Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Limited, India's favourite utility vehicle manufacturer, has tasted some immense success with its SsangYong Rexton premium Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) selling like hot cakes in the domestic passenger car market. At present, the Rexton model is denting the sales of other big selling segment rivals, such as Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in the country. Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese auto maker Honda Motor Co., has also lined up its 2013 CR-V premium SUV for a February 12, 2013 launch on Indian turf. Evidently, some intense fireworks are expected when the new Honda CR-V gets involved in a face off against the current hot Mahindra SsangYong Rexton.
A sneak preview of the 2013 Honda CR-V is available on the company's official website and the premium SUV does looks stunning. The strong suits of the Japanese model are going to be its cutting-edge features, enticing visual appeal, head turning design and aesthetically pleasing interior setting. The SsangYong Rexton is a powerful beast of a SUV and flaunts sturdier build, mesmerising road presence and superior ground clearance than the Honda CR-V. However, one might argue that the company could have done slightly better work with interior design of the Rexton.
Coming to under-the-hood specifications of SsangYong Rexton, Mahindra offers the premium SUV in two diesel options – RX5 and RX7 in the Indian utility vehicle market. The Rexton RX5 trim is powered with a 2.7 litre, 2,696 cc, RX270 XDi powertrain (diesel) under its hood, which churns out peak power and torque outputs of 162 bhp and 340 Nm, respectively. Further, the top-end model Rexton RX7 comes fitted with a slightly retuned 2.7 litre RX270 XVT diesel power-mill that pumps out an astounding power and torque equation of 184 bhp and 402 Nm, in the order of mention.
On the other hand, the soon-to-be launched Honda CR-V will come fitted with a 2 litre, 4-cylinder, i-VTEC petrol engine, powering its 4x2 base model. Further, the top-end trim of CR-V incorporates a meatier 2.4 litre powertrain equipped with an All Wheel Drive (AWD) feature. The 2.0 litre engine produces a peak power output around 170 bhp, whereas its elder sibling 2.4 litre motor generates an impressive power delivery around 185 bhp. Further, the CR-V base trim (4x2) will be mated with a five-speed manual gearbox, whereas the 4x4 model will come with a six-speed automatic transmission system. Accordingly, no clear winner comes out between the Rexton and CR-V premium SUVs in terms of output power and torque aspects. However, the lack of diesel fuelled model in the Honda CR-V line up does generate doubts regarding its future in the segment, which is dominated by diesel powered SUVs.
