Honda launches WR-V crossover at ₹7,82,000, doesn’t skimp on features

Honda launches WR-V crossover at ₹7,82,000, doesn’t skimp on features

First vehicle to be developed by India R&D, and first to launch globally

Honda has had a mixed response to the Jazz hatchback since it launched in 2009. While the Jazz (globally the Fit) had the unique flexible seating configuration that made it unbeatable in terms of interior room, the high initial prices stymied demand. This changed with a price drop and the 2015 relaunch, and Honda has used the same platform in the WR-V. We think it’s the best use of the Jazz platform yet.

Honda is using buzzwords like “perky”, “urban” and “lifestyle”, typical of crossover marketing, but unlike some other crossovers based on hatchbacks, Honda has done some actual work here. A first crack at a vehicle for Honda’s India R&D, the WR-V is launching in India first, followed by the rest of the world. The focus on the local market is evident in the package: everything a typical buyer wants, nothing she wouldn’t miss. The WR-V is available with a 100PS/200Nm 1.5-litre iDTEC diesel motor and a 1.2-litre 90PS/110Nm iVTEC petrol motor in just two variants each: S and VX. Honda is claiming 25.5kmpl for the diesel and 17.5kmpl for the petrol.

Honda has gone the extra mile in a myriad ways with the WR-V. The transmissions are a new 6-speed and 5-speed for the diesel and petrol respectively, tuned for heavier duty and quicker acceleration. Suspension geometry has been tweaked over the hatchback. There’s a marginal increase in wheelbase as a result. Large 16" alloys are available, as is a sunroof on the top model. Ground clearance has also gone up over the hatch, which we think is essential if you’re going to market a vehicle to an almost-SUV buyer.

Honda have thrown the feature catalogue at the WR-V. There’s a touch-sensitive HVAC control unit ala the City, an Android-based touchscreen entertainment system that connects to most phones via MirrorLink (sorry, Apple users), USB ports, SD card slots, an HDMI port, navigation, voice control, internet access via optional WiFi, a drink cooler for the driver, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, among others.

You still get the standard-setting interior room of the Jazz in the WR-V, with particular attention to rear headroom. The 363-litre boot is voluminous, and combined with the increased ground clearance and bump in performance, the WR-V makes for a compelling package for those who want the key features of an SUV without the off-road chops or commensurate price.