So who really invented the compact SUV? Was it Skoda with the Yeti? Or was it Dacia with the Duster? May be it was the Nissan Juke?
Surprisingly, it was Honda which built the first compact SUV according to Alvolante.it.
The Honda HR-V was a four seat SUV that was 4 meters long, available in 3- and 4-door configurations. It was powered by two different 1.6L petrol engines with 105 PS and 125 PS of power.
Sadly, the model did not get the success that it had hoped for because the market was a bit premature. As the model failed to appeal to enough number of buyers, it ultimately joined the list that features the Dodo bird and the Dinosaur.
Now though the market has matured for compact SUVs. It is no secret that Honda is planning one based on the Jazz platform to target the Skoda Yeti and Dacia Duster. The AlVolante report claims that the new compact SUV will be a spiritual successor to the HR-V.
The Jazz platform is very modular and already supports a hatchback, sedan (City), a MPV (Jazz Shuttle) and an EV. Building a front wheel drive SUV for urban usage should not be a problem for Honda. Basing it on a proven Jazz platform will also keep the development cost low.
Rumors suggest that the new SUV will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a 1.6L i-DTEC diesel engine with Earth Dreams technology.
Honda's compact SUV is about three years away from its public debut. It will be launched in Europe and the U.S first and later enter other markets.
Honda has set an ambitious target of selling 400,000 units a year of this compact model. The only way Honda can achieve this target is by launching it in emerging nations, such as India, where demand for these kind of products is rising by the day.
[Source: Alvolante.it]
