Previewed as XS-1 concept at the last edition of Delhi Auto Expo, Honda 2SJ SUV will be Honda’s answer to Renault Duster and upcoming Hyundai Creta. New Honda compact crossover will have India and Indonesia as its primary markets.
According to our sources, market positioning in India will be higher than Mobilio. In Indonesia, the price point of Brio-based SUV will be midway between that of Mobilio and Freed premium MPV.
Mobilio starts at IDR 171.5 million (around INR 8.26 lakhs) in Indonesia while Freed has an entry level price point of IDR 227.5 million (around INR 10.95 lakhs). Both prices are on-road Jakarta. To provide an Indian context, Mobilio here starts at INR 6.74 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) which translate into an on-road price of around INR 7.5-7.6 lakhs.
It’s safe to assume that starting price of 2SJ in India would be in the vicinity of INR 8.5 lakhs (ex-showroom) which is slightly higher than Renault Duster (starts at INR 8.30 lakhs, ex-showroom). However, Honda could gain an edge over its rivals by offering three rows of seats. Since the platform is heavily localized with high level of economies of scale, Honda has a realistic chance of pulling it off without inflating the price tag.
In order to get away with a premium positioning in the highly competitive crossover segment, Honda has to get rid of design resemblance to cheaper Brio family members both inside and outside.
Mobilio’s 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine powertrain lineup would be carried forward.
