The Honda sub-4-meter SUV is set to make its debut in the Indian market with three different powertrains, including pure petrol, petrol CNG, and petrol hybrid, providing choice to buyers to choose among them. All the powertrains are set to use a 1.2-liter three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol-powered internal combustion engine that is codenamed as H12.
Honda Car India, the Indian subsidiary of Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda Motor India, earlier confirmed that they will launch a sport utility vehicle in the sub-4-meter segment in India, the production of which will begin in 2028. A new report from the Autocar Professional suggests that the upcoming model will make its debut in the Indian market with three different powertrains; they are petrol, petrol-CNG, and petrol-hybrid.
Notably, the same report further mentions that the upcoming compact SUV from Honda in the Indian market will use the internal combustion engine that is developed by Horse Powertrain, a powertrain company that is jointly owned by Renault, Geely, and Aramco with the 45:45:10 share. The report also confirms the details regarding the ICE; they have disclosed it will be a 1.2-liter three-cylinder naturally aspirated across the powertrains.
The ICE that we are going to see with the upcoming sub-4-meter SUV is H12. The carmaker has decided to use it for the to-be-launched car because it won’t only run on petrol but also CNG, and the powertrain company is also working on it so that it can also be used for hybrid, whether it is strong or mild. There’s no uncertainty regarding the CNG version, but the hybrid is yet to be confirmed; as they are yet to reveal it, it will be mild or strong.
HCI is going to use the same internal combustion engine for the upcoming compact SUV for India that was showcased at the ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association) Automechanika in New Delhi this February. Some reports even suggest that the same powertrain is also expected to be used in the Renault Bridger, also a sub-4-meter SUV whose launch is expected way before the Honda’s model.
Honda has planned to outsource the powertrain to cut costs and reduce the model’s development timing. The ICE isn’t the only thing the carmaker is planning to outsource; they are also taking Tata Technologies for design and engineering, so the model they launch meets the needs of Indian buyers. Reports even suggest the involvement of TCS for the infotainment system; however, nothing is officially confirmed regarding it.
It is still uncertain which platform the upcoming sub-4-meter SUV for the Indian market will be used for production. A report from the GaadiWaadi claimed that the carmaker is considering using the one that they have already used for the Indonesian market; the same report also suggests that Honda is also thinking regarding the platform that used to underpin the second-generation Honda WR-V.
Honda Car India has already revealed that the upcoming compact SUV for the Indian market will go on sale with the ex-showroom price between 9 and 12 lakh rupees. Following the launch, the upcoming Honda compact car will compete with the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and other sub-4-meter models in the segment.
In the sub-4-meter SUV segment, the best-selling model in the Indian market for August 2026 was the Tata Punch with 21,320, followed by the Maruti Fronx with 18,431, and then the Tata Nexon in third position with 18,431 sales. Last month, the Tata Punch sale increased by 0.03% on a month-on-month basis and 99.18% on a year-on-year basis.
| Model | Honda Sub-4-Metre SUV |
| Segment | Sub-4-Metre SUV |
| Expected Launch | 2028 |
| Powertrain Options | Petrol, Petrol-CNG and Petrol-Hybrid |
| Engine | 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder NA petrol |
| Engine Codename | H12 |
| Engine Supplier | Horse Powertrain |
| Hybrid Type | Mild or strong hybrid yet to be confirmed |
| CNG | CNG-compatible H12 engine planned |
| Expected Price | Rs 9 lakh – 12 lakh |
| Engineering Partner | Tata Technologies |
| Key Rivals | Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 3XO |
