Honda Malaysia has confirmed that it will be launching the Honda WR-V in the third quarter of this year. The A-segment SUV will be positioned below the B-segment Honda HR-V, and will be the first of its kind for Honda Malaysia.

Don’t expect the A-segment WR-V to be priced lower than the B-segment Honda City though. There is already a precedence for this. The A-segment Perodua Ativa starts from RM 62,500, which is higher than the B-segment Perodua Myvi’s RM 46,500.

SUVs, regardless of its segment, typically command a higher price premium over comparable sedans / hatchbacks.

Yes, in Indonesia the Honda WR-V is cheaper than the Honda City but that’s due to legacy issues with Indonesia’s tax structure, which used to place a higher tax on sedans and hatchbacks above with engine capacities above 1.2-litre (now replaced with CO2-based tax).

Elsewhere, SUVs are most certainly priced higher than a sedan, even in Thailand.

“Set to be launched in the third quarter of 2023, we believe this model will definitely impress the market,” said Mr. Sarly Adle Sarkum, President and COO of Honda Malaysia at a media event on Friday night.

The Honda WR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine that makes 121 PS / 145 Nm, paired to a CVT-type automatic driving the front wheels.

As for safety, it should mirror the Honda City, which means that Honda Sensing will be available for the highest variant.

Honda Malaysia has yet to give any indication on the price of the Honda WR-V, but it’s not difficult to guess.

The Honda City is priced from RM 77,600 to RM 94,600, while the e:HEV RS hybrid variant is priced from RM 108,800. The Honda HR-V starts from RM 114,800.

Putting aside the niche City hybrid variant, there is a circa RM 20k gap between mainstream variants of the Honda City and the Honda HR-V, and that’s where the WR-V could be positioned.

The Honda WR-V made its global debut in Indonesia in November 2022. Exports to Thailand started in February 2023, before launching in the northern Kingdom last week on 10-March.

The WR-V is now the dominant A-segment SUV in Indonesia, overtaking the Perodua Ativa’s twins Daihatsu Rocky / Toyota Raize, to secure an exceptionally high 40 percent market share.

Like many other Honda models, our Malaysia market Honda WR-V will most likely be locally assembled at Honda Malaysia’s plant in Pegoh, Melaka.