will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Hyryder. This new SUV will be around 4.2-metre long and will sit on the fifth-gen City platform as opposed to the older fourth-gen City architecture on which the new WR-V shown today is based on.
As far as an India entry for the new WR-V is concerned, this new SUV, according to sources, is “under study” for the Indian market and may come to India post the launch of Honda’s Creta rival, which is slated to hit Indian showrooms just ahead of festive season of 2023.
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