Japanese car company Honda is preparing to launch three new hybrid SUVs to strengthen its hold in the Indian market. These will include the Elevate Hybrid, a premium model ZR-V and a new 7-seater SUV.
GoWater car company Honda has been a bit sluggish in the Indian market for a long time. But now in view of the increasing competition, the company is changing its strategy and is preparing to refresh the product line-up. There are many Honda vehicles in the global market, but currently only Honda City, Honda Elevate and Honda Amaze are sold in India. In view of the increasing demand for SUVs in India, Honda is planning to expand its portfolio. The company is going to launch new SUVs soon. In particular, it is expected that three powerful hybrid SUVs will come to the Indian market, which will give better mileage and performance. Let us know about these upcoming models of Honda.
Honda Elevate Hybrid
The first SUV in this list is Elevate Hybrid. Honda had earlier planned to bring an electric version of Elevate. But, due to some reasons this plan was stopped and the company focused on the hybrid version. The Elevate Hybrid has been spotted testing several times. It is expected that it will be based on the soon to be facelifted model. Honda is also working on a new hybrid system, which will be lighter, more efficient and cheaper than the current system. Although Honda is testing this new system, it is not clear whether it will be available in the upcoming Elevate Hybrid or it will be the same as the existing strong hybrid setup with the City e:HEV. This system includes a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a strong hybrid system mounted in the boot.
Honda ZR-V
The next vehicle in the list is the ZR-V hybrid SUV. It is expected to be launched by the end of 2026. The SUV will be sold as a completely built unit (CBU) and will be positioned below the Honda CR-V. However, since it will be an imported vehicle, its price will play a big role in its success.
The ZR-V is expected to get a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Google Assistant integration, Honda Sensing (ADAS suite), 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, USB port, auto-dimming frameless IRVM, electric gear selector, multiple drive modes and many other premium features.
It will come only in hybrid model and will be powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, mated to an e-CVT gearbox. Like the City Hybrid, this system will allow the car to run in EV mode and easily switch to the petrol engine when needed.
7-seater SUV
Honda is also working on a new platform PF2. It is a modular, hybrid architecture that will form the basis of Honda’s future products. One of the first vehicles to use this platform will be a 7-seater SUV. It is expected that this SUV will be largely manufactured locally, which will help Honda keep costs under control. It will also be given the option of hybrid engine, which can make it an economical option in this segment. This upcoming 7-seater SUV will compete with vehicles like Hyundai Alcazar, upcoming Renault Boral and Mahindra XUV700.