Why hasn't the 7-seater Honda CR-V arrived in Vietnam yet?

The 7-seater Honda CR-V is about to go on sale first in Thailand, so if you're wondering whether this version will come to Vietnam, this might be the reason.

Following the appearance of heavily camouflaged test vehicle images, Honda has officially acknowledged the arrival of the new 2017 CR-V in Thailand. Notably, the posted video intentionally revealed the presence of a 7-seater version with three standard rows of seats. Thus, Thailand may be the first market to sell the 7-seater CR-V before it reaches other countries in the region.

Unfortunately, it remains uncertain whether the Japanese automaker will sell the 7-seater CR-V in Vietnam. However, the following reasons could motivate Honda Vietnam to sell this version in the country.

High demand for 7-seater SUVs.

Given the demographic and cultural characteristics of Vietnam, the demand for a multi-seater vehicle is always high, especially since cars are not yet a common mode of transportation. For example, an average family of four often includes grandparents, siblings, or friends when traveling long distances or visiting relatives. Therefore, if budget and conditions allow, Vietnamese people tend to buy larger vehicles, believing that it's better to have too much than too little. Furthermore, if not fully occupied, the third row of seats provides ideal space for luggage and cargo.

Besides the advantage of consumer trends, 7-seater SUVs in Vietnam also have an advantage in terms of price. Most popular 7-seater SUVs on the market are priced at around 1 billion VND, not much different from 5-seater multi-purpose vehicles. This is a mid-range price for a car, neither too expensive nor too cheap.

Unlike the price range of around 500 million VND, customers in this segment usually have more disposable income and are willing to spend an extra 100-200 million VND if necessary. Currently, sales of 7-seater SUVs in Vietnam are also very high, reaching several thousand units per month, with the "king" Toyota Fortuner alone consistently selling over 1,000 units each month.

Honda does not yet have a 7-seater SUV.

Currently, Honda's product line remains very limited. The 7-seater segment only has the Odyssey MPV, but its price is too high, approaching that of luxury vehicles. Meanwhile, even in the 5-seater SUV segment, where the CR-V once dominated, it has been surpassed by the Mazda CX-5. Although it remains a popular SUV, Honda's position in this segment is clearly not what it used to be.

Therefore, the appearance of the 7-seater CR-V at this time is perfectly logical. Firstly, it fills a gap that Honda has left open for many years due to the lack of a suitable product. Secondly, the 7-seater CR-V could become the top choice for loyal Honda customers who are using the 5-seater version and want to upgrade to a more spacious model. Thirdly, with the advantages built from the 5-seater version, the 7-seater CR-V is clearly capable of winning over customers faster than any new competitor, helping the Japanese automaker save significantly on marketing costs.

Of course, if Honda doesn't sell the 7-seater CR-V in Vietnam, they will most likely bring in the BR-V, currently sold in Indonesia and Thailand, to replace it in the near future. However, as mentioned above, selling the 7-seater CR-V would have a significant advantage over a newcomer with less influence like the BR-V.

According to TNO