[Red]

Consider that CRV is regularly battling RAV4 for cross over supremacy, how interested is Honda in jeopardizing their sales crown with a well priced, well optioned model just below their volume king?

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/10/americas-10-best-selling-suvs-crossovers-september-2014/

 

[vtec]

They need incentives that speak to the needs of the type of person buying it, and one of those, which I would like, is, free maintenance for x amount of years. Now that is something that would at the very least get me to walk into a honda dealer. but as good as that is, it may not be significant enough for them.

 

[TrueNorth]

Even if it steals some sales from the CR-V, overall the HR-V will increase sales for the whole brand. People may be deciding between the CR-V and the RAV4, but then again they may look at the CR-V and think that they would like something a bit smaller. That would be the HR-V.

 

[vtec]

Even if it steals some sales from the CR-V, overall the HR-V will increase sales for the whole brand. People may be deciding between the CR-V and the RAV4, but then again they may look at the CR-V and think that they would like something a bit smaller. That would be the HR-V.

Don't forget about the Hyundai Santa Fe, great vehicle in it's segment, Hyundai has really stepped up their game.

 

[Red]

Why does Honda NEED incentive to move the HR-V? They've shown in the past a marked ability to move substantial volume without the need to incentivise purchase...

 

[TrueNorth]

I think that at first they should not give any incentives. The car should be able to sell itself if its a good vehicle. I think they only should start using incentives if it seems they need to given the first few months' sales.

 

[vtec]

Why does Honda NEED incentive to move the HR-V? They've shown in the past a marked ability to move substantial volume without the need to incentivise purchase...

That is true, they may not need them at all, people already know what to expect with a Honda, no need to convince people, just do their typical marketing.

 

[CarMan]

They need incentives that speak to the needs of the type of person buying it, and one of those, which I would like, is, free maintenance for x amount of years. Now that is something that would at the very least get me to walk into a honda dealer. but as good as that is, it may not be significant enough for them.

You are on the right track. The 2015 Fit was introduced with the incentive of extending the standard 3 year warranty to a 6 year warranty for anyone purchasing a new Fit up to Oct. 31. If they soon don't release some "reliable" info on this vehicle they will likely turn off a lot of people and lose sales. It's been about two years of stalling on this vehicle already.

 

[CarMan]

There are a lot of articles that show the trend is building rapidly toward subcompact segment and the HRV could very well be very successful in this area. It is also due to be priced midway between the FIT and the CRV and while the HRV is smaller it appears will have a greater utility over the CRV because of the "Magic Seat".

 

[Red]

You are on the right track. The 2015 Fit was introduced with the incentive of extending the standard 3 year warranty to a 6 year warranty for anyone purchasing a new Fit up to Oct. 31. If they soon don't release some "reliable" info on this vehicle they will likely turn off a lot of people and lose sales. It's been about two years of stalling on this vehicle already.

Incentive as in Honda would be doubling your warranty at their cost? If so, thats logical from there end as there is very little downside to offering an extended warranty which will likely never see its value maximised by the consumer. Much different than piling cash on the hoods, like GM and Toyota...

 

[beatupford]

Remember, this is Honda we are talking about with a dedication to a global (sub) compact platform.

They aren't Ford who will shadily protect the F150 sales crown by not offering the global ranger in North America...is it truly global at that point.

The Mexican plant, despite what many might say or think, shows Honda's commitment to both small cars and respectable profit margins. I feel like they are less worried about losing CRV sales to the HRV than they are of losing Honda loyalty sales to other brands simply because they didn't offer a segment option.

The only real weakness of the HRV right now is the Chrysler twins are offering 180 HP while everyone else seems content with the sub 150 options, but I'm not buying a Chrysler. The Mazda cx3 is the only real threat of compromising an HRV sale..from me at least.