Be it a rumor or not, it is definitely an interesting news according to which Honda is considering jumping into the compact SUV segment. Renault Duster is already here in the market, Ford EcoSport is probably going to enter the market soon and other car makers such as Hyundai, General Motors and Volkswagen are also eyeing on the same segment as it has great potential to boost the company’s sales provided the product is priced right.
Honda Jazz has been an extremely reliable car in the market and with its spacious cabin and unmatched looks the car has reserved a special place for itself in the hearts of Honda fans. Now as per WhatCar?, a British website, Honda is considering developing a compact SUV / crossover based on its popular Honda Jazz or Honda Fit (Jazz’s name in overseas market). The Jazz Crossover will compete with the likes of Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke in the global arena. It could be powered by a 1.2 litre or 1.5 litre i-Vtec petrol engine and a 1,4 litre diesel unit which would suit the European and Indian market well.
The next generation Jazz is due in under three years but if Honda actually wants to exploit the compact SUV segment, the Jazz crossover should be under development by now. If Honda has not started developing the car I am afraid it will be a little late for the maker to introduce the car to the Indian market. In fact not just the Indian market, but the whole global compact SUV segment is on fire and in the coming years the competition is going to get fierce.
Maruti Suzuki showcased the Maruti XA-Alpha concept at the Auto Expo and could launch the same in the near future. Mahindra & Mahindra along with Ssangyong is also said to be working on new affordable SUVs and there is a possibility of the world’s cheapest SUV yet, coming out of Mahindra’s factory. In short the competition is tough and will get tougher but as of now Honda is not strong enough to compete as it does not have a diesel portfolio to back it.
Honda is testing its diesel engines for both the Indian as well as the European market. As per speculation we could see the diesel line-up ready either by the end of this year or most likely in 2013.
Source – Whatcar?
