Spec Comparo: Honda WR-V Vs Hyundai i20 Active

Honda is gearing up to launch the new Jazz-based crossover in India. Called the WR-V (short for Winsome Runabout Vehicle), the hatchback-crossover was showcased at the 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show. The WR-V has been spotted at the manufacturer’s Tapukara facility in Rajasthan which means the launch is just around the corner. When launched in India, it will be entering in the segment which currently consists of the Hyundai i20 Active, Toyota Etios Cross, Fiat Avventura and the Volkswagen Cross Polo. Here is a spec comparison on how it will fair against the highest selling car of the segment, the i20 Active.

Exterior 

Both cars being hatchback-crossovers, they come with the quintessential crossover traits with includes a meatier and muscular appearance. Both the car have cladded front and rear bumpers with faux skid plates and roof railing. The WR-V, however, seems more of an SUV rather than a beefed up hatch, owing to the butch stance with a tall bonnet and a higher ground clearance.

No official figures are available from the manufacturer yet, but both the cars carry identical ground clearance but at 16-inch, the wheels are bigger on the WR-V as compared to 15-inch on Active's base variant. The WR-V is more handsome looking of the two and with a taller stance will probably attract the SUV-loving Indian customers more than the hatchback-ish i20 Active.

Interior

As the i20 Active borrows the interiors from the regular i20, the interiors of the WR-V are scrounged from the Jazz. But being a newer car, dual tone interior with plusher upholstery is expected on the WR-V. The Active comes with funky colour-coded pinstripe, dashboard accents aluminium-coated pedals and partly coloured gear-knob with new upholstery over the standard hatch. The WR-V will have the ‘magic’ seats similar to the one in Jazz.

Like the feature-rich i20, the Active is packed with many features like height adjustable driver’s seat, cooled glove-box, 2-Din audio system with internal memory on the base and mid variant and a touchscreen infotainment in the top spec, climate control, two power outlet, reverse parking assist, and clutch lock. What remains to be seen is what features and equipment Honda WR-V come with.

Engine 

The Active is available with a 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engine. The Kappa petrol puts out 82bhp and 114Nm, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The diesel engine produces 89bhp and 220Nm via the six-speed manual transmission. When launched in India, the WR-V will get the same engines fitted in the Jazz. So, the petrol will be the 1.2-litre i-VTEC making 87bhp while the diesel version will get the 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor putting out 98bhp. Gearbox options will include a five-speed manual and a CVT for the petrol and a six-speed manual for the diesel.

Prices

The i20 Active is priced in the range of Rs 6.71 lakh to Rs 9.72 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The WR-V will tad more premium than the standard Jazz, so it is expected to be more expensive than the i20 Active. We expect the price to be in between Rs 6 – 12 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) as it will even go up against the compact SUVs like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport when launched in India.