Even though prices are going up, crossover SUVs are becoming more and more popular in the U.S.
Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) wants a piece of that market and is seriously thinking about putting out a locally made H-RV, which in Japan is called a Vezel.
A senior HACL employee who didn’t want to be named said that the company has been testing a gasoline version of the Vezel in the country to see if it would work.
Early this month, pictures of a disguised Vezel on Pakistani roads went viral on social media, starting a debate about whether or not HACL is finally going to join the subcompact crossover SUV market in the country.
The gasoline-powered Vezel has a 4-cylinder 1.5-liter engine. The subcompact crossover SUV has Honda Sensing technology, which includes blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, lane keep assist, autonomous braking, traffic sign reading, and lane departure warning.
The Pakistani-made Vezel is likely to come out at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
It will go up against the Kia Stonic, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, the Peugeot 2008, and the MG ZS.
In the US, the Honda HR-V starts at $21,800 (Rs. 4,526,000), which is the most important number.
If international prices are any indication, the Honda Vezel might cost between Rs. 5 and 6 million in Pakistan, making it a competitor to the Peugeot 2008.