The compact SUV could make a comeback in our market to compete in the already overcrowded segment
In this post, we take a look at the details of the Honda WR-V RS, which was spotted testing in Pune, India. What is quite interesting is the fact that the SUV was not wearing any camouflage. Note that the WR-V was first launched in India back in March 2017. It remained in production for around 6 years and was discontinued in March 2023. With over 1,00,000 units sold, the compact SUV started experiencing declining sales towards the end of its lifecycle. Citing low sales and high costs to upgrade it to meet the BS6 Phase 2 and Real Driving Emission (RDE) norms, Honda pulled the plug on it. For now, let us take a look at the details of the recent spotting.
Honda WR-V RS Seen Testing
These images have been doing the rounds on social media since yesterday. The red-coloured SUV is exposed in all its glory. At the front, we witness the design similarities with the new Amaze. There is an attractive grille with chrome elements, a sleek chrome belt connecting the slim LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, a rugged skid plate underneath the sporty bumper and a stylish aero component on the edge of the bumper. The side profile is barely visible, but the tail section contains LED taillamps, a roof-mounted spoiler and a solid bumper with a sturdy skid plate. All in all, the design language is very much in line with the latest Honda cars.
Now, the point to notice is that the front and rear number plates mention ‘Honda Jakarta Centre’, which means this could be the Indonesia-spec model. Furthermore, the front windshield carries a sticker, which reads ‘Testing Vehicle’. Hence, it is quite intriguing to guess that it could be undergoing testing on our roads to be launched here at a later stage. Remember, Honda recently announced 10 new cars for India by 2030. Therefore, we might even get something like the WR-V. In Indonesia, it gets the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol mill (same as the Indian-spec City), but if it makes it to our shores, it might get the 1.2-litre petrol mill from Amaze to keep the costs in check.
My View
Honda currently sells just three products in India – Amaze, City and Elevate. It would certainly want to offer more models to expand its footprint. But the competition is rising rapidly. Hence, it must put its best foot forward if it wants to snatch any market share away from the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 3XO, etc. Having said that, there has still been no official announcement from the Japanese auto giant regarding the launch of the WR-V.
Editor’s Note
Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
Having tracked Honda’s India playbook for over a decade, it’s clear the brand urgently needs a wider portfolio to stay competitive in the hotly contested compact SUV space. If the WR-V is indeed India-bound, Honda must position it far more aggressively than before, both in features and pricing, to stand a chance against today’s far more sophisticated rivals. The segment has evolved dramatically since the WR-V’s first innings, and only a truly India-centric package will help Honda regain lost ground.
Also Read: Honda Amaze Joins Maruti Dzire in Getting 5-star Bharat NCAP Rating
