Honda Cars India is preparing to make a comeback in the sub-4-metre SUV segment, with the company confirming plans to launch a new compact SUV in India by 2028. The upcoming model is expected to compete in one of the country’s most competitive passenger vehicle categories, taking on the likes of the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO.
The new SUV will form part of Honda’s broader product expansion strategy for India. The company is targeting the introduction of 10 new models in the country by 2030, including its first mass-market electric vehicle based on the 0 Alpha concept.
Unlike some of Honda’s existing products, the upcoming compact SUV is expected to be developed specifically with Indian requirements in mind.
Honda Motor Co. president and CEO Toshiro Mibe has indicated that the new model will focus on the requirements of Indian customers and local market conditions, rather than simply being an adaptation of an existing global product.
Reports suggest the SUV could use Honda’s upcoming PF2 modular platform, an architecture expected to support a range of small and midsize vehicles. The platform could potentially underpin other future Honda products in India, although the company has not disclosed the final architecture or specifications of the SUV.
The same platform has been linked to future-generation Honda models, including the City and a larger three-row SUV, although these applications remain subject to Honda’s future product plans.
The new compact SUV is expected to feature a locally sourced 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. While Honda has not yet confirmed the complete powertrain lineup, reports suggest that the engine could be offered with both manual and CVT automatic transmission options.
Honda is also evaluating electrified powertrains for the model. A hybrid version is reportedly under consideration, potentially allowing the SUV to address increasingly stringent fuel-efficiency and emissions requirements.
There has also been speculation around an electric derivative, although Honda’s immediate EV plans are focused on the 0 Alpha-based model that is expected to arrive before the new compact SUV.
Details such as power output, battery capacity, fuel efficiency and transmission specifications have not yet been disclosed.
The upcoming SUV effectively marks Honda’s return to India’s sub-4-metre SUV space following the discontinuation of the WR-V.
The segment has become an important volume contributor for manufacturers, attracting buyers with the combination of SUV styling, compact dimensions and relatively accessible pricing. Honda’s absence from this category has left the Elevate as its primary offering in the SUV space, but its larger dimensions place it in a different segment.
The new model will therefore give Honda a product positioned closer to the heart of the compact SUV market.
Honda will enter an increasingly crowded segment by the time its new SUV arrives. The Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO are currently among the established players, while several manufacturers are expected to update or expand their offerings before 2028.
Volkswagen and Renault are also expected to introduce new products or updated models in this space, potentially increasing competition further.
