Honda Cars India has decided to upgrade its diesel-fed models to meet BSVI (Bharat Stage VI) emission norms. The company currently offers two diesel engines in India – a 1.5-litre unit that powers the Amaze, City and WR-V models, and a 1.6-litre mill that does duty in CR-V and Civic models. Honda claims that it will start rolling-out BSVI-compliant models in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.

The Indian arm of the Japanese carmaker believes that even though the price difference between petrol and diesel models will widen due to the upgrades required for them to become BSVI-compliant, the demand for diesel-fed models will not disappear immediately. It also went on to admit that 80 per cent of customers make buying decisions rationally. The rest of the 20 per cent follow their emotions towards a particular kind of engine. It is clear that Honda doesn’t want to lose out on the latter.

Apart from the two diesel engines, Honda Cars India also have four petrol engines on offer. The smallest of the lot is the 1.2-litre engine which does duty in Jazz, WR-V and Amaze. Next in line is the 1.5-litre mill that powers the City and the BR-V. The remaining two petrol engines, the 1.8-litre and the 2.0-litre are available only with Civic and CR-V models, respectively. The only transmission option available with the latter two engines is a CVT. Honda claims that both those engine-transmission combinations already comply with BSVI emission norms.

Honda’s decision to retain diesel engines falls right in line with that of Ford India’s. However, India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has decided otherwise. Come April 1, 2020, none of the Maruti Suzuki models will have a diesel engine option. Homegrown automaker Tata Motors also has a range of diesel engines in its portfolio. In all probability, it will axe its smaller diesel engines and retain the ones powering its SUVs and MPVs.

Source: PTI