Honda seems to be more focused towards the Indian market in its new second innings and is looking to be a volume player. First the company announced the launch of the Amaze sedan and the first diesel car for the Indian market.
Now the company plans to assemble the new CR-V in India to keep price competitive. Honda Car will bring the new SUV with a 2.0 & 2.4 litre petrol engines options just like the old CR-V but at lower price than the outgoing model. Transmission option includes electronically controlled 5-speed automatic.
The CR-V is already launched in the Asean market and is also locally made in the Thai market. We could assume very similar specs and features which are offered in the Thai market.
The SUV will be assembled at Honda’s Noida facility with the launch expected in February. According to some sources the launch will happen on the 12th of February.
Honda once dominated this segment, but lost it to Toyota Fortuner and other competition models mainly due to the lack of diesel technology and high price.
Honda will now have to fight against the Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva, Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Renault Koleos and the BMW X1 & Audi Q3 on the upper end.
The biggest damper could be the lack of diesel engine which may keep the customers away from the new CR-V. Honda will have to work on the price equation hard if it wants to taste success.
