Honda’s New SUV Concept Shows a Good Fit for American Buyers

Already proud producers of the best-selling crossover in America—the record-setting CR-V—Honda is looking to go big once again in a U.S. crossover segment—by going small. As revealed recently at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, the automaker is working on a new compact SUV that will go on sale in Japan this year, then reach this country the next.
The vehicle is so new, in fact, that it still doesn’t have a name; when it was premiered at the show in Detroit, it was introduced as the “Urban SUV Concept.”
But as one look at the vehicle will make clear, that rather mundane moniker can’t disguise the concept’s chiseled good looks, athletic stance and tautly designed sheet metal. Similarly, the cabin of the crossover is downright magical—since it will feature the same “Magic Seat” versatility that’s offered in the Honda Fit. As a result, and as in the Fit, owners will be able to arrange the interior of the Urban SUV Concept in numerous different configurations for optimum cargo-carrying capabilities.
Of course, speaking of the Fit, Honda’s latest crossover entry also will be riding on the same new platform that will underpin the next generation of that popular subcompact, as well as offer the latest in Honda telematics technology and a high-efficiency Earth Dreams powertrain.

Photo: Charles Krome

“No one has had greater success with small cars than Honda, and this Urban SUV Concept will create new value in the growing small-SUV segment,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda. “With the continued expansion of our North American manufacturing operations, we expect fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive ‘small’ cars to play a key role in meeting the needs of our customers in the U.S.”

Courtesy of Honda in the News