Honda WR-V: new compact crossover

Honda has quite a bit of momentum. In the United States, it will soon be launching a new electric SUV that it has co-developed with General Motors, the new Accord is eager to win over American consumers, and Honda recently presented the new CR-V for the North American market. market. In Europe, of course, we’ll get that new CR-V, as well as an electrical equivalent of the HR-V and an SUV-like one based on the Civic that nestles between the HR-V and CR-V: the Z-RV. Can’t see the forest for the RV trees? Then maybe you shouldn’t read any further. Honda used to have the FR-V on the menu, but outside the European borders there are other high models from Honda that have an RV name. The BR-V, UR-V and XR-V and WR-V. The first and smallest of these has now been completely renovated.

The outgoing generation Honda WR-V.

The new Honda compact crossover you see in these photos is called the WR-V. The WR-V is a compact crossover that Honda mainly sells in growth markets. The first generation of the model was presented at the 2016 São Paulo International Motor Show and went under the knife quite subtly in 2020. Just like cars like the unknown City and the HR-V sold here, the WR-V shares a large part of its components with the Jazz. That a new WR-V was on the way may come as no surprise to those who follow the Honda news closely. A year ago around this time, Honda showed the SUV RS Concept at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), a preview of a new compact crossover. The new WR-V is the production version of that concept car.

The new WR-V is the production version of the Honda SUV RS Concept.

With the WR-V, Honda says it is targeting young consumers and especially young families looking for a compact crossover. The car comes a step below the with some MPV influences peppered and incidentally also brand new BR-V. If you don’t immediately realize it when you see the photos: the WR-V is, according to Honda, ‘stylish and sporty’. Like more recent Hondas, the WR-V has a strip that optically continues at the headlights. Those headlights are also LED copies and the – with a little fantasy – Opel-like rear lights are also equipped with LED technology. Unlike the previous WR-V, the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillar. We also see this with cars like the HR-V. In terms of design, the WR-V fits well into the international Honda range.

Honda introduces a more outspoken RS version, complete with 17-inch alloy wheels, making them taller than the less fortunate gods of the WR-V family who have to make do with 16-inch wheels. The luggage compartment measures 380 liters. Despite the fact that the WR-V with its length of 4.06 meters is just under 30 centimeters shorter than the HR-V, it therefore swallows more liters than the HR-V, which remains at 335 liters.

The WR-V comes a step below this BR-V.

Regardless of the chosen version, the Honda WR-V has a 1.5 four-cylinder petrol engine that generates 121 hp and 145 Nm. You don’t have to do the shifting yourself, Honda has hung a CVT transmission in the crossover for that. As far as safety features are concerned, the WR-V is also fine. Honda makes systems available such as blind spot detection, a reversing camera and automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control and an active lane assistant. The starting price of the Honda WR-V in Indonesia is converted €17,730.

The Honda WR-V is not coming to Europe. Is that a loss? Would Honda do well in Europe to add a WR-V-like with a hybrid powertrain to its range? Why or not? We are interested in your opinion.