New Delhi: We all have seen a thousand auto programs and videos from overseas that make us wonder how this car would have done on the Indian road. In this feature edition, each week, we will be looking at one such car that would have been a perfect addition to the Indian road. For the first in the list, we are going to look at the Honda HR-V.
Honda has found amazing success in India with the Elevate, but the brand does have one trick up its sleeve when it comes to SUV offerings. The HR-V is one of those cars that might be a global product that feels it would sit brilliantly on the Indian road. Sold across Europe and quite a few Asian markets as a sleek coupe-SUV, it gets a strong-hybrid powertrain.
The HR-V mixed premium design, Honda reliability, urban practicality and amazing fuel efficiency are things that would make Indian buyers chase. Had the HR-V existed in India, it would have been competing with the likes of Creta, placed between the Elevate and the City Hybrid.
What makes the Honda HR-V stand out
Honda HR-V gets those coupe-SUV dimensions very well (Image via Honda)
As a global compact SUV, it leans into the premium space and hybrid’s sophistication over gimmicks. In the overseas market, it comes with Honda’s 1.5-litre e: HEV strong-hybrid setup, mated with an Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with a dual-motor electric system. That leads to performance figures of 129 bhp and 253 Nm of torque, which makes for amazing electric-led city driving and excellent efficiency of above 18 kpl.
With fuel prices rising and EV infrastructure still uneven across many areas, strong hybrids have thrived in the country. You get the strong low-end torque, smooth highway cruising and silent EV-only crawling in traffic. This would have made it the direct rival to the Toyota Hyryder hybrid and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid.
Honda HR-V perfect design and feature list
Feature-packed, the Honda HR-V would have enticed Indian customers (Image via Honda)
HR-V doesn’t get a boxy stance but a coupe-like slanting roofline, slim LED lamps, a clean front grille and flush surfacing that makes it feel quite premium at times. In terms of dimensions, it comes in a length of 4,355 mm, a width of 1,866 mm, a height of 21,582 mm, a wheelbase of 2,610 mm and a ground clearance of 188 mm.
With that size, it makes it stand well with Creta and Kia Seltos, and that ground clearance would have made it practical with the Indian roads as well.
With a country driven by features, HR-V in the UK market get things like 9-inch touchscreen infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, fully digital driver display, wireless charger, heated front seats, keyless entry and push-button start, rear camera and parking sensors, Honda SENSING ADAS suite, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and the lot. There’s also Honda’s famous Magic Seats, which let the back bench to either fold flat or flip upward. That makes the HR-V quite versatile for luggage and heavy shopping runs as well.
Why the Honda HR-V would have fitted in India
Honda HR-V is practical in terms of dimensions (Image via Honda)
Honda HR-V would have come in the perfect size, along with a strong performing hybrid, and premiumness. It comes with Honda’s after-sales reputation, engine reliability and amazing long-term ownership. For a country that has been served well for more than two decades, any Honda product is a hit from the word go.
Plus, India has shown some interest in the coupe SUV market, with both Tata Curvv and Mahindra BE6 doing well, as have the Hyryder, Victoris and Vitara. Coming with a very family-focused spacing, if Honda ever decided to go beyond the Elevate in the premium SUV market, the HR-V would be the obvious choice.