Last week, Honda Malaysia opened the order books for the Honda WR-V. The smallest of Honda’s SUVs is scheduled to be launched sometime in Q3 this year, and ahead of its introduction, the company has started a series of customer previews for the Winsome Runabout Vehicle at selected dealerships in different regions across the Peninsular.
The first of these – for the southern region – took place last weekend, and we managed to catch the example on show at Ban Lee Heng Motor’s Seremban outlet. As it was with the HR-V preview last year, the RS variant (the only version HM is previewing) was hidden behind drapes, and no photography of the car was allowed, but we can confirm general specifications for the range-topping model and offer an idea of what to expect down the range.
As it is in Indonesia and Thailand, the WR-V for our market will be powered by a L15ZF 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated DOHC i-VTEC engine offering 121 PS and 145 Nm, the same unit as found in the City and entry-level HR-V Grade S. Like in those applications, it’s paired with a CVT in the WR-V.
Measuring in at 4,060 mm long, 1,780 mm wide and 1,608 mm tall, with a 2,485 mm-long wheelbase, the WR-V is five mm shorter, 70 mm wider and 25 mm lower than the Perodua Ativa, its competitor in the same class/segment.
Like that offered for the Thai market, the Malaysian RS will come dressed with the same exterior kit, including a variant-specific chrome chequered grille and 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, which are shod with 215/55 Continental UltraContact UC6 tyres. Other items include power retractable door mirrors, automatic LED headlights with LED sequential turn signals, LED daytime running lights and LED front fog lights.
Interestingly, the preview confirms that suggested in the accompanying images of the car when it was open for booking, that the Malaysian RS will not feature a two-tone exterior, because there was no black roof on the Ignite Red Metallic example. Word is that the black roof may be offered as a customisation add-on option for the vehicle.
Inside, the RS features the same black interior as seen on the Thai version, the shade being found on the synthetic leather/fabric combination for the upholstery, trim and headliner. The variant gets red accent trim and red contrast stitching on the seats and steering wheel.
Kit includes a seven-inch touchscreen head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, two USB ports, multi-angle rear-view camera and a 4.2-inch TFT colour multi-info display, housed in the middle of the primarily analogue instrument cluster binnacle as well as Honda Connect telematics.
Additionally, the RS gets a rear seat armrest, paddle shifters and a six-speaker audio set-up. The Malaysian WR-V will also come with storage flaps on the back of both front seats, unlike the Thai version, which only featured one (on the passenger seat). The lack of a tonneau cover or rear cargo space screen, somewhat essential to maintain storage privacy, however remains.
The RS of course gets the Honda Sensing ADAS package, which contains lead car departure notification (LCDN), adaptive cruise control (ACC), collision mitigation braking system (CMBS or AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), lane keep assist system (LKAS), road departure mitigation (RDM), lane departure warning (LDW) and auto high beam (AHB).
Missing from the list however is the low-speed follow function, and this can be put down to the mechanical handbrake utilised on the car. Also on is the automaker’s left-side LaneWatch camera in place of blind spot assist lamps.
Some notes about the rest of WR-V range, pieced together from here and there. That there could be more than two variants was already a possibility, but the word is that the WR-V is likely to mimic the City sedan/hatchback line-up in terms of the number of variants. As such, the WR-V range may span four variants, which would be a base S, intermediate E and upper-end V, with the RS sitting at the top.
This of course would put the WR-V’s close to the Ativa in terms of pricing, if a base S form were to come about. Of course, a Grade S variant would likely see certain equipment omitted and features being trimmed. The Indonesian base E spec offers an indicator or what to expect – halogen headlamps (without auto feature), fabric seats, digital air-conditioning and a MID instrument display. Additionally, the steering and gear shift knob is likely to be urethane.
Variants below the RS are also expected to come with a light grey headliner (which would improve interior space perception), four speakers and wear 16-inch five spoke silver alloys (as seen on the Thai SV variant), although there is also indication that all WR-V variants will come with the seven-inch touchscreen head unit (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and LaneWatch. If there are indeed four variants, then Sensing will be also found on the V.
Bear in mind that nothing away from the RS variant has been confirmed, so we’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out and what actually comes about. Until then, you can catch the RS at the next set of previews this weekend. These will cover the northern region, while those in the Klang Valley will get the chance to get up close with the compact SUV at the end of the month. We’ve driven the WR-V, read the first drive report here.
GALLERY: 2033 Honda WR-V RS, Thailand-spec
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just keep your low expectation with Honda’s new model. Last time HRV had a massive quality problem with that model. The same goes for BRV till they drop out from the list.
Remember, honda in Msia now only focus with affordability, hence the introduction 3rd world models such as city, wr-v, hrv and so on.
If you really want honda, get a global model like civic, cr-v, accord. but here, they trimmed down their spec down to core
Do wan this India mari car, give us bigger USA mari HRV
it’s ridiculous how honda is still on that lanewatch thing because even bargain brands have regular blind spot monitoring tech lol. not only is the lanewatch gimmicky, the quality of the camera is horrible and it barely works when it rains.
Latest 3 series has only rear view camera…so?
ok?? comment this on the bmw article then?
Are you an idiot? The 3-series has a proper blind spot monitor, which is what the original comment is about.
“Best in class safety”
*Proceeds to show LaneWatch*
KEK.
This will cannibalise into City and City Hatchback’s sales instead of Ativa’s due to the pricing range despite being 1 size smaller.
ativa killed it before it could hatch
it may kill its own city sibling
Looks like Honda BR-V kecil
Just release the price-lah, car brand these days feed on hype so much.
same as ahmed maslan. hype hype hype as finance ministar
Nice la my lucky color red one. Some more buy Honda good resell value I wish you reader prosper and make money.
Basically it is just a shorten version of BRV which is so ugly and can’t sell well…Honda just utilizes the BRV’s mold and come out with this so called WRV
Japaneses and Koreans automakers keep throwing 3rd worlders products like crazy
Is it me or the interior and dash has that low rent feel to it…
To be honest, owning the previous Vspec HRV, and another car with blind spot. The lane watch is a god send in morning traffic when you need to get across a few lanes, especially with the me 1st mentality on our roads. I personally would prefer lane watch to Blind spot monitoring. I can see the right better than my left.
haiyo, manual hand brake, no turbo? good luck.
Don’t forget rahmah variant. Rim kompang, 2 airbag, no radio, so on and so fourth.
aku naaaaaaaaak
Scrap cars above 20yrs