Upright & compact

As the SUV segment is gaining popularity day-by-day, buyers in India are spoiled for choice with the influx of car models piling up the segment. This multi-faceted category follows a different hierarchy in India to cater to a spectrum of customers. This brings us to the sub-compact SUVs and compact crossovers that have caught the fancy of buyers lately. Attributed to compact size, spacious cabin, raised ground clearance, impressive mileage and aggressive pricing, the newly formed sub-compact SUV or crossover space is growing into a snowball with carmakers spinning off new models to claim a niche spot in the segment. The new model to jump on the bandwagon is the Honda WR-V.

In absolute terms, Honda has tried to make a car that could well be positioned as a ‘crossover’ version of the Jazz. It’s a done practice with a lot of other carmakers — Toyota’s Etios Cross, Volkswagen’s Cross Polo and Hyundai’s Active i20 come to mind. But the difference here is that the effort to make an all-new car comes across as more substantial.

Design

Visually speaking, the WR-V is longer, wider and taller than the Jazz. It’s larger by approximately 50mm all round. It just about hints at its crossover aspirations; cue the higher ground clearance. The front is unmistakably Honda. It gets the familiar chrome slab on the grille. The headlamps get trademark LEDs with DRLs. The bonnet looks flat and raised. In profile, there is a hint of Jazz thanks to the creases on the doors and flow of the roof. At the rear, it looks quite different, though, enough to distinguish it from anything else from the line-up. The large WR-V badging helps generate interest for someone approaching it from the rear. Engineers claim that the body has been strengthened further keeping in sync with the extra millimetres added to the platform.

Engine and handling

As expected, the WR-V gets the same engines as the Jazz. That means a SOHC 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol that produces 90hp at 6,000rpm and 110Nm at 4,800rpm as well as a DOHC 1.5-litre I-DTEC turbo-diesel that puts out 100hp at 3,600rpm and 200Nm at 1,750rpm. The diesel gets a 6-speed manual and the petrol gets a 5-speed manual. We got a chance to drive its petrol variant and with its nimble steering and soft clutch, crisscrossing through heavy city traffic is quite easy. Gear shifting requires multiple downshifting while overtaking, but once you get used to it, WR-V is really fun to drive. As per the company’s claim, WR-V gets a different suspension set-up compared to Jazz. This has been achieved by raising the ground clearance and wheelbase, which is further supported by relatively large tyres. If you have driven Jazz, it will be easy for you to discern the change in the suspension system. The only room for improvement on the WR-V is the cabin insulation.

Verdict

If you are looking at getting yourself a Jazz, the WR-V deserves a closer look. It is definitely better suited to tackle Indian roads, and is more versatile than the Jazz. Just don’t expect the WR-V to tackle any serious mud plugging. However, the WR-V does offer more in terms of appeal and equipment. The WR-V comes with a price tag of ` 8.15 lakh (ex-showroom), which is Rs 70,000 over the Jazz, but the ride and quality WR-V has to offer, this extra amount is well justified. However, when compared to the more square and upright compact-SUVs in the market today, the WR-V’s appeal seems to dim. And, when you factor in the price, Honda’s WR-V ends up feeling like a bit of a hard sell.