Japanese automaker, Honda has decided to discontinue its diesel engine from our market. The company will soon discontinue the WR-V and the Jazz hatchback from its line-up. Moreover, the 4th gen City is also expected to be removed from its line-up. From April 2023, Honda will only have two models – the City and the Amaze in our market. However, Honda has announced plans to launch an all-new midsize SUV in the country by mid-2023.
Honda has teased a picture of its upcoming midsize SUV, which is scheduled to be unveiled during summer 2023 that’s April-May. This new SUV is expected to be launched during the festive season, before Diwali. Adding to it, Honda has started testing the facelifted City sedan on the Indian roads. The updated City is expected to be launched in March-April 2023, as the new real-driving emission norms or BS 6 Stage 2 will be introduced from April.
New Honda SUV will be positioned against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Maruti Grand Vitara, VW Taigun and the Toyota Hyryder. The teaser image shows that the new SUV will share the styling cues from bigger Honda SUVs including the new CR-V and the HR-V. It will have a coupe-like roofline, which we have already seen on the new-gen HR-V.
If reports are to be believed, the new Honda SUV will have an all-electronic architecture and screen system that’s offered on the new Accord and CR-V. It is likely to get a new 10.2-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SUV is also likely to receive a camera-based advanced driver assistance system or ADAS, called the Honda Sensing. It offers features like collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and high-beam assist.
The new Honda SUV will be powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle engine with a e:HEV hybrid tech with two electric motors. These engine options are currently offered on the City sedan. The hybrid version will come with a single, fixed-gear ratio with three drive modes – Engine, EV and Hybrid.
The new Honda City facelift will receive some cosmetic changes inside and outside. It will have new alloys and revised tail-lights, bigger grille with the thick chrome bar, bigger air-dams and new fog lamp housing. It is expected to receive an updated infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new model won’t be offered with a diesel engine. It will continue to be offered with the existing 1.5L NA petrol and an Atkinson Cycle 1.5L petrol hybrid powertrains.
