Though the all-new 2023 Honda WR-V has only been on sale for a month in Indonesia following its global debut in November 2022, Honda’s entry-level SUV became the country’s best-selling small SUV in December.

According to sales data by Gaikindo, 1,740 units of the WR-V were sold in Indonesia in December 2022. This puts it at the top spot among the small SUV segment in the country, snatching the crown from the Toyota Raize which saw 1,222 units sold in the same month.

Meanwhile, the Raize’s twin, the Daihatsu Rocky only saw 226 units sold that month. Combined, both Indo twins to the Perodua Ativa sold slightly less than the baby Honda SUV with 1,448 units sold.

The Honda WR-V is available in Indonesia in 3 variants. According to our colleagues at AutoFun ID, the most popular variant is the RS CVT variant with 810 units followed by the RS CVT with Honda Sensing variant (750 units) and the base E CVT variant (180 units).

Also read: All-new 2023 Honda WR-V debuts in Indonesia - Can it win over the Ativa?

Hence, around 90% of the WR-V sold is the RS variant. All variants of the WR-V are powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine (121 PS/145 Nm) that is carried over from the Honda BR-V. A CVT automatic transmission is the sole gearbox offered for the WR-V in Indonesia.

Also read: Who has the best CVT? Perodua, Honda, Toyota or Nissan?

Still, the Toyota Raize remains the best-selling small SUV in Indonesia in 2022 with 24,092 units sold. It’s placed 13th overall between the Daihatsu Terios and the Daihatsu Ayla while the Daihatsu Rocky sold 8,336 units in the same year.

As the WR-V only started sales in December, it didn't benefit from a full year sales yet.

Nevertheless, it's a winning start for the Honda WR-V which is quite apt since the name stands for “Winsome Runabout Vehicle”. Can the WR-V extend its win in Indonesia in 2023?

As for Malaysia, it is possible for Honda Malaysia to introduce the Ativa rival here since it is a regional product. However, we expect it to be arriving here in the second half of 2023 and it could be priced around RM 90k.

Also read: Honda WR-V, more powerful than Ativa, adds Sensing, sub-RM 90k possible for Malaysia?