NAIAS 2013: LEAKED – Say Hello To The 'Urban SUV Concept', Honda's New Juke

by Mark Stevenson

Published: January 14th, 2013

naias 2013 leaked say hello to the urban suv concept honda s new juke

The more they try to stop people from talking, the more people want to talk.

These are the leaked images of the new Honda ‘Urban SUV Concept’. Think of it as what a CR-V used to be, but for a new generation of buyers.

After Nissan’s surprising success with the ~~Joke Puke~~ Juke, Honda is getting into the ‘awkward looking, car-based SUV with a tiny engine’ niche everyone seems to be shopping in these days.

Unfortunately, you will have to wait for more details, if you are remotely interested.

What do you think, B&B?

#Honda #Leaked #Naias2013 #UrbanSuvConcept

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4 of 26 comments

Polar Bear on Jan 15, 2013

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is in this segment in Europe, a B-size crossover. I rented a diesel one for a week and drove it 1.000 km. It was surprisingly competent for such a small car, the handling and the high seating position making it feel bigger and more stable than I had expected. Sure, it was narrow and short and the interior was grim plastic. But I found myself liking that small crossover. For a Toyota it had personality, and the 1.4 diesel went uphill like a rocket at 2000 rpm. In Asia, the Toyota Rush/Daihatsu Terios is popular in this segment. It makes sense for Honda to introduce a similar model. Like the Urban Cruiser, I imagine this Honda can be a fun city car, with good visibility and being easy to park. I see a winner here. The key to this segment is low price, but don't give it an un-Honda slow engine please.

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- Squares on Jan 15, 2013
  
  You realize that the Toyota Urban Cruiser is just sort of an alternate Scion xD, right? Albeit with a better engine, front clip, and depending on your viewpoint, functional ride height. Same interior, including the funky little single pod, tell-me-everything dial/gauge cluster. If they had brought the Euro version over, I think it would have been a better car overall, even if all we got in it was a Corolla/Camry 4.
  
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- Polar Bear on Jan 15, 2013
  
  @Squares Yes, I knew there was a Scion sister version, but since I haven't been to the US for years I have not seen it. I think a big part of the charm of my rental Urban Cruiser was the pleasing torque of the diesel engine. All that pulling power at low rpm made it easy to drive. Stay between 1500 and 2000 rpm and keep going. And being in Europe, this car was a manual. Driving the rental I was thinking I could have an Urban Cruiser like this one as my daily driver and be happy with it. This is assuming a car for 1-2 adults and little cargo is all you need for a commuter car. Normally I avoid small cars, as I feel I can't fit inside them, but the hight and the headroom made the Urban Cruiser acceptable. I look forward to seeing if Honda can make a competitor with a nicer interior and a higher fun factor. When the Honda arrives at the dealer and they exhibit it at the local mall I will go have a look, if only to satisfy my curiosity. And if they offer me a test drive it would be rude to refuse, right?
  
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Jamez9k on Apr 19, 2013

Looks much better than the Juke but then again this is a concept. I expect the production version to be ruined with a long overhang, goofy/disproportionate headlights and awkward black plastic triangles ahead of the side mirrors. As ugly as it is, the Juke has one thing going for it ; a decent engine. I fear Honda may pull another CR-Z with this one. Let's hope it at least gets the Civic engine.

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