Honda had released the teaser image of its upcoming midsize SUV in January 2023. The company has officially announced that the new SUV will make its global debut in India by April-June 2023. The new Honda SUV has been spotted testing for the first time on the Indian roads. These spy images reveal the overall shape & styling of the Honda’s Creta-rivalling midsize SUV.
New Honda SUV Spied
The spotted model was heavily camouflaged; however, it shows some styling cues. The overall styling seems inspired from Honda’s global SUVs including the HR-V, which is already on sale in select Asian and European markets. The front fascia appears similar to the global-spec HR-V, featuring upright nose & signature grille with sleek headlamps with LED daytime running lamps. The LED fog lights are placed on the lower bumper.
The spy images also reveal the presence of electric sunroof, powered ORVMs and prominent roof rails. The rear profile is inspired from the new-gen WR-V, which has recently been launched in Indonesia. The tail-lamp design appears similar to the new-gen WR-V. It features a sloping roofline with a tailgate mounted spoiler. The SUV has squarish wheel arches and large multi-spoke alloys.
The SUV has a large glasshouse and a prominent shoulder line. The SUV will also come with a 360 degree camera. It will also receive Honda’s Lane Watch system to detect blind spot. It is expected to measure around 4.3 meters in length.
Engine Specs
The new Honda SUV will be designed and developed on the new Amaze platform, which will be modified to accommodate a bigger size SUV. In fact, the next-gen Amaze could also be based on the modified platform. The new SUV is likely to share its engines with the fifth-gen City sedan, which includes a 121bhp, 1.5L 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre strong hybrid engine.
The petrol engine will be offered with a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic gearbox, while the strong hybrid tech will have eCVT. The new model won’t be offered with a diesel engine, as the brand’s 1.5L diesel unit won’t be offered with the Real Driving Emission (RDE) norms.
Launch Timeline
The new Honda SUV is expected to be launched by mid-2023, before Diwali. The new model is expected to be priced somewhere between Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. It will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.
Source – AutoCarIndia
