Official: Honda WR-V Is Coming to Malaysia This Year, Plus 3 Other Models

Honda Malaysia is poised to expand its current local fleet this year by launching three new models and one facelifted model, which includes the all-new Honda WR-V. This was revealed by Honda Malaysia President Sarly Adle Sarkum in a special media gathering event, where the Japanese marque also shared its 2023 sales target and other business announcements.

This revelation has confirmed our previous report on Honda Malaysia’s plan to launch four models this year, with the WR-V set to take centre stage.

This new model, which Honda Malaysia described as its first-ever ‘Small Sport Utility Vehicle’ (SUV) is slated to make its local debut in Q3 of 2023, where it will replace the Honda BR-V as the marque’s smallest crossover option, sitting below the HR-V and CR-V. Though Honda did not explicitly say that this new small SUV will be the WR-V, the darkened image of the vehicle showcased during the business presentation truly resembles the WR-V.

The WR-V made its global debut on Nov 2 last year in Indonesia that was specially developed for the ASEAN regional markets, currently available for sale in both Indonesia and Thailand. Both countries share similar specs of the WR-V, which is powered by a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC 4-cyl mill that delivers 119 HP and 145 NM to its front wheels via a CVT automatic gearbox.

While the Republic offers three variants, the Thai-spec WR-V only comes in two variants, with the RS being the range-topping trim level in both markets. As for our local market, it is safe to expect a rather similar spec for the Malaysian-bound WR-V. However, judging by Honda Malaysia’s current offerings, we can expect to see a hybridised version of the WR-V, possibly  powered by the same hybrid Atkinson powertrain as the City e:HEV RS duo.

Aside from the WR-V, Honda Malaysia will also launch two new models, as well as one facelifted model this year. As for the two new models, our previous report suggested that one of those will be the sixth-gen Honda CR-V, of which its camouflaged prototypes have been spotted undergoing road tests in Thailand recently.

Given the neighbouring Kingdom’s tendency to get the taste of new Honda models firsthand in the region, it is safe to bet that we’ll be seeing the new CR-V testing in our roads soon, before ending up in numerous Honda showrooms across the nation.

As for the second model, all signs point towards the all-new Honda Civic Type-R FL5, primed to replace the ongoing Civic Type-R FK8. Honda’s latest hot-hatch is hot indeed, not solely due to its sheer performance and improvements over the previous model, but also the surge of demand globally for the model, with Japan and Australia now closing the reservation books for it.

Sooner or later, the new Type-R’s arrival into our local market will surely spark a new rivalry against the recently-launched Toyota GR Corolla in fighting for the best Japanese hot-hatch crown.

Finally, the only Honda model due for a Minor Model Change (MMC) treatment this year is the Honda City subcompact saloon. Recently made its debut in India, the facelifted City features a mild refreshment on both its exterior and interior, while retaining the same powertrain setup.

This mid-cycle refresh will grant the fifth-gen City a much-needed boost to go against its eternal local rival, the all-new DNGA-based Toyota Vios (AC100).

While the all-new Honda WR-V is set to debut later in Q3 this year, Honda Malaysia has yet to unveil additional details on the rest of the upcoming models. That being said, which of the four new models from Honda will you be most excited to see this year? As always, don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below…