Honda has lacked a substantial three-row SUV in Australia for nearly two decades. Yet a long-awaited successor to the MDX, positioned as a fresh competitor to vehicles like the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe, appears to be on the horizon.

Reports from Filipino site Autoindustriya indicate that a new Avancier generation will start production in Thailand in early 2027. Japanese publication Creative Trend adds that this large SUV will launch in Japan by the end of March 2027, following recent testing sightings there.

Both Thailand and Japan operate as right-hand drive markets. Although left-hand drive models are available in Japan, the new SUV seems positioned for right-hand drive output.

This setup raises prospects for exports to Australia, where Honda has long sourced vehicles from Thailand. Current Australian CR-V and Accord models are built in that country.

The upcoming Avancier is said to feature a 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid system with dual electric motors, matching setups in other Honda vehicles. All-wheel drive will be offered as an option.

In the CR-V e:HEV, combined output reaches 135kW and 335Nm. It remains uncertain whether Honda will increase these figures for the larger and heavier Avancier.

The company is also developing a new V6 hybrid powertrain aimed at bigger models, though confirmation so far applies only to upcoming North American vehicles, with production slated for 2029.

Honda Australia has missed out on a large SUV for many years. The US-built Pilot has remained left-hand drive only, while the first-generation MDX from Acura was available in right-hand drive and sold locally between 2003 and 2007.

Following its withdrawal from the market, the CR-V has served as the sole seven-seat Honda SUV offering.

The present Avancier is a China-specific model from the GAC Honda partnership, with a similar Dongfeng Honda version called the UR-V. These vehicles provide turbocharged 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines without any electrified options.

Although longer than 4.8 metres, the Avancier and UR-V include just two seating rows. Production began in 2016, and despite updates the design now appears dated amid intense competition in China.

It is not yet clear if Honda will build the new Avancier in China alongside Thailand. The model seems intended as the brand's primary seven-seat large SUV for regions outside North America, where the Pilot fulfills that role.

The Avancier name previously appeared from 1999 to 2004 on a Japan-only mid-size wagon based on the Accord. Honda later discontinued the name in favor of Accord-badged wagons for markets including Japan and Europe.