It will still take a few months to officially land in our country, but I have already had the opportunity to touch and see the completely new Honda HR-V first hand. A new generation for this B-SUV that enters the hybrid world.
Times are changing very fast. European and global regulations require new mobility formats. Sustainability has become our daily bread, and that is why each new model that comes out on the market must present a DNI that is as ecological as possible. The Honda hr-v it expresses that renewal in the Japanese house. A product that should become one of the best sellers within the company.
The history of the HR-V begins in the late 90s as an urban SUV with a different appearance and almost unique conception. After a few years of commercial absence, the second generation was born in 2013. It maintains its Asian design approach and quickly becomes one of Honda’s best-selling products.. Now the third edition arrives on the market, completely new and very different in many aspects.
In terms of design, the creatives of Honda offer us an SUV with neutral lines and a clean appearance. There is nothing that particularly attracts attention, and for an Asian product we could mark it as too aseptic, or too focused on a more conservative customer. The most striking thing is the coupe silhouette of its rear, in addition to the change in proportions that have not led to a change in the vehicle’s measurements.
Not all measurements have been discovered, but we have been assured that the total length does not change, staying 4.33 meters long. Overall height has been reduced, the ground clearance has been increased (+10 mm), in addition to delaying the cabin and raising the nose slightly to gain more consensual and uniform shapes. All this is completed with sets of 18-inch wheels, chrome details and small tension lines distributed throughout the body as in the wheel arches.
The platform on which it is based is completely new, one that is not only capable of accommodating next-generation hybrid mechanics, but also offers better interior habitability. Thanks to this, the rear passengers will enjoy a huge space (+ 35 mm). Two occupants will be very comfortable, although the height with respect to the ceiling will be a problem if the 1.80 – 1.85 meters of height are exceeded. Regarding cargo capacity, no official data has been established, but the trunk seems large enough for a couple of large suitcases, although there is no large double bottom.
The rear row shows great versatility thanks to the Honda Magic Seats
Regarding quality and finished materials, it is too early to draw precise conclusions since the Honda HR-V that I have been able to tinker was a pre-series unit that will undergo touch-ups before its commercial launch in Europe. Despite this, I have noticed that the general feeling is good. Being a segment B, the presence of plastics is notable, but current with what is seen in the market. When configuring the interior there will be two finishes, one in black and one in light color that will have decorative orange inserts to give it a different touch.
The improvement of equipment has focused much attention on the development of this third generation. The new Honda HR-V offers next-generation systems. They will be divided into different levels, the usual ones inside the house, and in the whole list some details are worth mentioning such as: LED headlights as standard, HMI multimedia system with 9-inch screen, digital instrumentation, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto , induction charger, navigator, USB sockets and Honda Sensing safety equipment.
The separate air conditioning module is respected. The HMI system has been redesigned to be simpler and up to 50% faster
The engineers They have done a lot of work on the interior space to offer a B-SUV with above-average characteristics, especially when it comes to space and habitability. So much so that different components have been relocated such as the fuel tank, which is located under the front seats, and not under the rear as usual. All this with a hybrid scheme that will be in charge of moving the Spanish units.
New HEV system for the 2022 Honda HR-V
The times demand it, and therefore manufacturers are obliged to mount electrified motors throughout their range. Today Honda already offers a wide range of solutions such as the Honda e, the Honda Jazz or the Honda CR-V. The next to do so will be the HR-V, and by the end of 2022 it will be the Honda Civic that receives the long-awaited renewal with its powertrain loaded with hybrid and / or electric systems.
But focusing more on the case at hand, The Honda HR-V 2022 will only arrive in our country with hybrid mechanics. A single option that combines a gasoline engine with an electric one and a small battery that for the moment have not transcended large data on power or autonomy. That single version will send all the power to the rear axle without any possibility of mounting an all-wheel drive scheme.
As I was saying, the main block is an Atkinson cycle gasoline heat engine with 1.5 liters of displacement. Added to it is a generator, an impeller, a control unit and an intelligent power unit that is located under the floor of the trunk (hence we do not have a double bottom). The performance data that has emerged is that will offer 131 horsepower, a figure similar to the current model, but with 253 Nm of maximum torque. That’s almost 100 Nm more, and that’s quite a lot.
The advanced system will be able to manage itself by alternating three possible driving modes: EV mode, Hybrid mode and Engine mode. In the first, the electric motor is prioritized over the thermal one. In the second they work together, although whenever possible the system will try to move 100% electrically. And finally, in the third mode, the electrical block will support the thermal engine, providing that extra torque that advances better recoveries and greater performance compared to the current HR-V.
These modes will be predefined by the car and on which the driver will not be able to act. Yes you can do it through a center tunnel button that leads to Sport mode. Expect the same response as you get on the Jazz or CR-V. With it we indicate to the car that we want maximum performance, and therefore the HR-V will work in unison with its two engines until the battery runs out. I repeat that no expected autonomy figure has been advanced.
If it has been commented that the battery will act as a modulator. This means that when, for whatever reason it is required, the driver requests the car’s maximum acceleration capacity, that extra thrust will not be given by the heat engine, but by the electric motor through a more forceful discharge of the battery. I have to say that if the team works as well as it did in the Honda Jazz test (it should be like that), I predict good consumption figures and some more than reasonable benefits.
Another data that has not been disclosed and that Honda has not wanted to release a pledge is the sale price. In Spain, the first units are expected to land in dealerships in February 2022. Before that date, in October or November, the final sale prices and the way in which the range of equipment will be made up will be given. I want to think that the starting figures will be around 22-25,000 euros, positioning itself as a direct rival of important models in the category such as the Renault Captur and the Toyota CH-R, the two great dominators.
And this is all that I can tell you for now about the new Honda HR-V, all that they have told me and all that I have been able to see and know is what I have exposed. The first sensations have been positive, remaining for the moment with its very wide rear space. I would have liked a little more aesthetic daring, even more so speaking of a Japanese brand, but it is clear that this new hybrid concept is intended for a more sensible customer who dispenses with sportsmanship to fall into the arms of sustainability and hybridization. We will continue to inform.