• 1 year ago

Honda is all set to enter the fiercely competitive midsize SUV market in India with its upcoming SUV. The launch is expected by the festive season of 2023. While the SUV has been under development for quite some time, there has been a lot of speculation around the powertrain, price, and features of the SUV. Here's what we know so far.

Design and Features

The spy photos shared by Autocar reveal that the Honda SUV has an upright nose and grille with sleek headlamps, roof rails, a sunroof, and a sloping roofline with a tailgate-mounted spoiler. It has large, multi-spoke wheels and sharp, almost square design for the wheel arches. The SUV is expected to come with a 360-degree camera or the brand’s lane watch system.

The teaser image released by Honda Car India shows that the SUV will have a coupe-like appearance with a tapering roof. It has chunky cladding on the wheel arches and large wheels in order to give it a rugged appearance. The front bumper has a unique look and seems to get a dedicated air dam, a faux skid plate, and circular fog lamps.

Powertrain Options

The midsize SUV is expected to come with a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 121bhp, which is shared with the fifth-gen City. Additionally, it will get a 1.5-litre strong-hybrid powertrain, which is the same as its sibling, the City Hybrid. The gearbox options will include a 6-speed manual and a CVT for the 1.5-petrol, and eCVT for the strong hybrid.

Price

The Honda midsize SUV is expected to be priced competitively and between Rs. 10-15 lakh, which will put it in direct competition with the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

Rivals

The upcoming Honda midsize SUV will have high levels of localisation and is expected to debut in India by April-May this year. Upon launch, it will find itself in one of the most aggressive segments with rivals including the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, as well as the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder that come with strong-hybrid options.

In conclusion, Honda's upcoming midsize SUV is expected to make its mark in the Indian market with its sleek design, impressive features, and powerful powertrain options. With aggressive pricing and high levels of localisation, it could prove to be a serious contender in the midsize SUV segment in India.

Honda Pilot Specification, Features & Overview Engine 3.5L V6, 24-Valves, SOHC, i-VTEC Maximum Power 280 BHP @ 6,000 RPM Peak Torque 355 NM @ 4,700 RPM Transmission 9-Speed Automatic Drivetrain FWD, AWD Top Speed 205 km/h Mileage 9 kmpl Front Brakes 12.6 Inch Power-Assisted Ventilated Disc Brakes Rear Brakes 13 Inch Solid Rear Disc Brakes Wheelbase 2,819 mm Lenght 4,968 mm Width 1,996 mm Height 1,793 mm Seating Capacity 8 Fuel Tank Capacity 73.8 Litres Wheels 18-Inch Alloy Price in India (Ex-Showroom) Rs 32-46 Lakhs Key Features Honda Sensing Safety & Driver Assistance Technologies Blind Spot Information System Power Tailgate Collision Mitigation System Adaptive Cruise Control Lane Keep Assist System Auto High Beam Headlights Multi-Angle Rear-view Camera Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control System Electronic Brake Distribution with Brake Assist Front, Front Side & Three Row Side Air-bags 8-Inch Touchscreen Infotainment System Apple Car Play & Android Auto Integration Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control Automatic Dimming Rear View Mirrors One-Touch 2nd Row Seats Front Heated Seats LED Fog Lights

Honda is set to launch its updated 2023 Pilot midsize SUV in India, offering a perfect family car with some notable upgrades and a new special edition trim. The 7 trims on offer are equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission, which competes against the likes of Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander. While the base price of the new 2023 models has been raised, the Honda Pilot still remains competitively priced against its rivals. However, Indian customers should note that vehicles imported as CKD or SKD units are subject to higher taxes, and thus the estimated price of the base trim is around Rs 32 Lakhs, with the top-end trims priced around Rs 46 Lakhs. The Honda Pilot is powered by a 3.5 Liter V6 i-VTEC engine, delivering 280 HP of max power and 355 Nm of max torque, and is offered in two drivetrain variants - a standard FWD and an optional AWD. The Pilot is also equipped with various driver assistance and comfort features, including a collision mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, and a power tailgate, to name a few. With the exact launch timeline for the Indian market unknown, Honda India is expected to announce further details on the release of this SUV soon.