Honda Avancier teased as new Hyundai Santa Fe rival for Australia

Honda Australia is finally set to fill a major gap in its model lineup that's existed for 20 years.

The Honda Avancier has been teased ahead of its expected reveal later this year, with Honda Australia publishing a press release and confirming via its social media channels that it's "coming soon". For now, though, the company isn't revealing any further details.

The Avancier is set to finally give Honda Australia a large, three-row SUV, something it hasn't had since the MDX that was discontinued here in 2007.

A teaser video shared by Honda Australia reveals crisp styling with a sharply creased shoulder line and simple, L-shaped tail-lights, as well as slim lighting elements up front.

The company says it marks "a new chapter for the brand... pointing to its future direction for design and innovation". The teaser video confirms its use of the new Honda Hybrid system.

The Avancier will be one of 15 next-generation hybrid models due on sale globally between 2027 and the end of March 2030, with the new hybrid system expected to continue to feature two electric motors like existing e:HEV Honda hybrids.

Honda Hybrid models will use a new platform developed with an emphasis on weight reduction and rigidity, and which supports a new electric all-wheel drive system.

Filipino website Autoindustriya reported in June that the Avancier will enter production in Thailand in early 2027, while Japanese outlet Creative Trend reports this new large SUV will also be launched in the Japanese market, where it has already been spied testing, by the end of March 2027.

Among Honda Australia's current lineup, only the Accord and CR-V are currently sourced from Thailand.

Honda Australia has been shut out for decades from offering a large SUV, leaving it without a rival to popular models like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger.

The US-built Pilot has only ever been produced in left-hand drive, while the MDX from Honda’s premium Acura brand was only manufactured in right-hand drive for its first generation. It was sold here from 2003 to 2007.

Since its local discontinuation, the only seven-seat Honda SUV has been the mid-size CR-V.

The Avancier name has been used before. The current Avancier is a petrol-only, Chinese-market model produced by the GAC Honda joint venture since 2016, with a lightly restyled version produced by Dongfeng Honda under the UR-V nameplate.

The name was initially used from 1999 to 2003 on a Japanese-exclusive mid-size wagon related to the Accord.

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