Honda's new compact SUV takes shape

September 5, 2013: Honda has started testing the new compact SUV which is based on the Urban SUV concept shown earlier. The production version of the compact SUV is expected to follow the styling of the concept. This new SUV is based on the 4300mm-long platform which also underpins the new Honda Jazz.

Autocar India’s sources say that both the exterior and interior styling of the SUV is likely to differ slightly between the global markets. This new SUV is likely to be powered by Honda's new 1.5-litre diesel engine that does duty in the Amaze saloon. Honda is also working on a new MPV based on the Brio platfrom which will be unveiled soon.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has previously described the global small car platform as strategically very important to Honda’s bid to boost sales from about four million units to seven million annually by 2017. He called the Jazz SUV a “younger brother” to the new CR-V.