Honda WR-V Jazzier

What is the one word used to define a Honda car that that has utilised the platform from the Jazz model to become longer, has an increased wheelbase and ground clearance and has very modern features that give a run for its money to several of its competitors? Jazzier!

- P. Tharyan

The new Honda WR-V which comes in both petrol and diesel engine option (a 1.5L, i-DTEC, diesel and a 1.2L, i-VTEC, petrol engine) could give cars like the Hyundai i20 Active, Toyota Etios Cross, Volkswagen Cross Polo, the Mahindra KUV 100 and several other compact SUVs and crossovers a stiff competition. Honda has termed the WR-V as a ‘Sporty Lifestyle Vehicle’. While the diesel engine is quite peppy with a turbo that kicks in as early as 1500rpm, and liner power delivery, the petrol engine seems to lose steam as the car is pushed into higher gears. It seems a tad under powered.

Both the 1.5L diesel and 1.2L petrol which is being offered by Honda on the WR-V deliver very good mileage figures. While Honda claims the diesel to return 25.5kmpl the petrol will return 17.5kmpl. The diesel mill puts out 98.6bhp at 3600rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1750rpm. The 1.5L i-DTEC diesel mill has been mated to a 6-speed manual transmission which has a wider gear ratio range and a high final gear ratio for improved fuel efficiency.

The 1.2L i-VTEC petrol engine has been mated to a new 5-speed manual transmission with a cross gear ratio and has lower gear ratios in comparison to the 6-speed transmission. The final gear on this new transmission has been set to a lower ratio for improved acceleration. The 1.2L, i-VTEC, engine puts out 88.74bhp at 6000rpm and 110Nm of torque at 4600rpm.