Honda Jazz got updated to new generation a couple of month ago – Will the WRV follow?
The Honda WRV may not be setting the compact SUV segment on fire but the Jazz-based soft crossover has been quietly churning out consistent volumes of the automaker in India. Amiable looks, spacious cabin and proven engine lineup make the WRV a sensible family car for Honda loyalists.
Now that the Honda Jazz hatchback has graduated to new generation, it is only a matter of time bore the company comes up with the crossover version. Brazil-based rendering artist Kleber Silva has envisioned the next generation Honda WRV based on the 2020 Jazz, and we think it is spot on!
For the latest generation, Honda’s designers have accentuated the Jazz’s original mini MPV-like silhouette. As a result, the new WRV would look nothing like the usual crop of hatchback-based crossovers SUVs. Instead of being outright sporty, as the rendering suggests, it would have a friendly and inviting demeanor.
It is reasonable to expect Honda to replace the mellow front fascia of the hatchback for a bolder chrome embellished design. One can expect new headlamps and bigger bumper with plastic inserts. The profile would be carried forward from the hatchback albeit with lower body cladding, roof rails, jacked up ride height and new alloy wheel pattern. The images show that the design goes well with dual-tone colour theme.
At the rear, revised taillights, additional chrome and a sportier bumper would go a long way in giving the new WRV a compact crossover appeal. If the relationship with existing WRV and its hatchback counterpart is to be taken as reference, we expect the next gen model to carry forward the new Jazz’s interior without any change, and that is not a bad thing at all.
The 2020 Honda Jazz benefits from a simple, modern and uncluttered dashboard with two-spoke steering wheel, fully digital instrument cluster and a comprehensive touchscreen infotainment system. The design is intended at freeing up even more space up front. The new Honda WRV for international markets is likely to borrow its petrol and hybrid powertrains from the new Jazz.
As far as India is concerned, Honda is at the verge of introducing the BS6 version of the existing model now. The company has no plans of bringing the next generation Jazz to our shores, let alone the new gen WRV. It seems that the existing version will be soldiering on in our market for at least another year. If Honda does get the 2022 WRV to India, it will be a rival to the likes of Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, etc.