KUALA LUMPUR: The smallest and most affordable SUV from Honda has finally arrived in Malaysia.
The WR-V (Winsome Runabout Vehicle) comes in four locally assembled variants.
The S variant is priced at RM89,900; the E at RM95,900; the V at RM99,900; and the RS at RM107,900.
Honda Malaysia offers a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, and free labour service up to five times within 100,000km or five years.
Among the innovative and functional features in the WR-V are power retractable door mirrors, smart entry with push start button, remote engine start and walk away auto lock (last two features are only offered in the E, V and RS variants).
With the WR-V, Honda Malaysia is the first Japanese mass-market automaker to introduce a new model in the non-national small SUV segment.
Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Hironobu Yoshimura said, “Honda’s research and development (R&D) team incorporated the best features of an SUV into a smaller design, to enable the joy of owning a practical and small SUV for everyday urban commutes. We are confident that the WR-V can appeal to young professionals and families who seek a small SUV with a good value offering.”
The WR-V's ground clearance is 207mm, and Honda points out that this surpasses even cars from a higher class.
The WR-V also offers practicality with its capacious 380-litre capacity trunk and a 60:40 Split rear seat configuration that allows flexibility for bulkier items. The SUV is based on a shortened platform of the BR-V.
Under the hood is a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine with 121PS and 145Nm of torque, mated to a continuous variable transmission (CVT) with G-design shift technology, which offers excellent fuel economy and exceptional driving performance.
The top WR-V RS variant has a mesh-style grille with silver chrome, silver-painted lower garnish and 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels for extra style.
Honda LaneWatch (camera-based safety technology which reduces the blind spot for drivers when changing lanes) is standard for all variants.
The top three (E, V and RS) variants come with Honda SENSING safety features.
Honda SENSING on the WR-V consists of eight safety functions:
- Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Auto High Beam (AHB)
The WR-V is available in five colour options, including a brand-new colour, Stellar Diamond Pearl, which marks a first for a Honda model. The other colours for the model are Platinum White Pearl, Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.
A total of 2,500 units have been booked so far since the order books opened a month ago.
Of the units booked so far, 43% were for the RS, V (38%), E (12%) and S (7%).
The company said it is looking to have the RS variant account for 60% of future bookings.
The waiting period is around two months.
Honda Malaysia aims to achieve a monthly sales target of 1,300 units.
BROCHURE & SPECIFICATIONS
2023 Honda WR-V 1.5-litre (prices are on-the-road without insurance):
Grade S (RM89,900):
- Halogen Headlights
- Power Retractable Door Mirror
- Micro Pole Antenna
- 16-inch Alloy Wheels
- Trunk Spoiler
- Fabric Seats
- 2 Speakers
- 7-inch Display Audio with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ Connectivity
- Smart Entry with Push Start Button
- 4 Airbags
- Auto Door Lock
- Honda LaneWatch
Grade E (RM95,900) adds:
- Auto Headlights
- Shark Fin Antenna
- 4.2-inch TFT Meter Cluster
- 4 Speakers
- Remote Engine Start
- Honda SENSING (excludes Low-Speed Follow)
- Rear Seat Reminder
- Multi-angle Reverse Camera
- Walk Away Auto Lock
Grade V (RM99,900) adds:
- LED Headlights
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- LED Front Fog Lights
- Auto Air Conditioning
- Combination leather interior
Grade RS (RM107,900) adds:
- RS Styling
- 17-inch Dual-Tone Alloy Wheels
- Front LED Sequential Turn Signals
- Paddle Shift
- 6 Speakers
- Honda CONNECT
- 6 Airbags
