Next-gen Honda HR-V Is Finally Here As A Cleaner And Greener Generation Upgrade

• Front-end has received a cleaner overhaul and is more upright than before.

• It sports a coupe-like stance and retains the C-pillar mounted rear door handle like its predecessor.

• Cabin gets an overhaul inspired by the 2022 Honda Civic prototype.

• Features hands-free powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, new ‘breeze’ AC outlet, connected car tech, and Honda Sensing safety assists.

• It will utilise Honda’s e:HEV powertrain like the City and Jazz hybrid.

• In India, it will rival the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, and the Jeep Compass.

After a teaser campaign and leaked patent images, Honda’s third-gen HR-V SUV has finally debuted in Japan. Also called the Vezel, this generational update has made the HR-V more mature and cleaner with various new features. 

On the outside, the new HR-V boasts a much cleaner design with a more pronounced coupe-like stance. Up front, the nose has gotten upright, flanked by a larger grille, in which the slats blend nicely with the front bumper. It also gets new headlamps with LED DRLs mounted on top.  

At the sides, the only aspect retained from its predecessor is the rear door handle on the C-pillar. Head to the back and the HR-V joins other modern Honda models with a new set of tail lamps connected via an LED light bar. 

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The cabin has definitely taken some inspiration from the 2022 Honda Civic prototype, sporting a minimalistic dashboard and a large air vent spanning the length of the dashboard. The infotainment system is now tablet-like and looks bigger than before. 

While Honda hasn’t revealed the entire feature list, it gets a hands-free powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, new ‘breeze’ AC outlet, and hill descent control.  It is also equipped with Honda Connect connected car tech with features such as Wi-Fi hotspot, digital key and remote operation. The safety kit comprises Honda Sensing with adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, auto high beam, and lane keeping support system. 

Detailed technical specs are yet to be revealed, but what we do know is it will be powered by Honda’s e:HEV powertrain like the City and Jazz hybrid. So it will get a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors, where the petrol engine delivers 98PS and 127Nm and the main electric motor produces 109PS and 253Nm in the City hybrid. The secondary motor is essentially a starter-generator. It is capable of Normal, Sport, and Econ driving modes. The 4WD variants of the HR-V also get real-time AWD, which sends power to the four wheels for stability even in bad surface conditions. 

The next-gen Honda HR-V will go on sale in Japan by April 2021. Back home, Honda was planning to launch the HR-V’s predecessor but that never materialised. That being said, the new HR-V might just make it to the country since it is likely to be built on the same localised platform as the new City, like before. If it does come to India, it would take on the higher variants of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, and the Jeep Compass.