The Honda WR-V is a subcompact crossover produced by Honda. It has the same body structure as the third generationFit/Jazz with different front and hood treatment. It was introduced at the 2016 São Paulo International Motor Show. The WR-V was built and sold specifically for the South American and Indian market. The WR-V was launched in the Indian car market on March 16, 2017 at a starting price of Rs 7.75 lakh. The vehicle is inspired from its hatchback sibling, Jazz, and shares the same platform. The WR-V is launched both in Brazil and India in March 2017.
Design
The WR-V crossover is the first model which has been developed by Honda Research & Development Centre of Brazil in collaboration with Honda Research & Development Center of Japan to meet global standards for the vehicle, while keeping the requirements and preferences of the young Brazilian and Indian customers in mind. The WR-V shares a lot of parts and features with the Jazz. The dashboard and the instrument panel of the WR-V are carried over from the Jazz. According to Honda, the WR-V has been "endowed with a sporty, stylish and aggressive" design language. The vehicle has been given a bold design to highlight its crossover category and to appeal to the young car buyers. Although it is based on the Fit/Jazz hatchback, it has more design similarities with the Brio based BR-Vcompact SUV. However, the side profile of the WR-V is similar to the Jazz. The Honda WR-V crossover’s features list include 7 inch touchscreen integrated advanced infotainment system with audio, video and navigation, MirrorLink support for smartphone connectivity, class first one-touch electric sunroof, etc.
Dimensions
The WR-V is essentially the sportier and more muscular version of the Jazz, it terms of dimensions, the WR-V is larger and taller vehicle as compared to its hatchback sibling. The WR-V has a wheelbase measuring, and measures in length, in width and in height. The crossover vehicle has a high ground clearance of 188 mm.
Engine and transmission
The WR-V crossover is available in both petrol and diesel versions. The crossover shares the same engine options with its hatchback sibling Jazz. Thus, the petrol version has been equipped with the same 1.2 literi-VTECpetrol engine that can generate of peak power along with of top torque and is paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. On the other hand, the diesel version of the crossover gets powered by the 1.5 liter i-DTEC diesel motor that delivers of of max power along with of peak torque and is coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Reception
Honda India received 23,000 booking in less than four months after launch, as a result, the company planned to increase production of the WR-V in India from 3,400 units a month to about 5,000 units a month in order to reduce waiting period. Honda received 45,000 booking since launch in March 2017 and deliveries reached over 29,000. Waiting period for delivery has at one time reached 3 months.
