India to get Honda Brio-based affordable compact SUV

Honda-Vezel-2014-0015

The Jazz-based Honda Vezel has just gone on sale in Japan, and will soon arrive in other markets with a different name and possibly turbo power too. One market that will not be getting the small SUV is India, as Autocar India reports that a smaller, more affordable model is being developed for a 2016 debut.

Originally planned to slot in between the Honda City and CR-V, the Vezel has been deemed too costly to be adapted for the Indian market, especially in light of the Rupee’s recent decline. Apparently, the new SUV has “technologically advanced features” that would require too much “effort and expense” to be viable for the cost-sensitive market.

Instead, an even smaller SUV will be developed for India, based on the Honda Brio platform. Designed specifically for emerging markets, the Brio base has already been adapted to underpin the Amaze compact sedan and Mobilio MPV, with the latter having a considerable 2,650 mm-long wheelbase.

An extensive redesign will be needed to accommodate an SUV body style, but it will still be more cost-effective than localising the Vezel, Honda told the Indian magazine. When it arrives in 2016, the yet-unnamed model will carry an affordable price tag to rival the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano.

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • Black Dog on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Apologies for being rude, Hafriz. Are we in India? How about news from Timbuktu or Afghanistan?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 59
    • Hafriz Shah (Member) on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      It’s labelled as “International News” mate. I could have easily added a line at the end to suggest that it may reach Malaysia too – to make it more locally relevant – but since we’re not in the business of making up news (rather than reporting them), I didn’t.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 65 Thumb down 1
      • Black Dog on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:42 pm

        Sorry Hafriz, no offence. I just feel it’s too trivial news. that’s all. No worries!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 30
        • Whatever on Jan 03, 2014 at 4:56 pm

          It’s totally fine for me. Sometime it’s important to know what is other countries will be getting and what variance, for us to compare and contrast. Only then we will realize how screwed we are once we eventually get the unit.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 2
    • CINBA on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:51 pm

      watch TV1, 2 and 3 local drama only, dont watch EPL or La Liga, watch malaysia league only when tv news reports news in india etc, switch channel, news paper, read local content only…right

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 46 Thumb down 0
  • This new ultra compact suv based on Brio? Will be too small then.

    Vezel based on Jazz
    CR-V based on Civic

    So where is the suv that is base on City or Accord?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
    • howww on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:55 pm

      Lol jazz is base on city. ..jazz hatchback ~ honda fit
      JAZZ SEDAN IS HONDA CITY SUV IS VESEL. all are same platform

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • City is based on Jazz lah

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • The City is also based on the Jazz, so basically a City based SUV is the Vezel. The SUV based on the Accord is the Honda Pilot, a primarly USDM car thou its also sold in Russia, Ukraine and if I am not mistaken the Phillipeans as well.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • SamShowedMeTheHilux on Jan 03, 2014 at 12:55 pm

    ACURA MDX

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • This is basically a car slated against the Ford EcoSport, and most likely given the 200Nm 1.55 I-Dtec mil. So, light(er)weight, high-riding, lots of torque, cheaper than a Jazz….quite alot of wins there. Wish it would come to Malaysia, it’s been a long time we didn’t get a cheap, high-riding SUV since the Kembara.

    PS: In a chat with some guys at Honda, the new city, if there is no furthur complication, should be here by March but the Vezel is charted as ‘2014’, so maybe late 2014.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol on Jan 03, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    The question on body size not as important as, will it get the new turbo engines? Come on lah Honda, stop teasing us and put the damn turbo engines in a production car already :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • put the 1.5 turbo into the current CRV, i’ll buy it!…VW is selling the Tiguan wt a 1.4TSI down in SG (160hp/240nm)…the 1.4 Tiguan’s torque is higher than even the 2.4 NA’s CRV, so a 1.5 Turbo CRV will be sufficient!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • At least…honda is more reliable and more bullet proof than a VW

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • EnergyAnalyst on Jan 04, 2014 at 8:56 am

    How do one define ‘ cost sensitive’ Market? Isn’t Malaysia cost sensitive too.

    Ask any Malaysian today. I bet most will admit so

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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