The Honda WR-V RS is the latest SUV to join Honda Malaysia’s line-up. The sub-compact SUV slots neatly below the HR-V compact SUV and CR-V mid-size SUV. With the newest addition to the family, Honda is now able to offer an SUV with usable space that can navigate tight city roads with ease.
Although practical, driving a large SUV through tight urban roads is a challenging feat indeed. More so when said roads are clogged by encroaching food stalls and customer footfalls. The obvious solution is to drive a smaller vehicle, such as the one on review, the Honda WR-V RS.
DESIGN – RUGGED OUTLOOK FOR THE URBAN JUNGLE
Right off the bat, you’ll notice how its design fits the role of an urban explorer. Honda has given the WR-V all the dimensions of a compact 5-door hatchback except for a higher ground clearance of 207mm. Yet, the compact SUV does not look like it is riding on stilts.
Countering the tallness of the WR-V is the wide chequered-designed grille that links up to the slim, swept-back headlights. Mirroring the front, the taillights’ design elements point in opposite directions to make the rear appear wider. At the sides, the WR-V’s shoulder-lines are set lower to give the impression that the compact SUV runs closer to the ground.
The lower bumpers at both ends are fitted with silver-painted elements. These elements add a rugged twist to the plain black cladding that runs around the SUV – up the wheel arches, down to the side skirts and around both ends.
INTERIOR & SPACE – SMALL OUTSIDE, BIG INSIDE
Inside the WR-V is a standard affair you’ve come to expect from vehicles in the price bracket. You get a mixed bag of materials – plastics, fabrics and faux leather – to dress up the interior. And you’ll get softer fabrics in places you’ll be touching often.
The seats are nicely padded for comfort and will hold you in place. You’ll sit tall in the WR-V, affording you great views outside from the cockpit. On top of that, the large glasshouse makes it easier to peek at the blind spots.
Yes, the WR-V’s cabin is spacious, much more than it looks from the outside. There’s a good amount of legroom for the rear passengers. However, there isn’t much headroom and if you’re taller than the average Malaysian.
As for cargo, the WR-V offers 380 litres of boot space that can be expanded to fit more things by folding the rear seats down. That said, the rear seats don’t fold down completely, which would make the boot floor completely flat.
Since the WR-V is not related to the City, the sub-compact SUV does not get the carmaker’s Ultra seats.
FEATURES & SAFETY – ALL YOU NEED IN A MODERN CAR
Interior features and functions are typical. The WR-V has a 7-inch touchscreen Display Audio that plays nicely with your mobile phones of both operating systems. This screen also displays the Honda LaneWatch, part of the Honda Sensing suite of active safety systems, which aims to eliminate the left blind spot.
Six speakers reproduce sounds from the media device. It is good to note that there are two sets of physical buttons to engage the display audio with one on the side of the screen and on the steering wheel.
Honda maintains physical buttons for the air-conditioning, which is great as you don’t have to fiddle with screens to set the fan speed and temperature. If the day is too hot, the MAX COOL button can save you by maxing out the fan speed and bottoming out the temperature.
Controls for the Honda Sensing are found throughout the vehicle, including on the steering wheel, giving you a simpler way to engage the functions. The WR-V comes with a complete suite of safety systems that keep you in your lane and aim to reduce the chance of accidents happening.
PERFORMANCE, RIDE & HANDLING – FIT FOR PURPOSE
The Honda WR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine that generates 121PS and 145Nm. The powertrain is linked with a CVT for fuel efficiency rather than raw speed.
Fuel efficiency is rated at 6.0l/100km and on a 40-litre fuel tank, which should give you a range of about 600km. In the real world with stop-go traffic, highway cruise and inter-city hop, the WR-V returns a 7.0l/100km consumption – still giving you a range of about 560km on a full tank.
In contrast, acceleration from zero to 100kph is a gentle 11.3 seconds. Despite the figures, the WR-V gets up to speed without hesitation. When pushed, the CVT gearbox holds the revs high enough to give you good acceleration.
The Honda WR-V RS handles like a hatchback, albeit a taller hatchback. The sub-compact SUV makes it easy to navigate in narrow city back lanes, packed parking lots and complete U-turns in tight areas. On a full lock, the WR-V’s turning radius is only 5.2 metres.
On rural roads, the WR-V’s quick and accurate steering brings fun to the drive. The chassis is tuned to give a comfortable ride. The SUV’s spring and dampers easily soak up potholed roads, damaged tarmacs and sharp speed bumps. However, the comfort-biased chassis does let body roll seep in especially when going into corners too quickly.
WHAT’S NOT SO GOOD
Although the WR-V’s steering allows for tilt, it does not have a telescopic function. Without the telescopic function, you are not able to pull the steering wheel closer to you, which makes getting the correct driving position harder.
In addition, noise seeps into the cabin and it gets more pronounced at highway speeds.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the Honda WR-V remains a brilliantly packaged vehicle. The WR-V’s compact dimensions, quick steering and active safety systems are best suited for city driving. At the same time, its respectable cabin and boot space give you room for lifestyle growth. The Honda WR-V is a vehicle that should serve well for many years to come, one that will take you far.
SPECIFICATION: HONDA WR-V RS
Engine:
1,498cc, 4-cylinder, 16 Valve, DOHC, i-VTEC
Power:
121PS @ 6,600rpm
Torque:
145Nm @ 4,300rpm
Drivetrain:
CVT, Front-Wheel Drive
Performance:
0-100kph – 11.3s, Top speed – 160kph, Fuel consumption – 6.0l/100km
Price:
RM107,900 on-the-road, without insurance
Package:
5-year warranty/unlimited mileage, Free labour service 5 times within 100,000km or 5 years
Pros:
Compact size, easy to drive, spacious interior, comprehensive active safety systems
Cons:
No telescopic steering, noisy at highway speed, RS version is expensive
