HR-V VTI-S Vs Tucson AWD Vs Sportage AWD: Japanese Vs Korean SUVs in Pakistan

The much-awaited compact SUV from Honda – HRV was finally launched yesterday in Pakistan. If you are interested in knowing in-detail about this latest offering from Honda, read:

Honda HR-V Launched in Pakistan: Price, Specs & Features

HR-V Review

Now that its specs, features and price are no longer a secret, you would want to know how it stacks up against its local competitors, namely Hyundai Tucson and KIA Sportage. 

It has other competitors too like Changan Oshan X7, MG HS and others, but we’ll be doing that comparison in another blog. This blog, however, is focused on HRV versus its Korean competitors in the local market.

So, without wasting another word, let’s see who is the winner (if there is one) in the Japan vs Korea battle of SUVs. 

First up, price. The most important factor for many with the potential to make or break a deal. 

Price Comparison

Honda HRV VTI-S has been launched with a price tag of Rs.6,199,000. This is less than the Sportage and Tucson’s price. This alone should boost its sales in Pakistan. 

Models	Price (Rs)
Honda HRV VTI-S	6,199,000
KIA Sportage AWD	7,149,000
Hyundai Tucson AWD A/T Ultimate	7,399,000

You must be wondering why a Rs.6.2 million vehicle is being compared with vehicles costing at least Rs.1 million more. The reason is Honda Pakistan has very smartly priced these two variants. Honda HRV VTI and HRV VTI-S are launched at a price much lower than Sportage and Tucson but if you opt for all the optional features being offered in the S variant, it will cost you around Rs.7.6 million. Hence this comparison. 

However, price itself is never enough; people are interested in knowing what else the new car is offering in terms of specs, features, especially safety features, engine hp, etc. So, let’s look at those now.

Specifications

Let’s compare the three in terms of their size and other specifications. 

Specifications	Honda HRV	KIA Sportage	Hyundai Tucson
Length×Width×Height (mm)	4346 x 1790 x 1590	4485 x 1855 x1635	4480 x 1850 x 1660
Wheelbase (mm)	2610	2670	2670
Ground Clearance (mm)	196	172	172
Seating capacity	5	5	5
Tyre size	215/60R17	225/55R18	225/55R18
Suspension front	Macpherson with Stabilizer	McPherson	McPherson
Suspension rear	Axle Type	Multi-link	Multi-link
Fuel tank capacity	40	62	62

Though the Honda HRV is smaller in size than the other two, it offers the best ground clearance. Honda sedans are known for their less than ideal ground clearance but you won’t face this problem in this SUV. In terms of handling and turning, the HRV’s wheelbase is shorter than its competitors. This means, it offers better turning on tight turns within the city as compared to the other two. However, it would be less comfortable to ride on highways. Also, you may need to fill up its tank more frequently as it offers only 40 litres space. 

Engine

Now let’s discuss another very important aspect of these three – their engines.  

Specifications	Honda HRV	KIA Sportage	Hyundai Tucson
Engine Type	Water Cooled, In-line 4 Cylinders, DOHC IN-VTC + IN-VTEC	2.0 Naturally aspirated	2.0 Naturally aspirated
Displacement	1498	1999	1999
Hp and Torque	119 hp and 145 Nm	155 hp and 196 Nm	155 hp and 196 Nm
Transmission	CVT	6-speed Auto + sportmatic	6-speed Automatic

As can be seen, the Honda HRV is the least powerful of the three. If you are looking for a powerful SUV which offers instant speed, Honda HRV will disappoint you. Does this mean better fuel average? We don’t know yet as Honda Pakistan hasn’t claimed such numbers yet. We don’t know the weight of this SUV either, so we will have to wait and see what fuel average it offers on the road.  

Comfort Features Comparison

The Honda HR-V may not be the fastest of the three, but is it more comfortable than Tucson and Sportage? Let’s find out. 

Features	Honda HRV	KIA Sportage	Hyundai Tucson
Power windows	All automatic	Electronic with driver side automatic	Electronic with driver side automatic
Power steering	EPS	EPS	EPS
Alloy wheels	17-inch	18-inch	18-inch
Side mirrors	Power	Power + heated	Power + heated
Steering Wheel Adjustment	Tilt + Telescopic	Tilt + Telescopic	Tilt + Telescopic
Infotainment system	8-inch	8-inch	10.1-inch
Smart keyless entry	✓	✓	✓
DRL	✓	✔	✔
TFT Display integrated into the meter cluster	4.2-inch	3.5-inch	4.2-inch
Auto headlamp	✓	✔	✔
Sports mode	⛌	✓	✓
Climate Control	Dual zone	Dual zone Auto	Dual zone Auto
Sunroof	⛌	Panoramic	Panoramic
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto	9-inch Android-based navigation	✔	✔

There isn’t a sea change of difference between the three. So, at the expense of generalizing, all three would offer you pretty much the same comfort features. One very obvious difference you would feel however is the absence of a sunroof in HRV. 

Safety Features Comparison

Safety is extremely important and it goes without saying. This aspect of a vehicle becomes even more important when you are selling it to a specific socio-economic class in Pakistan. If someone is going to spend over Rs.6 million on a car, he/she would want to buy a car which is safe to ride. 

So, is HRV safer than the two?

Specifications	Honda HRV	KIA Sportage	Hyundai Tucson
ABS + EBD	✓	✓	✓
Hill Start Assist	✓	✓	✓
Downhill brake assist	⛌	✓	✓
TPMS	⛌	⛌	⛌
Electronic Parking brake	✓	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Program	⛌	✓	✓
Auto Brake Hold	✔	✔	✔
Immobilizer	✔	✔	✔
Airbags	4	2	2
Parking sensors	⛌	Front + Rear	⛌
Adaptive Cruise Control	⛌	Standard cruise	✓
Auto emergency braking	⛌	⛌	⛌
Lane Departure warning	⛌	⛌	⛌
Blind spot monitoring	⛌	⛌	⛌
Lane keep assist	⛌	⛌	⛌
Front collision warning	Brake Override System with Warning	⛌	⛌

It wins hands down in the airbags department – 4 vs 2. Furthermore, it offers ABS, VSA, HSA, HDC, Agile Handle Assist, ESS, immobilizer, security alarm, Brake Override System with Warning, Auto Door Lock by Speed, etc. However, surprisingly, the new Honda HRV comes without Cruise Control. 

However, it is disappointing to see that all three do not offer some modern safety features like Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, TPMS, etc. 

Conclusion: Is HRV VTI-S Worth the Money?

The first very obvious advantage that the newly launched enjoys over its competitors is that it is of the latest generation, while Tucson and Sportage are at least one generation older than HRV. However, in a country like Pakistan where latest generation cars have been launched before in a trimmed down condition, this hardly matters.

The newly launched Honda HRV is smaller and less powerful than its competitors. At the moment, the only thing going for it is its comparatively cheaper price as compared to the other two. There aren’t many comfort and safety feature differences between the three. So, a car offering pretty much the same features which comes with a cheaper price tag may do well in the market.

What do you think where HRV stands as compared to Tucson and Sportage? Let us know. 

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Pakistani HR-V Vs International HR-V: Main Differences