Honda recently admitted that its global strategy was not working well in India and announced that it is now working on a new approach with a stronger focus on the Indian market. As part of this strategy, the company plans to expand its product lineup in India with new SUVs, hybrids, and EVs. Here is a list of five such Honda models that are likely to be launched in the Indian market soon.
Honda unveiled the ZR-V as its flagship SUV during the launch of the City facelift. Media drives for the ZR-V are currently underway, and the official price announcement and deliveries are expected to begin in the coming weeks. The ZR-V features a premium crossover-inspired design with smooth, rounded styling.
The SUV comes loaded with premium features such as a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, rain-sensing wipers, hill descent control, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a hands-free powered tailgate with walk-away closing, an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a 4-way electrically adjustable front passenger seat, 11 airbags, Honda Sensing ADAS, a 360-degree camera, a lane-change monitor, a panoramic sunroof, and several other premium features.
The Honda ZR-V is a strong-hybrid SUV powered by a 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine paired with a hybrid system, producing a combined 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.8 km/l. As it will be brought to India as a CBU, the SUV is expected to be priced at around ₹50 lakh.
The Honda Elevate is currently the only SUV in the brand’s Indian lineup. Honda had launched the Elevate SUV first in 2023. Since then the competition has grown. While it is a no nonsense SUV in the segment, the rising competition has affected its sales. Honda is now working on a facelift for the Elevate SUV
The Honda Elevate Hybrid is expected to retain the overall design of the current model, with minor revisions to the front and rear. It is also likely to come with additional features over the existing version.
We may see features like seat ventilation which got introduced in the City facelift recently. Honda will continue to offer the Elevate with the same 1.5 litre NA petrol engine. Honda was also planning on a hybrid version of Elevate but, it looks like they have shelved the plans and would continue with the regular petrol version.
Honda is currently working on the all-new 0 Alpha electric SUV. The company has officially begun road testing the model in India, and test mules have been spotted several times. This is an all-new EV developed from the ground up.
The SUV is expected to feature a boxy yet futuristic exterior design along with features such as a large touchscreen infotainment system, a fully digital driver’s display, physical controls, ventilated seats, leatherette upholstery, a panoramic sunroof or glass roof, and more.
The Honda 0 Alpha is expected to be offered with two LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack options, likely ranging between 65 kWh and 75 kWh. The SUV is expected to deliver a real-world driving range of around 450–500 km on a full charge.
Honda is currently testing the upcoming EV extensively across multiple terrains, with engineers evaluating its performance under various driving conditions.
Just like the ZR-V, Honda is also planning to bring the Prelude Coupe to India. It is a sporty two-door hybrid coupe powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with a hybrid system.
The sports coupe is expected to produce around 200 PS and 315 Nm of torque. Once launched, it is likely to become the quickest and most expensive Honda on sale in India. It will serve as a halo product in Honda Cars India’s lineup and is expected to be priced above the ZR-V.
A couple of months ago, Honda confirmed that it plans to return to the sub-4-metre SUV segment in India by 2028. The upcoming SUV will rival models such as the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and other SUVs in the segment.
Honda has not revealed any official details about the SUV yet, but it is expected to be developed specifically with Indian customers’ needs and preferences in mind. We can expect a high level of localisation and competitive pricing, as the sub-4-metre SUV segment is one of the most competitive in the Indian market.
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