![Honda WR-V, more powerful than Ativa, adds Sensing, sub-RM 90k possible for Malaysia? 01]()
The Honda WR-V is Honda’s latest small SUV. Positioned below the Honda HR-V, the WR-V made its global debut earlier this week in Indonesia. Honda Malaysia has yet to confirm if the WR-V will be launched here, neither do we expect them to.
Like many companies, Honda Malaysia cannot, and won’t comment on its future product plans, at least not this early.
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But there is not even a slightest doubt if the Honda WR-V will be launched in Malaysia. It is coming here. You don’t need to connect too many dots to figure that clearly Honda Motor didn’t spend money to develop a new SUV only for it to be sold only in Indonesia, right?
The Honda WR-V is a regional product, developed in Thailand by Honda R&D Asia Pacific, with Indonesian team members contributing a not insignificant part of the project.
Also read: All-new 2023 Honda WR-V debuts in Indonesia - Can it win over the Ativa?
![Honda WR-V, more powerful than Ativa, adds Sensing, sub-RM 90k possible for Malaysia? 01]()
The WR-V project leader, which in Honda’s hierarchy carries the title Large Project Leader (LPL) is a Thai lady – Miss Poychat Ua-arayaporn. To our knowledge, she is the first female LPL to lead the development of a major Honda model.
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She explained that market studies for a new small SUV started 5 years ago, focusing on young Indonesians looking to buy their first hatchback / small SUV who are looking to upgrade to an SUV. “My urban free-styler” was the overarching theme for her development team.
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To keep cost low, the Thai-Indo development team built the WR-V off the second-generation Honda BR-V, with parts some other Honda models including the previous FC generation Civic’s steering wheel.
Also read: Review: 2022 Honda Civic RS (FE) - If there were ever a perfect car for Malaysians, this is it
![Honda WR-V, more powerful than Ativa, adds Sensing, sub-RM 90k possible for Malaysia? 04]()
And that's expected because it's priced to compete against the Daihatsu Rocky / Toyota Raize / Perodua Ativa in Southeast Asian markets. For example, here's how the prices for the WR-V vs the trio stack up:
- WR-V E – IDR 271.9 million (~RM 82.5k)
- WR-V RS – IDR 289.9 million (~RM 88k)
- WR-V RS with Honda Sensing – IDR 309.9 million (~RM 94k)
Meanwhile, the CVT-only variants of the Rocky/Raize in Indonesia tops out at around IDR 283 million (~RM 86k).
Launch in Malaysia?
![Honda WR-V, more powerful than Ativa, adds Sensing, sub-RM 90k possible for Malaysia? 05]()
Honda Malaysia has yet to confirm, but it would a huge loss of opportunity if it doesn’t, as the WR-V is developed as a regional product. We are pretty sure the WR-V will be launched in Malaysia in 2023, after the all-new BR-V.
The second half of 2023 is a likelier possibility, considering lead times required for local assembly (CKD) prep work.
Price estimate for Malaysia
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Prices for the WR-V are 10 percent cheaper than the BR-V in Indonesia, and both models fall under the same tax bracket. As of this year, the archipelago has binned preferential tax for 7-seaters and instead adopt a CO2-based tax, bringing it more in-line with developed nations.
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Over in Malaysia, things are slightly different. The outgoing generation BR-V is priced from RM 90,700 (1.5 E) to RM 97,700 (1.5 V). It's taxed as an SUV, meaning a 75 percent excise duty is applied before rebates for local content use.
Also read: To cross RM 100k in Malaysia? 2022 Honda BR-V is now priced 13% higher in the Philippines
In Malaysia, we don't have any CO2 tax programmes so the 1.5-litre WR-V will also be taxed the same as the same engine capacity BR-V. Assuming the same price gap as Indonesia and taking into consideration a minimum 10 percent jump in price for the next generation BR-V, it's hightly likely for the WR-V to be priced at circa RM 90k, which is over RM 20k cheaper than the HR-V.