Honda WR-V: What does it offer?

WR-V has been launched at a starting price of Rs 775,000 and is available in two trims: S and VX.

You are completely mistaken if you think that Honda WR-V is just another cosmetic update from Honda.

Although it’s based on the Jazz platform, Honda has reworked the car quite drastically to make it look entirely different from the Jazz. So what does it offer? Let us take a look.

Longer wheelbase and better ground clearance

A glance would reveal that Honda has managed to keep the overall silhouette of the car quite the same while giving a new face and rear to the car, which, together, makes it look very butch.

The car also sits visibly higher off the ground; giving it an SUV stance (WR-V has 188 mm of ground clearance, which is 23 mm more than Jazz).

The plastic cladding and faux skid plate enhance the overall appeal, and make the car look premium and muscular. The car also has a wheelbase that is longer than the Jazz by 25 mm.

Sunroof and infotainment unit that supports Wi-Fi

Jazz is a very practical car and the WR-V retains all good features. Thankfully, the interiors have not been reworked and retain the build quality of Jazz.

The occupants do get plenty of storage space and acres of room. The 7-inch touch screen infotainment system has been borrowed from the City that has Wi-Fi support, lets you browse the web and supports navigation.

A sunroof for Indian climate is not ideally suited, but nevertheless WR-V offers it, making it first in the segment.

Same set of peppy engines; diesel is still noisy

WR-V retains the same set of engines as the Jazz. You get the refined and capable 1.2-litre i-VTEC motor that puts out a healthy 90 PS of power at 6000 rpm and 110 Nm of torque at 4800 rpm, while the diesel is among the best in its segment in terms of power and develops 100 PS at 3600 rpm.

A healthy peak torque of 200 Nm is developed at low 1750 rpm, making it very responsive; it’s still a noisy unit though.

Competition - EcoSport/Duster/Vitara Brezza

WR-V is right in the belly of the segment - a segment that’s well established and is ruled by the competitors like Ford EcoSport and Maruti Vitara Brezza.

WR-V is a better option in terms of space and it would not be wrong to say that this actually has a clear advantage.

Honda has managed to get the proportions right, and even though the WR-V may be seen as a competitor to the Hyundai Active i20 and other crossovers like Fiat Avventura, etc, frankly, these are no match to WR-V.

Price and variants

WR-V has been launched at a starting price of Rs 775,000 (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and is available in two trims: S and VX.

Safety features like dual airbags, ABS and EBD are offered as standard, while the top-of-the line VX gets sunroof, power-foldable ORVMs, 17.7 cm touch screen with Wi-Fi support, climate control, etc.

The 16-inch wheels are offered as standard. The VX variant gets alloys while the S gets steel rims.

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