Currently, Honda is working on two of the SUVs for the domestic market out of which first will be a compact SUV which will go on sale somewhere around mid-way next year and another will be an all-new five-seater midsize SUV, which is currently given an internal codename as 3RA and shall go on sales in 2024.
3RA’s Competition
The Codenamed 3RA will lock horns with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Nissan Kicks.
It will also go head-to-head with Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and its derivative, the Maruti Suzuki YFG, which could go by the production name Vitara upon launch next month.
With a tentative overall length of around 4.3 metres, it shall likely have several commonalities with the fifth-generation City.
It was in July 2020 that the Japanese manufacturer introduced the latest City, which had in the segment’s revival by some margin. However, midsize SUVs is the “zeitgeist”.
Back in May 2022, to lure new buyers as well as expand the range, the City Hybrid was launched by Honda.
3RA Features & Specs
Raking in the advantage of the reliability and fuel efficiency standards of the i-VTEC and i-DTEC engines, the upcoming 3RA could share its powertrains with the popular City sedan.
Now what time will tell is that whether the City Hybrid’s e:HEV system will be heavily localised or not for use in the midsize SUV.
But before that happens, Toyota Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Vitara are stepping in with strong hybrid powertrains enabling electric-only mode with high efficiency.
Equipped with Honda’s new electronic platform, 3RA can also have the latest touchscreen interface and connectivity options.
Six- and seven-seater iterations of the midsize SUV could be introduced by Honda in the near future.
It might also gain ADAS tech that debuted in the City Hybrid with functions like AEB and lane departure warning.