Since 2016, Honda has been selling the
Concept D-inspired Avancier flagship SUV in China via its joint venture with
GAC Group called Guangqi Honda Automobile. Positioned above the Breeze compact
SUV (which is China’s better-looking CR-V, by the way), the Avancier is a
midsize crossover coupe that shares underpinnings with the Accord sedan.
Confusingly enough, Honda also sells a largely identical model called UR-V
that’s built by its other joint venture with Dongfeng Motors.
The Avancier is the more popular of the
two, posting more than double sales in 2019 than the UR-V (71,552 vs. 27,840
units). Now, the first photos and information of the facelifted 2020 Honda Avancier
surfaced online, revealing subtle styling upgrades.
Those include new horizontal grille
inserts, sharper-looking bumpers, new quad exhaust tips, sleeker LED taillights
and new alloy wheel designs. New colors have also been added to the palette. The
styling changes result in a slightly longer body that now measures 4,858 mm.
Inside, the 2020 Honda Avancier gains new
trim and upholstery choices, as well as the new Honda Connect 2.0 infotainment
system. Visually, everything else stays largely the same but the configuration
gets significantly upgraded. New features including hill descent control,
wireless smartphone charging, a power tailgate, plasma air purification system,
automatic headlights, and audio system.
The engine lineup remains the same, with
Chinese customers offered the choice of a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
unit rated at 196 PS and a 2.0-liter turbo-four delivering
276 PS. The former comes paired to a CVT while the latter is
mated to a nine-speed auto and offers the option of all-wheel drive. Domestic
pricing will be announced on March 31 when the facelifted 2020 Honda Avancier
goes on sale in China.