The Hyundai Creta rival at the door, supposed to be a mid-size SUV

The Indian division of the Japanese multinational automaker Honda Motor Corporation is improving after a few difficult years. In order to compete with models like the well-known Hyundai Creta in the Indian market, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) is getting ready to introduce its new mid-size SUV. The company has announced the vehicle’s launch date, which is set for the second half of 2023. The company has also disclosed that it will be releasing a new vehicle every year.

Honda Cars India’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Kunal Behl, announced during a media discussion that they plan to launch a new SUV in mid-2023, and will continue to release at least one new car every year. This is a strong indication of their commitment to the Indian market, which is an important growth story and the third-largest market in the world. Behl emphasized that it would be illogical to exit this market.

Features

While the test mule of the Honda SUV was extensively camouflaged, certain design details were still noticeable. The SUV will feature an imposing front-end design, with sleek LED headlamps and a sizeable grille. The overall design of the SUV is similar to the Honda HR-V that is sold in international markets.

Under the hood, the SUV is expected to feature a 1.5-liter petrol engine borrowed from the latest City sedan, which delivers 121 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. The SUV may also be offered with the 1.5-liter strong-hybrid powertrain from the City e: HEV hybrid, which includes an Atkinson cycle petrol engine, a front-mounted electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery.

The Honda mid-size SUV is expected to offer a range of premium features, including a large touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof.

The launch of the new Honda mid-size SUV is expected to strengthen the company’s position in the highly competitive Indian market, and help it to better compete against established players in the segment.