Honda was diligently developing a new vehicle to compete with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Creta, and Kia Seltos. And now, fresh rumours about Honda registering a new model name—rumored to be ZR-V—have surfaced online. Additionally, it is reported that the existing CR-V will be replaced by the new Honda ZR-V compact SUV.
Automakers have been concentrating more on this market sector to keep up with the demand for SUVs on a global scale. One of them is Honda. Except for India, Honda has introduced a number of new SUVs in recent months. Here, a new SUV will debut the next year.
According to Honda’s naming convention, the name alludes to a potential SUV. Currently, Honda sells a number of SUVs all over the world, the most of them have names that end in “-V.” The Honda BR-V (now discontinued in India), the WR-V, the well-known CR-V, and the HR-V SUV—which nearly made it to our shores—are at the top of the list.
Aside from that, Honda also offers the Accord CrossTour-based UR-V crossover for sale in China. Aside from these models, Honda also makes the Ridgeline pickup, two other SUVs sold in North America under the names Pilot and Passport, and three other high-riding vehicles.
An entirely new platform
A brand-new platform, which also supports the incoming HR-V crosshatch, is anticipated to support the new Honda ZR-V compact SUV. This selected platform will be larger than its preceding generation, giving room for the Japanese automaker to incorporate a new SUV with a length of about 4.2 metres.
Specifications
Although the engine’s exact specifications have not been made public, we can make educated guesses. On the tailgate of the Honda ZRV, which was unveiled for China, is a badge reading “240 Turbo.” The Integra, which GAC Honda sells in China, also sports the same badge.
The liftback coupe Honda Integra is propelled by a 1.5L petrol turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. This engine has 240 Nm of torque and 180 horsepower. The new Honda ZRV SUV is most likely to be powered by the same cutting-edge VTEC Turbo engine, making it one of the most potent compact SUVs available on the Chinese market.
The Honda ZRV will officially launch by the end of this year, however, GAC Honda is only taking registrations of interest at this time. In China, Honda also collaborates with Dongfeng in addition to GAC. There are rumours that Dongfeng Honda may introduce a ZRV variant with a different name and significant aesthetic differences.
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Engine | 1.5L turbo charged |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Seats | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 2,640 mm |
| Length | 4,460 mm |
| Width | 1825mm |
| Height | 1620mm |
| Torque | 240 Nm |
| Power | 178 PS |
| Price | 12-16 lacs (Expected) |
Indian Honda Compact SUV
Honda doesn’t have any SUVs available in India except for a phoney crossover based on the Jazz hatchback. Given the huge increase in sales the SUV market has had over the last few years, this is surprising.
To compete with Creta and Seltos, Honda had planned to introduce the HRV in India, but those plans were shelved. Most likely as a result of cost, as HRV is much more expensive. According to rumours, Honda is currently developing a small SUV specifically for India. It is anticipated to debut the following year, probably with a gasoline ICE and hybrid option.
Features
The full LED headlamps, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, 18-inch wheels, ambient lighting, leather upholstery, a touch-based infotainment system from Honda called Honda Connect, powered front seats, and standard Honda Sensing are all available on the Japan-spec ZR-V. (autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, auto high beam, adaptive driving beam, traffic jam assist, false start suppression).
Launch Date and Global Approach
The Honda SUV was released on the worldwide market last year, and now there are efforts being made to import it to India. The expected launch date for the SUV is June 2023.