At its latest global financial results press conference, Honda announced a new compact SUV for India. This model could arrive in 2028, marking Honda’s return to the sub-4m SUV segment after the WR-V’s discontinuation in March 2023. The development corroborates our report that the company was evaluating a new compact SUV for our market.
- New sub-4m SUV will be specced to match Indian needs and preferences, says Honda
- Will be Honda’s second sub-4m product in the current line-up after Amaze
- Will be positioned to rival the likes of Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO
New Honda Compact SUV: What to expect?
While Honda hasn’t shared any specific details about the product itself, it says it will be developed with Indian needs and preferences in mind. By Honda’s own admission, “The global standard approach may have been somewhat excessive [for India].”
Toshihiro Mibe, the director, president and representative executive officer at Honda, said, “We will develop specifications that fully match the market conditions and customer needs in India,” adding that the upcoming models will “pursue an optimal balance of performance and price”.
It remains to be seen whether the upcoming model is offered with ICE or electric powertrains, or both, with the Amaze’s 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine a likely option.
Honda’s need for a new compact model
Honda is no stranger to the compact vehicle category in India, having previously offered the Brio and Jazz hatchbacks, as well as the WR-V SUV. However, with these products phased out, Honda currently only has the Amaze in the sub-4m category.
“Honda currently has a presence only in limited product segments and has not been able to fully expand sales due to an insufficient number of competitive models in each segment,” admitted Mibe.
With the revised GST structure reigniting interest in compact models, an entry into this segment could provide Honda with much-needed volume play and momentum to regain the market share it lost.
10 new Hondas incoming by 2030
Alongside the new compact SUV, Honda has announced a new vehicle in the midsize segment, which will likely be the 0 Alpha electric SUV that’s expected to arrive here by 2027-28. Both are part of Honda’s larger plan to launch 10 new models in India by 2030, seven of which will be SUVs. In the short term, Honda is gearing up for the launch of the City facelift next week, and pictures of it have already leaked online.
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Viraaj Bhatnagar
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