Used car buying guide: Honda WR-V

GOOD FOR: Spacious cabin, Fuel efficiency (diesel)

LOOK OUT FOR: Dashboard rattles Suspension wear

The Honda WR-V is a compact crossover that’s comfortable, spacious and practical, with a substantial 188mm of ground clearance, making it a great urban runabout and a good option in the used market. However, before you make the purchase there are some things you should consider.

Based on the Jazz hatchback, Honda launched the WR-V in 2017 with prices starting at Rs 7.75 lakh, and going up to Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The WR-V was available in just two variants, S and VX, with the option of a petrol and a diesel engine. Honda updated the WR-V in 2020 with styling tweaks, more equipment and BS6-compliant engines.

Raised ride height adds a tangible benefit to the WR-V’s crossover credentials.

In order to differentiate it from the Jazz, Honda gave the WR-V a raised bonnet line, a new thick chrome grille, a contrasting scuff plate, a sculpted bumper and new headlights with daytime running LEDs. The rear-end design too was heavily modified with new L-shaped-tail lamps, a new bumper and tailgate. Furthermore, a revised suspension setup as well as larger 16-inch wheels and 195/60 profile tyres give the WR-V a ground clearance of 188mm (23mm more than the Jazz). The suspension tweak also resulted in a 25mm increase in the wheelbase, but this does not make the WR-V roomier than the Jazz as the body shell remains the same and the increase in wheelbase is only in the suspension geometry. The WR-V’s cabin is largely similar to the Jazz’ but with an all-black colour scheme and a lot more chrome on interior trims.

The WR-V has a spacious and practical cabin that’s made up of good quality materials. The fit and finish inside is very good as well. The WR-V also impresses with its ride and handling balance, while the steering is also nicely weighted.

Interior is near-identical to the Jazz barring the all-black colour scheme.

In terms of equipment, the top-spec WR-V VX trim gets Honda’s Digipad touchscreen (7-inch) infotainment system, an electric sunroof, automatic climate control, a rear parking camera with multiple views, roof rails, electrically adjustable and foldable Outside Rear View Mirrors, two airbags and ABS with EBD. Interestingly, only the diesel versions get cruise control and an engine start/stop button. It’s best to opt for the WR-V VX trim as it comes loaded with all the features that you need and would help your car feel up to date.

Engine options on the WR-V include a 90hp, 110Nm, 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol unit and a 100hp, 200Nm, 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. Honda claims fuel efficiency figures of 17.5kpl for the petrol and a very respectable 25.5kpl for the diesel. The diesel comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the petrol gets a 5-speed manual gearbox. There is no automatic variant on offer with the WR-V.

Engine options on the WR-V include a 90hp,1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol unit and a 100hp,1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine.

While the petrol engine is smooth and refined, it lacks the punch the diesel engine delivers. The diesel’s torquey and tractable nature suits the characteristics of the WR-V better and is also much more fuel efficient. The diesel also gets a few more goodies over the petrol as mentioned above, making it the one to go for. There is a down side to the diesel though, it is quite noisy.

Being a Honda, the WR-V is a reliable car and its spare parts are readily available. Since it’s not very old, there will be examples that are still under warranty, with some even having the added benefit of the extended warranty package. This should make the deal sweeter still.

Buyer, beware…

Suspension Wear

While on the test drive, also check if the suspension works silently. If it squeaks a lot or crashes excessively, it’s a sign of worn-out bushes, which will have to be replaced.

Dashboard Rattles

On a test drive, try driving through a rough patch and listen for any rattling or squeaking sounds from the dashboard. Some owners have faced this issue with their WR-Vs.

Infotainment

Some early examples of Honda’s Digipad infotainment system tend to lag excessively or even crash sometimes. Ensure that the touchscreen is functioning smoothly before you make the purchase.

Also worth knowing

Honda had announced a recall for 7,871 units of the WR-V manufactured between January and August 2019 to replace a faulty fuel pump. So, if you’re looking at a model that’s manufactured during this period ensure that this issue has been rectified.

How much to spend

Rs 6.50-8.50 Lakh

Getting a used Honda WR-V for anywhere between Rs 6.50 to 8.50 lakh, depending on engine and variant, represents decent value. Since there’s now a facelifted version on sale, you can try to haggle to bring the asking price down of the pre-facelift models.