The 2023 Honda WR-V was launched in Malaysia back in July. Offered in four variants, its prices range from RM89,900 to RM107,900. Just recently, we have been invited by Honda Malaysia to check out the brand-spanking-new SUV, and to experience it behind the wheel on the beautiful island of Langkawi.
Interested in buying one for yourself or your family? You’re here at the right place. Take a seat, a chill pill, and allow us to share with you our first impressions of Honda’s new little SUV.
2023 Honda WR-V Exterior: As winsome as its name suggests
We’ve got to say Honda has indeed nailed the exterior design of the 2023 Honda WR-V, or Winsome Runabout Vehicle as the company calls it. They have also done it in a way that certainly goes with most Malaysian buyers’ taste buds. The variant of the WR-V we tested was precisely the top-spec RS (which actually means Road Sailing). It costs RM107,900.
First and foremost, the 2023 Honda WR-V is very nicely proportioned, unlike its predecessor. It does not have any awkward angles and looks natural and winsome from almost every angle.
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The Honda WR-V RS’s front fascia has to be this writer’s personal favourite part of the car’s design. It kind of looks like a cute but handsome puppy that is ready to pounce.
One of the main contributors to the WR-V RS’ good-looking face has to be its grille. It indeed looks sporty and does make it look more comparable against B-segment SUVs that are priced just slightly more. Lower variants of the WR-V lineup do get a more “ordinary” looking grille, however.
The Malaysian-favourite LED headlights are here too but are exclusive to the higher spec 2023 Honda WR-V RS and V variants. It is also nice to see the daytime running lights (DRLs) being integrated into the headlights itself.
Opting for the more affordable S and E variants will get you halogen reflector headlights instead, which is borderline unacceptable for a car of this price in this day and age. It is worth mentioning that cheaper national cars like the Perodua Myvi and Alza all get LED headlights as standard.
From the back, the 2023 Honda WR-V is gifted with a muscular stance. Its bumper and neat-looking LED rear lights give it a rather youthful look, and will surely attract younger buyers.
2023 Honda WR-V Drive: Nimble and easily driveable
Throughout this writer’s three-day experience of living with the 2023 Honda WR-V, the driving aspect has to be his favourite part of it all. This is despite the fact that its powertrain has literally nothing to shout about.
Powering Honda’s latest little SUV is the brand’s familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine, paired with a CVT gearbox. This sends a total of 121 hp (metric) and 145 Nm to the car’s front wheels. The CVT can also perform simulated gears using the paddle shifters that are only available in the top-spec WR-V RS.
As the simplicity of the powertrain suggests, the car is indeed easy to drive and does not have any learning curve at all. Therefore, you won’t need to worry if your parents, spouse, or children will struggle to get used to the car’s driving characteristics. It is also powerful enough for most daily tasks, so there’s no need to worry if the Honda WR-V can ferry you and your family up to Genting Highlands.
Like most Japanese city cars, the Honda WR-V’s steering is light and is certainly not made for enthusiastic drives. However, it is still predictable enough and is easily manoeuvrable, translating into the nimbleness you feel behind the wheel.
Honda highlighted that the WR-V RS’ suspension is tuned to be slightly harder than its cheaper siblings, thanks to a different suspension damper gas. The RS’ larger 17-inch wheels also contribute to a sportier ride.
If you prefer more comfortable rides, do consider the 2023 Honda WR-V’s lower variants, especially the V variant. However, this doesn’t mean that the RS is uncomfortable to ride in, as it still is.
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2023 Honda WR-V Interior: Simple and functional, but looks a decade old
Moving inside the Honda WR-V, you will find it spacious enough just like many of its siblings. It might not come with the Ultra Seats functionality, but its boot space is still big enough to accommodate a short family trip.
Interestingly, the 2023 Honda WR-V does without a tonneau cover too. We’ve asked Honda for the reason behind this design decision and were told that most users in Malaysia and Thailand rarely use them.
Looking forward, you will find the WR-V interior rather functional. Its buttons are big and labelled nicely, making it easier to use for any age group. There is the 7-inch touchscreen head unit that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, which is nice to have.
However, it is still hard to run away from saying that the Honda WR-V’s interior design does look a little bit like a blast from the past. First and foremost, it does not have a digital instrument display like its competitors, nor does it have a trendy-looking floating central display.
It is understandable that these decisions have been made for cost-efficiency purposes. But it is still a shame to see that the WR-V’s interior looks like a shrunken one from the outgoing fifth-gen Honda CR-V that has been around since 2016.
Conclusion: Money no object?
All in all, the 2023 Honda WR-V is still a sweet daily car that is easy to use and fun to drive around. However, the lack of a modern-looking interior, blind spot monitoring system (Honda LaneWatch is here instead), and a price that is a little higher than its features would suggest does make it a harder pill to swallow for some people.
But hey, it’s probably us motoring journalists who are not getting the point here. In fact, in less than three months, Honda has received close to 7,300 bookings for the 2023 Honda WR-V.
A total of 3,300 units of the SUV have been successfully registered, according to Honda Malaysia. Note that this has been achieved in just over three weeks after the SUV’s launch in Malaysia.
Out of the 3,300 units, a whopping 62% of the WR-V’s customers have chosen the top-spec RS variant. The V, E, and S variants on the other hand have taken up 19%, 13%, and 6% of the registered units.
So it is clear that its price and features are not the issue for the WR-V buyers out there. Looking at the registration stats, we can’t help but wonder if Honda can swap the least demanded V variant’s CVT gearbox for a manual one instead. This will surely make it the most fun-to-drive SUV in its segment.
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