Honda Malaysia plans to launch three new models and one upgraded model this year to consolidate its market share in Malaysia. Sarly Adle Sarkum, president and chief operating officer of Honda Malaysia, revealed at a media dinner held by the company that one of the models that will be launched in Malaysia is Honda’s first small sports utility vehicle (Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV). It is planned to launch in the third quarter of 2023.
According to reports from major Malaysian car websites, the original factory focused on one of the small SUVs positioned as compact and more entry-level than the existing HR-V. It said it would be launched in the third quarter of this year (between July and September) release. However, the names are not named, but according to Honda’s current product lineup, the only ones that fit this description are the WR-Vs launched in Indonesia and the Philippines not long ago. The all-new small SUV is expected to replace the previous seven-passenger crossover SUV, the BR-V.
WR-V is a small crossover SUV positioned in the A-segment. It can be regarded as a competitor of the same level as the local Perodua Ativa. When the WR-V comes to Malaysia, it will also become the local A-segment SUV market. There are only two products here, and the other one is Ativa.
It is reported that the price of the most entry-level 1.5 E grade of the new WR-V in the Indonesian market starts from 272 million rupiahs (approximately RM82,400), and the asking price of the middle grade 1.5 RS Type is 289 million rupiahs (approximately RM88,000). On the other hand, the top-spec 1.5 RS Type Honda Sensing is priced at 310 million Indonesian rupiahs (approximately RM94,000), cheaper than the City Hatchback. As for Thailand, the local WR-V is divided into two grades: the entry-level SV and the high-end RS. The prices are 799,000 baht (approximately RM103,000) and 869,000 baht (approximately RM112,000).
It is reported that the body length, width and height of the Honda WR-V are 4,060mm X 1,780mm X 1,608mm, respectively, and the wheelbase is 2,485mm. For comparison, the length, width and height of Perodua Ativa are 4,065mm X 1,710mm X 1,635mm, respectively, and the wheelbase is 2,525mm. Regarding power, the new WR-V is the same as the local City. It is equipped with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a maximum horsepower of 121 horsepower and a maximum torque of 145Nm. It is also equipped with the same set of CVTs that can simulate seven gears gearbox.
