Honda WR-V

Overview of the Series

Although the compact SUV market in Indonesia is fairly new, it has been dominated by the Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky until the Honda WR-V joined the competition. The WR-V is a regional product developed by the Honda Asia Pacific R&D team; the Raize was mainly developed in Japan.

Power System

The Toyota Raize offers two petrol engine options, namely a naturally aspirated 1.2 liter 3-cylinder (88 PS/113 Nm) and a turbocharged 1.0 liter 3-cylinder (98 PS/140 Nm), with the choice of a 5-speed manual or a D-CVT automatic transmission. The Honda WR-V has only one engine option, a larger and more powerful naturally aspirated 1.5 liter design (121 PS/145 Nm), paired with a CVT automatic transmission.

Interior Configuration

The Indo-spec WR-V has 3 variants, with the one being compared here being the top-spec RS variant, which features Honda Sensing, starting at approximately 309.9 million Indonesian Rupiah (equivalent to about 94k Ringgit). The blue Raize is a GR Sport and TSS variant, starting at approximately 302.5 million Indonesian Rupiah (equivalent to about RM88k). Both top-spec models are similarly equipped with keyless start, digital air conditioning, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The WR-V has leather seats, while the Raize has a fabric and leather combination. Both support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection, but the WR-V has a 7-inch touch screen while the Raize has a 9-inch one.

Safety System

The top-spec models of both SUVs offer 6 safety airbags and ADAS. The WR-V sports an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Assistance, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Automatic High Beam (AHB), along with a Honda LaneWatch camera, while the Raize features regular Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM).

Conclusion

Honda says the WR-V stands for "Winsome Runabout Vehicle", and it's performing well in terms of sales. Although the Toyota Raize has been on the market longer, it remains competitive in the face of Honda's challenge. The WR-V has a more modern look and stronger power, while the Raize is cheaper and slightly better equipped.