3 Honda SUVs Lined Up For India

Honda's present portfolio in India consists of four models- Amaze, Elevate and two iterations of the City (hybrid and non-hybrid). The Japanese carmaker will introduce a series of new models in the upcoming years. As many as three new SUVs are to be expected. Here is everything we know about these.

Elevate Hybrid

Honda sells the Elevate as the ' WRV' in many international markets. The outgoing Elevate is powered by a 1.5L four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. The carmaker is known to be working on a hybrid version of it. It will likely borrow the powertrain from the City hybrid.

The vehicle was recently spotted testing in Brazil. The hybrid version would be greener than the outgoing model. Except for a new set of alloy wheels, no major design changes are to be expected on the Hybrid version. The front will retain the current model's boxy grille, flanked by sleek LED headlights. The flat rear end and stubby taillights will also be unchanged.

Inside, the Elevate Hybrid will remain largely similar to the current petrol-only model. That means you can expect features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charging, automatic climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob.

On the powertrain front, the new SUV will use the hybrid City's engine- 1.5-litre petrol hybrid system. The petrol engine alone can produce 98 bhp. There are two electric motors that push the overall output to 108 bhp and 253 Nm of torque. It allows the car to drive short distances in pure EV mode and even charges the battery through regenerative braking, improving overall efficiency.

ZR-V Hybrid

Honda was previously reported to be evaluating the ZR-V hybrid SUV for India. It could launch in the upcoming years and will battle the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Grand Vitara then. Honda even showcased the ZR-V at the 2025 annual dealer convention in India.

The ZR-V is larger than the Creta, measuring 4,568 mm in length, 1,840 mm in width, and 1,611 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,655 mm. It also offers a ground clearance of 126 mm in global versions, although this could be tweaked for Indian roads.

The ZR-V for India is expected to use the same 2.0-litre petrol engine found in international versions. Paired with an e-CVT automatic gearbox, this motor can churn out 180 hp. It may also come with a hybrid assist system and all-wheel-drive (AWD) capabilities in higher trims.

Some markets also get a smaller 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a CVT, which could be a more cost-effective option for India.

Here’s the catch: Honda plans to bring the ZR-V as Completely Built-Up (CBU) units, meaning they will be imported fully assembled. India imposes high taxes on CBUs, ranging from 70% to 100%, depending on various criteria.