4 New Honda SUVs Launching Soon: ZR-V To Zero Alpha
SUVs will play a crucial role in Honda’s planned comeback in the Indian market. At least four new models are expected to arrive in the coming months. These will span both internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered and electric vehicle (EV) segments. Here is a closer look at those products.
Honda revealed the ZR-V in India, in May this year. The price announcement is expected in July and the deliveries will follow shortly after. The ZR-V is expected to become the carmaker’s new halo SUV. It will be brought as CBU (Completely Built Units) imports.
The SUV will have a sleek and muscular design. It will have LED headlamps, sculpted bonnet, sleek tail lamps, chunky bumpers and a gloss Black grille. This SUV will have a clean cabin design, premium trims, and a decent array of features.
The ZR-V will be powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder strong hybrid petrol engine. It will mate the petrol engine with two electric motors and a battery pack. The combined system output will be around 181 hp and 315 Nm. The ZR-V will be capable of doing the 0-100 kph sprint in just 8 seconds, and will have a top speed of 172 kph. It will also have a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.79 km/l. The ZR-V will compete with the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line and other SUVs.
Another launch expected from Honda is the facelifted Elevate. This mid-size SUV was first launched in 2023. The facelift, expected to arrive later this year, will give it significant visual upgrades and more features.
Design changes are likely to be kept minimal. The updated Elevate will get redesigned bumpers, restyled headlamps and tail lamps, tweaked grille and more. Inside, it will likely see the addition of features like ventilated seats, 360-degree camera and a digital instrument cluster. The facelift will be powered by the familiar 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated (i-VTEC) petrol engine that makes 121hp and 145Nm.
Honda will bring back the CR-V, one of its legendary nameplates, to the Indian market. According to reports, the new-generation CR-V Hybrid could launch in India by 2027.
The last CR-V that was on sale in India was the fifth generation. It was available with two engine options- 2.0L petrol and a 1.6L turbo-diesel. The latter even had all wheel drive on offer. It remained on sale till 2020.
Next year, Honda will bring the latest generation of the SUV to the Indian market. It will be powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol hybrid powertrain. It will have two electric motors and a high-voltage battery pack paired with the engine. The vehicle is expected to feature an e-AWD setup as well.
The new-generation CR-V will have a tech-heavy cabin. It will come with features like a massive 15-inch touchscreen, ADAS, connected car technology, and more. The cabin will be larger and will use more premium trims and colours. The new CR-V is likely to be priced in the range of Rs 45-55 lakh, ex-showroom.
Finally, Honda will also launch its first electric SUV soon. Called the Zero Alpha, it will be based on a new EV architecture. Two battery options are likely to be offered- 65 kWh and 75 kWh. These will likely have claimed range figures of up to 450 and 500 km respectively. The Zero Alpha will have a unique exterior styling and interior packaging. It will ride on 19-inch aero-optimized wheels.
The cabin will have a flat floor and a hexagonal steering wheel. The ex-showroom prices are likely to fall in the Rs 17-25 lakh bracket. It will compete with the likes of Maruti eVitara, Mahindra BE6 and Hyundai Creta Electric.