Honda Europe has detailed the HR-V e:HEV hybrid.
If it comes to Australia, the HR-V e:HEV will go head-to-head with the Toyota C-HR, along with the larger Corolla Cross when it touches down in 2022.
Honda in 2019 said it plans to “introduce a hybrid version for every new full model change”, which means the HR-V e:HEV should make the trip Down Under.
At launch, Honda said the new HR-V is due to arrive in Australia by the end of the first quarter of 2022. CarExpert has contacted the company to see if that’s still the case.
The e:HEV hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors for total outputs of 96kW and 253Nm.
Like a Toyota hybrid, the Honda system can drive using the electric motors at low speeds, the petrol engine, or a combination of the two.
The car switches between its different drive modes automatically.
Claimed fuel economy is 5.4L/100km on the WLTP test cycle, and the e:HEV hits 100km/h in 10.6 seconds.
The Toyota C-HR’s hybrid system uses a claimed 4.8L/100km on the WLTP test, for reference.
There are three drive modes in the e:HEV – Sport, Econ, and Normal – along with different levels of battery regeneration.
When it arrives, the wider 2022 HR-V range will become a key cog in Honda’s new agency sales model Down Under.
The new HR-V represents a big step on from its ageing predecessor.
In Japan, it’ll be offered with a 1.5-litre engine mated to a continuously-variable transmission, or the e:HEV model detailed here.
The new HR-V’s styling is more conservative than that of the current car, with clean, unadorned sides punctuated by a single, straight crease that runs from the headlights to the tail lights.
The headlights appear slimmer and more angular, while the grille consists of a series of horizontal, body-coloured bars. The bumper insert has a diamond pattern.
The tail lights are slimmer, too, and stretch from either side to meet the Honda badge in the middle.
Though it presents a different appearance to the current HR-V, there are some design elements carried over like the rear door handles mounted in the C-pillar.
Inside, there’s a similarly minimalist appearance, with a 9.0-inch tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system and air vents that blend in with a trim piece spanning most of the dashboard.
Below that is a similarly wide stretch of soft-touch trim.
The HR-V retains Honda’s clever Magic Seats, while new options include a panoramic roof, surround-view camera and a power tailgate.
A Honda Digital Key app allows you to unlock your HR-V using your smartphone, while the satellite navigation system’s maps can now be updated over-the-air.
The adaptive cruise control has a traffic jam function, while other safety features include autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and lane-keeping assist.
