The Honda HR-V compact SUV will be launched in Pakistan by early 2016 and is being full imported from Thailand. Meanwhile in India, we don’t get the HR-V but the emerging market specific BR-V.
The Honda HR-V started life in Japan as the Vezel and arrived in North America, Australia, Brazil and Thailand markets earlier this year, reviving the ‘HR-V’ nameplate. Now, news comes in that the next market to get the compact SUV will be Pakistan. Honda Atlas Cars, the distributor for the Japanese automaker in the neighbouring nation has imported a couple of units of the HR-V and will be launching the same in early 2016.
Imported as a completely built unit (CBU), Pakistan gets the Thailand spec Honda HR-V (Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle) that will be drawing power from a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that is expected to belt out around 130 HP of power, paired to a CVT gearbox while a manual will be optional. The Thai spec models also comes with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine but the same will be given a miss. The HR-V will be the second model for Honda Atlas to be fully imported after the Accord.
The Honda HR-V measures 4295 mm in length, 1770 mm in width, 1605 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2610 mm. The compact SUV is based on the new generation Jazz platform and gets a premium looking dashboard complete with a touchscreen infotainment system, multi-function steering wheel (similar to the Indian City) among other bits. In terms of pricing, the HR-V is expected to be priced at Rs. 3.5 million Pakistani rupee (approx. Rs. 22.03 lakhs).
Coming to the Indian market, Honda won’t be bringing the HR-V to the country and we will instead get the Brio platform based BR-V. The automaker had confirmed earlier that due to the rupee downfall, the HR-V was turning out to be too expensive. The Honda BR-V will compete with the likes of the Renault Duster, Maruti S-Cross, Hyundai Creta and Nissan Terrano. The vehicle will be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo.
Source – PakWheels.com