Honda Cars India, scheduled to launch an all new CR-V on October 9, said it expects 80 per cent sales of the vehicle to come from the diesel variant to be introduced for the first time in India.

“We are expecting 80 per cent of the sales to come from the diesel variant as many customers have been waiting for it for ong. Many of the existing CR-V customers have been querying about the diesel variant, so we believe they will generate maximum sales,” Makoto Hyoda, Director, Sales and Marketing, HCIL, told BusinessLine at a test-drive recently in Jaipur.

Fifth-gen SUV

This will be the fifth-generation of the sports utility vehicle (SUV). The first generation was introduced in 2003, and was petrol-only. Also, for the first 10 years, it was offered only as a completely built unit (CBU).

The Japanese auto major started selling the CR-V as a completely knocked-down (CKD) unit only from the fourth generation, launched in 2013. The upcoming model, also a CKD unit, will be assembled at the Greater Noida (UP) factory.

Target customers

The target customers of the new CR-V will be the existing ones, Hyoda said. The new CR-V will be available in 2-litre petrol engine (CVT) and 1.6-litre diesel turbo engine, the company said.

The diesel variant will be a seven-seater, and the petrol variant a five-seater. There will be no manual transmission variant available.

“Our target customers are basically those who have driven the CR-V, and know the high balance of driveability and comfort we offer in the CR-V,” he said.

Features, pricing

Hyoda claimed that though the company is not competing with luxury carmakers, the diesel variant has a 9-speed automatic transmission, lane watch camera, remote engine starter, and a 7-inch colour TFT display. The new CR-V is expected to be priced at ₹30-35 lakh (ex-showroom).

Honda has sold 17,600 units of the CR-V till now since the first generation launch

The writer’s trip to Jaipur was arranged by Honda Cars India

comment COMMENT NOW