Honda WR-V Malaysia: affordable SUV coming Q3 2023 to take on Perodua Ativa, Proton X50

Honda Malaysia has officially signalled its intent to tackle Perodua and Proton at their own game, confirming that it will be bringing in the Ativa-sized WR-V to the country in the third quarter of the year. To be clear, the company did not explicitly reveal the model name—referring to it only as a “small SUV”—but the teaser image below leaves little in the way of ambiguity.

For those who don’t know, the WR-V is an entry-level crossover that slots below the HR-V in terms of both size and pricing. This is actually the second generation, which replaces the original Jazz-based model with one based on the similarly budget-friendly Brio hatchback and Amaze sedan (both not sold in Malaysia). This is the first time the nameplate is being offered in Southeast Asia.

The new WR-V is already a known quantity, having been launched in Indonesia back in November and in Thailand just over a week ago. That means that much of the car’s specs and details have been revealed, including the dimensions—measuring 4,060 mm long, 1,780 mm wide and 1,608 mm tall, it’s five millimetres shorter, 70mm wider and 27mm lower than the Ativa. You couldn’t even fit a folded Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 in those gaps.

As for the wheelbase, the HR-V’s 2,481mm is shaded by the Ativa’s 2,525mm, but that’s still a difference of just 44mm. To say that Honda has studied its nearest competitor (technically the Daihatsu Rocky/Toyota Raize twins, closely related to the Ativa) thoroughly would be a gross understatement.

The WR-V even looks very similar, with details that include trapezoidal head- and taillights, a large hexagonal grille, a bumper-mounted rear number plate recess and rakish C-pillars, along with the scarlet hero colour (called Ignite Red Metallic) and optional black roof. One unique feature is the hidden rear door handles, a design cue lifted from the HR-V.

Inside, the WR-V takes after the new BR-V (which won’t be sold in Malaysia; see our separate coverage on this topic), featuring high-mounted centre air vents, prominent head unit shroud and digital air-conditioning controls. A modest seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, smaller than the eight-inch unit found in the City and HR-V (and the nine-inch whopper in the Ativa), provides access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—features the Perodua lacks—and will likely be standard fitment.

The equipment list is relatively comprehensive, with available items that include LED head- and taillights, LED front fog lights, 16- and 17-inch alloy wheel options, keyless entry with walk-away auto lock, push-button start, automatic air-con, six speakers, six airbags and stability control. Some features available in Thailand, like the Civic e:HEV-style smart key card, will probably be dropped to keep prices competitive against local competition.

In terms of tech, the WR-V should feature the Honda Connect suite of remote functions and emergency services, letting you work the door locks and lights and even start the engine using a smartphone apps. Unfortunately, the Honda lacks the fancy digital instrument clusters found on both the Ativa and Proton X50, sticking to analogue dials and a meagre 4.2-inch multi-info display sandwiched in between.

On the flip side, the car will almost certainly be offered with the Honda Sensing active safety package, which is fully equipped with not just autonomous emergency braking but also adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist to provide Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities. If Thailand is any indication, this brace of systems could even come as standard across the range, giving the WR-V a key advantage over the X50 that reserves these features for the range-topping Flagship variant.

While the WR-V is new to the ASEAN market, Malaysians will no doubt be familiar with what’s under the bonnet—Honda’s ubiquitous 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, the same one found in the petrol City sedan and hatch and the base HR-V 1.5 E. It produces 119hp and 145Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Why so eager to fight Perodua and Proton?

Honda Malaysia is being rather aggressive this time around, having long been content with taking up its own space in the marketplace above the national carmakers. That changed when Proton fired a salvo at the HR-V with the X70 back in 2018, offering a larger car, a turbocharged engine and greater levels of tech and safety at comparable pricing. Sales of Honda’s hitherto segment leader slumped overnight.

Proton only consolidated its position in the SUV market with the smaller and more affordable X50 in late 2020, a move that was swiftly followed by the launch of Perodua’s Ativa a few months later. Honda Malaysia was unable to compete on price with the HR-V, doubly so when the more upmarket new model was released last year; it needed a smaller car that was cheaper to build, and therefore could be made more affordable for buyers. This is exactly that car.

How much will it cost?

How much more affordable, exactly? Well, the HR-V currently starts at RM114,800 without insurance, so there’s plenty of room for the WR-V to slot underneath it while still maintaining a price premium commensurate for a non-national car. For context, the Ativa tops out at RM72,600 for the range-topping AV variant, while the X50 starts at RM86,300 for the base Standard model.

Speculative reports of a starting price of RM82,000 are probably wide off the mark, but even if the WR-V were to start at around RM90,000, it would still cause quite a headache for the X50, and it will likely tempt more affluent would-be Ativa buyers as well. Particularly as the Honda brand still holds some cachet among local motorists.