IN PICS | Honda WR-V Review: How Good Is This Car And Should You Consider It?

While car-makers are abandoning diesel in the hatchback space, Honda has stuck with it and made its 1.5l diesel BS6 compliant. There is a 1.2.l petrol of course. Petrol makes 88 bhp and 110Nm while the diesel makes 100 bhp and 200Nm. The petrol gets a 5-speed manual and the diesel gets a 6-speed one with no automatic option on both- a bit of a miss since a CVT option was there on the Jazz hatchback earlier. However, it is one of the few cars to get a BS6 diesel at this price point.  We drove the diesel and liked the engine. The BS6 diesel is much more refined now and not intrusive. However, you will like the strong torque and the nice plus slick 6-speed manual. You can drive around in the city without the need to change gears as the torque helps. It is also quick when you want it and the clutch also did not feel heavy. It is also quite efficient.

Prices start at Rs 8.5 lakh and top at Rs 10.9 lakh. The WR-V lacks an automatic option and some much-needed features for sure but as a crossover breed, it is the best one. It is slightly cheaper and slightly more expensive than hatchbacks yet brings in added usability due to its tough suspension and ground clearance plus the immense space. An interesting choice but also a practical one.

While we are at it, there are some issues with the cabin and that is mostly due to a few ergonomic factors. The touch-screen for example is small and not as big as the latest Honda City or as slick while it also has the touch ac controls which are a bit difficult to use on the go unlike the latest new Honda City. Plus the touch-screen visibility is something we thought was too low and we could not see the rear view camera display properly in day-time nor the functions itself.

Moving onto the ride and handling department and that is where the WR-V makes a lot of sense. The compact size and SUV like driving position along with 188mm ground clearance are handy for our roads. The suspension is just brilliant as it just eats up bad roads as during our drive, it rained and the WR-V just went through some really flooded roads with no difficulty. The ride is superb and is perfect for our road infrastructure or the lack of it.

In terms of features, the WR-V has a sunroof, touch-screen, climate control and all the basics plus more. The sunroof is nice and a big USP for the car for sure. However, we would have liked rear ac vents and a centre arm-rest for the rear and a bigger touch-screen. It has all the smartphone connectivity though but lacks connected technology seen in some compact SUVs and also now available in the new Honda City.

Move to the side and you will see cladding and the roof-rails which bring in some SUVness to its look and that is crucial. You will also see the new 16-inch diamond-cut alloys which fit in nicely and gives the car a good stance. The side view is a nice angle and here the rugged elements are given to enhance the appeal of the car. We would say the paint and build quality is pretty good too. At the rear is when the crossover or the hatchback look of the WR-V is exposed. The rear is similar to the Jazz hatch and we wished here too it could have had an aggressive look like the front of the car. Nevertheless, we like the skid plate and the tail-lamps which are new and LED too.

Now let us get to one of the main USPs of the WR-V and that is the space. The cabin feels airy and spacious which is important plus it beats many compact SUVs or hatchbacks here. The front seats are big and comfortable while the massive space at the rear gives you very good space plus excellent leg-room, shoulder room and head-room. For the price and size, this is class best space no doubt.

While we are at it, there are some issues with the cabin and that is mostly due to a few ergonomic factors. The touch-screen, for example, is small and not as big as the latest Honda City or as slick while it also has the touch ac controls which are a bit difficult to use on the go, unlike the latest new Honda City. Plus the touch-screen visibility is something we thought was too low and we could not see the rearview camera display properly in day-time nor the functions itself.

While car-makers are abandoning diesel in the hatchback space, Honda has stuck with it and made its 1.5l diesel BS6 compliant. There is a 1.2.l petrol of course. Petrol makes 88 bhp and 110Nm while the diesel makes 100 bhp and 200Nm. The petrol gets a 5-speed manual and the diesel gets a 6-speed one with no automatic option on both- a bit of a miss since a CVT option was there on the Jazz hatchback earlier. However, it is one of the few cars to get a BS6 diesel at this price point.  We drove the diesel and liked the engine. The BS6 diesel is much more refined now and not intrusive. However, you will like the strong torque and the nice plus slick 6-speed manual. You can drive around in the city without the need to change gears as the torque helps. It is also quick when you want it and the clutch also did not feel heavy. It is also quite efficient.

The WR-V is just under 4m but looks bigger and has much more presence over some compact SUVs and hatchbacks. The shape is like a crossover but the different face from the Jazz on which it is based on is the reason why the WR-V scores good marks here. It is tall, wide and looks big enough which is important for presence. The 'new' part in the WR-V is best seen from the front where it has a grille with even more chrome now and that again adds to the presence. There is a solid slab of chrome with the big Honda logo which is now tied to the new LED projector headlamps and LED fog-lamps plus you can see some of the blackened elements in the headlamps.