2020 Honda WR-V Review

The Honda WR-V has been one of the best examples of a subcompact car at least in terms of design. Despite the fact that Honda still doesn't have a sub-compact SUV in the market, the WR-V has done pretty well when it comes to pulling customers to the showrooms. You might argue about which category the car falls under - crossover? SUV? or just a premium hatch? Maybe the facelift that has just arrived can help clear some of that confusion. Laden with BS6 compliant engines it has entered the market only recently as the pandemic played in the delay of its launch. Of course there are updated engines but there's a lot more to talk about in this car.

Also read: 2020 Honda WR-V Facelift Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 8.50 Lakh

The WR-V continues to get a ground clearance of 188 mm

Exterior

Its not for the first time we've seen the 'cross' treatment from Honda in India. We all remember how the Mobilio became the BR-V and then how the Jazz became the base for the WR-V. As you'd probably expect from a facelift; the face has changed on the WR-V. The grille is a huge departure from the old car, it has grown much bigger which I think suits the style of the car more. To make it more appealing it also gets new projector lamps with LED DRLs, though with a limited presence. The bumper and fog lamps have also changed and for good I should add.

Also read: 2020 Honda WR-V Facelift: Variants Explained

The front of the car has seen a complete makeover in this facelift

The changes continue on the side and rear too. The 16-inch alloy wheels have gone in for a refresh and the good thing is irrespective of which variant you buy you will get these wheels. However the spare wheel isn't the same. The muscular wheel arches have always worked well for the car and continue to do so. The LED tail lamps with a smoked treatment look pleasing to the eye and the C-shaped LEDs remind of some bigger Honda's which isn't all that bad. You can also take a tailgate spoiler and a bumper protector as accessories. The car continues to get the same 6 color options and one that you see here is called the Radiant Red.

The C-shaped LED tail lamps remind of some big Honda sedans like Civic

How does it drive

I got to drive the top of the line VX trim with the Diesel engine. The road presence has certainly gone up with this facelift. This is one Honda which can make heads turn. It also gives the driver a good view of the road, something that has always worked in its favour. The Petrol and Diesel engines remain the same and are now BS 6 compliant. The 1.2 litre motor that churns out 89 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 110 Nm @ 4,800 rpm. The claimed fuel efficiency figures are 16.5 kmpl. The Diesel promises a much better 23.7 kmpl, but is down by 2 kmpl when compared to the BS4 car. It is also a little more powerful at 99 bhp and also provides a lot more torque of 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm.

At 23.7 kmpl, the BS6 diesel engine is less fuel efficient than before

The latter comes with a 6-speed gearbox where you'll certainly like the gearshift at be a little more smooth. The small size of gear lever continues and takes some time in getting used to. The peak torque kicks in quite early and if we had fun with this engine in the recently launched new generation City, you can very well imagine what it would be doing on a lighter car. The Petrol at least on paper and from past experience isn't as enthusiastic as torque comes in past the 4,000 mark. Yes you'd prefer a stronger low range to make those maneuvers but a big car running on a small engine has its demerits.

The 1.5 litre Diesel motor makes the WR-V a fun to drive vehicle

I still fail to understand why the WR-V has still not been given an automatic gearbox with any of the engines. In fact, it is the only car in the entire Honda portfolio in India without an automatic right from the Amaze all the way to CR-V. Well, Honda has been asked that question repeatedly and they suggest that a car like WR-V is more about having fun and therefore a manual suffices.

Specifications	Honda WR-V 1.2 Petrol	Honda WR-V 1.5 Diesel
Displacement	1,199 cc	1,498 cc
Max Output	89 bhp at 6,000 rpm	99 bhp at 3,600 rpm
Peak Torque	110 Nm at 4,800 rpm	200 Nm at 1,750 rpm
Transmission	5-speed MT	6-speed MT

Now when you talk about ride and handling there isn't too much that differentiates the pre-facelift car to this one. That's because there was nothing to complain about in the car from Day 1, the suspension is very well suited for Indian roads falling exactly between firm and soft. The high ground clearance of 188 mm also doesn't come in the way of a car that handles well and keeps its composure even at high speeds.

The suspension is right between firm and soft, which works well for Indian roads

Interiors

There's a lot to look forward to in the cabin of the new WR-V. The electric sunroof has always been a huge novelty on the car and Honda would be hoping it will continue to attract consumers. The new 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system or Digipad 2.0 is compatible with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. The system also gets in-built navigation but quality of touch and clarity leaves a lot to be desired, especially after looking at other such systems in the sub ₹ 10 lakh space. The good thing is that the touchscreen along with automatic climate control is a standard feature.

When compared to some other sub ₹ 10 lakh cars, the touch screen system feels a bit inferior

The newly designed seat upholstery with a mesh design is also likeable. Small bits of chrome also add to the appeal. You're never far away from finding an ideal driving position in this car. That's because there's a driver seat height adjuster and a tilt cum telescopic steering wheel that comes as standard. It comes with newly laid audio, voice, hands-free and cruise control switches. The front armrest has been updated with a larger storage area and is good enough to swallow a full-size tablet. The second row is also good on space, but that is the only thing for which you'll use that adejctive here. Missing rear AC vents, armrest and adjustable headrests is a huge disappointment. The boot space at 363 litres a little more than adequate but not really generous.

Steering adjustment is both tilt and telescopic and the wheel also gets new switches

Every single safety feature is standard on the WR-V including dual airbags, though the top variants could've definitely done with more.  ABS with EBD, rear parking camera, impact mitigating front head rests and pedestrian injury mitigation technology are some other features worth mentioning.

The top variants of the WR-V get just 2 airbags

Pricing & Verdict

The WR-V has got just 2 variants, SV and VX in both Petrol and Diesel. Prices start at ₹ 8.5 lakh (ex-showroom) for the SV Petrol and go upto ₹ 10.99 lakhfor VX Diesel. That makes it more comparable to many subcompact SUVs on sale currently in the market, more so the top variants. For example the top variant of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza manual is priced at Rs 9.98 lakh (ex-showroom), while the WR-V costs1  ₹ 9.69 lakh (ex-showroom). Ford Ecosport's top-end diesel variant is priced at ₹ 11.67 lakh (ex-showroom) while for the Hyundai Venue it is ₹ 11.52 lakh. It is also a lot more expensive than cars like the Ford Freestyle and the Hyundai i20 Active. But when you talk about features and drivability, the WR-V feels more like a premium hatch. So it will be safe to say attributes from different segments have been taken to give this car a unique character and this facelift has just made it even more exclusive.

(Photography: Mukul Rautela)

Specifications:

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