Honda HR-V Absolutely Killing It In South East Asian Markets
By Paulo Acoba
To call the Honda HR-V a worldwide success would be an understatement. The little Fit/Jazz based SUV is absolutely making a killing in the small crossover SUV market and even making a couple of enemies in the C-segment SUV market (Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.) According our friends over at Paul Tan on their piece they dropped earlier today (July 1, 2015) the Honda HR-V has produced such a demand that there are four to five month waiting periods to even get a Honda HR-V. Since the little SUV launched in Malaysia, Honda has managed to sell more than 18,000 units. Take into consideration that the population of Malaysia is 1/10th the size of the United States with 1/48th the amount of GDP. Sales of HR-V’s in the United States aren’t too shabby to with Honda posting 7,760 sales in June. With an assembly plant in Celaya, Mexico, there isn’t a shortage of HRV’s on American shores.
So why is the Honda HR-V doing so well in these other markets? It comes down to brand identity and the product and Honda has delivered on those two key areas. First, there’s the Honda brand. Even though costing slightly more than its Korean or even Japanese counterparts, Honda products tend to carry a higher reputation and strong brand identity.
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Then there’s the product itself. Sure the Honda HR-V is small, but dimensions wise, it fits the bill for what people want. It’s not too large nor is it too small. With a handsome front fascia for an SUV and attractive proportions, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to the HR-V. Then there’s the driving dynamics. It’s cliche to say, but once you’ve sat in one Honda, you’ve sat in them all. And the same thing rings true for the HR-V. With recognizable controls and an easy to use interface, driving an HR-V is extremely easy. Paired with the same engine found in the Civic, there’s just enough power to not call it slow.
So there you have it. The Honda HR-V is Honda’s official global ambassador for products done well. Sure, people will say Honda has lost its way in recent years, but providing products for a growing world population is proving that Honda has its priorities in order.