Once a benchmark for large five-seater SUVs in China, the Honda Avancier is finally set for a true next-generation upgrade.

Honda has officially hinted at the return of the all-new Avancier. According to analyses by foreign media, the new model is highly likely to make its global debut at the Tokyo Auto Show in January 2027, followed by its domestic launch.

Honda has emphasized that this is not a mere facelift but the most significant strategic restructuring of the Avancier lineup since its inception.

The new model will undergo a complete overhaul in terms of product positioning, space layout, interior configuration, and smart technology, thoroughly addressing the shortcomings of the current model and aiming to compete in the mainstream large family SUV market.

I. From Blockbuster to Obscurity: The Avancier’s Need for a Fresh Start

Back in 2016, the first-generation Avancier made its debut, quickly establishing itself in the large SUV market with its spacious rear seats and unique positioning as a large five-seater. It became a top choice for many families looking to upgrade their vehicles.

However, this product foundation has been in use for years, and under the impact of new energy vehicles, its shortcomings have become increasingly apparent.

Sticking to a single five-seat layout, it struggles to meet the needs of families with two children or more members. The slow updates in vehicle intelligence create a significant gap compared to domestic new energy models. The old fastback design sacrifices rear headroom, and the outdated powertrain has led to declining market sales, with monthly sales once dropping to a few hundred units.

The current version on sale is essentially a mid-cycle refresh. Honda has not bet everything on this model; its true ace is the all-new Avancier set to debut in 2027.

This time, Honda is not making minor adjustments but choosing to completely reconstruct the vehicle's product logic, with comprehensive innovations in exterior design, interior space, and smart configurations, achieving a leap in product competitiveness.

II. Complete Transformation: Full-Dimension Upgrades, No More Shortcomings

This next-generation model represents the largest strategic restructuring in the Avancier’s history. It is not a regular facelift but a comprehensive upgrade in exterior design, interior space, smart technology, and chassis, thoroughly addressing the shortcomings of the current model and achieving a significant leap in product competitiveness.

The all-new Avancier completely abandons the current fastback design, adopting a square and straight body shape, optimizing the D-pillar structure, and solving the issue of cramped rear headroom in the old model. The body size is significantly increased, with a length approaching 5 meters, officially entering the large SUV category. The vehicle comes standard with 19-inch wheels, with high-end models featuring 20-inch sport wheels, significantly enhancing its presence and off-road capability.

The exterior's tech-savvy feel is fully upgraded, with standard adaptive LED headlights, full-width taillights, illuminated logos, and hidden door handles, paired with a low-drag body kit. It also offers dual exterior packages—luxury and blacked-out sport—catering to both family-oriented stability and youthful sportiness, appealing to a broader audience.

Addressing the shortcoming of the current model's single five-seat layout, the all-new Avancier introduces three seating configurations: five-seat, six-seat, and seven-seat. The six-seat version features 2+2 independent captain's chairs, providing a premium experience. The seven-seat version has optimized space, with a comfortable third row, moving away from being just an "emergency seat," perfectly suited for multi-person family travel. Paired with a panoramic sunroof, the vehicle offers a spacious and airy interior.

The interior is fully modernized and luxurized, featuring an integrated dual-screen display, eliminating complex physical buttons for a clean and high-end layout. The vehicle is extensively covered in soft materials, significantly enhancing the texture. It comes standard with perforated leather seats, electric adjustment, and heating for the driver and front passenger, with high-end models adding ventilation, massage, and memory functions, paired with an electronic gear selector, elevating both sophistication and practicality.

Comfort and quietness are fully optimized, with the new model featuring multi-color ambient lighting, dual-layer soundproof glass, and full-vehicle active noise cancellation. Special NVH tuning is applied to the engine compartment, chassis, and doors, thoroughly addressing the issue of excessive noise at high speeds in the current model, bringing the cabin's quietness close to that of luxury SUVs.

Intelligence sees a qualitative leap, with the new model fully equipped with Huawei's HarmonyOS smart cockpit, offering smooth voice interaction, rich features, and support for a vast array of in-car applications and smartphone connectivity. It comes standard with a 360-degree panoramic view, wireless charging, and in-car fragrance, with high-end models featuring an HUD head-up display, significantly enhancing daily driving convenience.

Intelligent driving capabilities address shortcomings, with the all-new Avancier partnering with Momenta to develop advanced driver assistance systems, featuring lidar perception hardware in high-end models. It comes standard with L2-level assistance, including ACC cruise control, lane keeping, and active braking; high-end models add advanced features like highway NOA navigation, automatic lane changing, and automatic parking, significantly catching up to mainstream new energy models in terms of smart experience.

Chassis handling is fully upgraded, improving the current model's overly stiff ride quality. High-end models feature adaptive damping suspension, intelligently adapting to road conditions for a balance of comfort and stability. The new model adds a rear-wheel steering system, significantly reducing the turning radius, making the large vehicle easier to maneuver. It also offers front-wheel drive and intelligent all-wheel drive versions, with optimized all-wheel drive performance for better traction in complex conditions.

III. Comprehensive Powertrain Innovation: Hybrids Take Center Stage

The powertrain is also a core focus of this strategic restructuring.

The controversial old 1.5T+CVT combination may be phased out. The all-new Avancier plans to offer two main powertrains: a 2.0T fuel version and Honda's latest fifth-generation iMMD hybrid system.

The fuel version features a new 2.0T engine paired with a self-developed 10AT transmission, addressing the old 9AT's issue of hesitation at low speeds, with a denser gear ratio for smoother shifts, further reducing engine RPM during highway cruising, and improving NVH performance.

The fifth-generation iMMD hybrid will be the main focus of the new model. It emphasizes no need for charging and low fuel consumption, with WLTC fuel economy suppressed to just over 5L, and a rumored combined range exceeding 1300 kilometers on a full tank, targeting families who refuse to charge and have long-distance travel needs.

Intelligence and smart driving are also areas where Honda must catch up. The old Avancier's Honda SENSING only offered basic L2 functions, lacking advanced features like highway navigation, falling behind in its class. The new model will see iterations in cockpit interaction and smart driving hardware to narrow the gap with domestic models.

IV. Facing Intense Pressure: Honda's Uphill Battle

The all-new Avancier’s positioning is clear: targeting consumers who value joint-venture reliability, prioritize the convenience of hybrids, and need multi-seat family vehicles.

However, the competition in the large SUV market will be even fiercer in 2027. On one side, traditional joint-venture rivals like the Highlander continue to defend their turf; on the other, domestic new energy brands like Li Auto and Seres have raised the bar with features like refrigerators, TVs, advanced smart driving, and six-seat comfort.

The current Avancier maintains its presence through heavy discounts, while the new generation carries the task of returning to the mainstream.

Evolving from a model exclusive to the Chinese market to a global strategic product, the all-new Avancier represents Honda's last hope in the era of fuel and hybrid vehicles.

The 2027 Tokyo Auto Show will unveil all aspects of this heavyweight SUV. Its exterior design, interior space, powertrain, and intelligence will all determine whether the former "king of large five-seaters" can return to the mainstream spotlight.

Disclaimer: This article is solely a commentary by Zhi Caijing and does not constitute any investment advice. The enterprise data and regulatory events mentioned herein are sourced from public information and are for reference only, with the official releases prevailing. Images are sourced from the internet; if there are any copyright issues, please contact us for removal.